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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1885)
64 THE WEST SHORE. Upon this high land, and not fur from the inlot, stands the Territoriiil capital, still surrounded by the native firs amid which it was built 1'owtession of tho Territorial government lwia done much for Olympia, Every school child in the United States knows that Olympia is tho capital of Washington Territory, while it is doubtful if half of them could name another city within its limit. Tho city is the scene of much biiHtlo and activity during the soasioh of the Legis lature, and, naturally, much more luminous is transacted than at other times. The Land Oflice for Southwestern Washington is locate! there, also a United States Signal Oflice and the oflice of the Collector of Internal Revenue. Contrary, however, to tho case in many States and Terri tories, Olympia does not doond upon her official honors for supmri These are but incidental. The surrounding country, with it resources of agriculture and timber, iluds in her both an outlet and a supply point The shipment of wool, hops, fish, lumber, etc., are very largo, and tho retail business of the stores is considerable, as the substantial business blocks and largo stocks of goods testify. Tho various branches of business are well repre sented, and may bo enumerated as follows: Four general merchandise stores, three dry goods and clothing starec, seven grooery and crockery stores, five hardware and stove stores, two furniture stores, two liook storos, two gun stores, a National bank, six millinery and dressmak ing establishment, one Itoot and shoe store, one jewelry store, one undertaking establishment, one photograph gallery, two bakeries, three markets, three livery stables, six hotel, six restaurant, eleven saloons, two saw mills, one shingle mill and numerous storos, other sliojm, phy sicians, lawyers, etc, Tho Olympia A Chehalis Valley Ilailrtmd enters the city by tho way of Tumwater, follow ing tho extreme arm of Dudd's Inlet, and terminates on the long wharf which crosses the inlet from the city, where, also, the steamer and othor vessels from down tho Sound make a landing. Tho harbor has recently loen surveyed with a view of dredging a channel from deep water to this wharf, or " Long Uridgo," so that ves sels may reach it at all stages of tho tide. Olympia is the natural shipping point of a large area lying to the south, southeast and southwest, including extensive coal fields not yet duveloeL Tho extension of the narrow gauge mad down tho Chehalis Valley will also add much to the total of product to bo shipod from this port, as will also the bolter utilisation of the great water power at Tumwater Falls. The bunnies men are wise in thus rendering their shipping facilities first class in every (Mirtii'iilar, and the same publio spirit which prompt them to Uke this step will do much to aid thm in their ci)inMtitioii with other ports on tho Sound for handling the jiort product of Southwestern Washington. The educational advantage of Olympia are of a supe rior order. In addition ta the excellent publio school there are a private school, tho Methodist Collegiate Innti. tuUs and IWidunea Academy, maintained by tho Sisters of Charity.' The two denominational school occupy oomuiodiout structure, ths institute buildiug being quite . ; j:c tv. Motlmi'ttt Catholic Presby- an imposing eumuo. iu i . - terian, Baptist, Congregational and Episcopal denomina- tions cave ennren eninrow, ami w ium i t i m 1 !.-.. r.nnA liolla TllA citv owns a anu uoou xeinpiuiB u" t""" - j large hall, and has an excellent fire department Gaa works have jubi oeen coiup.oieu. imoo FFva n.,..j a..,M,;rA..'ii 7ViatiW And Wmthinaton Stand ard are published weekly, and are counted among the it m . . i mi. rr.:j. 1 loading newspapers oi tne lerrirory. aub ienni Library contains 6,000 volumes, and the library of tl.e Good Templars Society 2,000. Stages run from Olympia , to Montesano, on the Chehalis, and steamers ply between it and the numerous ports on Puget Sound, and both steamor and sail connection is had regularly with San Francisco. In the vicinity of Olympia, within a radius of a dozen miles, are a number of resorts for sportsmen and campers-beautiful lakes filled with voracious trout, and streams with the speckled mountain beauties. The for est abound in deer and bear, while grouse, pheasants, quail and waterfowl afford sport for the huntsman. The scenery is beautiful, the summer climate in these forest covered hills delightful, and the sport all that one could wish. Tho city itself is a pleasant place in which to spend the summer, affording easy access to the various hunting resorts, and giving, in the waters of the Sound, magnificent opportunities for fishing and sailing. The town of Tumwator possesses in Tumwater Falls a magnificent water power now but partly utilized. The first mill in the Territory was built there by M. T. Sim mons, who made the first American settlement on Puget Sound. It has always been a manufacturing point, and must necessarily continue to be. It contains two saw mills, two flouring mills, two sash and door factories, and a tannery, besides several general stores, shops, etc. It also possesses a good publio school, Methodist ohurch and a large halL The railroad from Olympia to Tenino passes through tho town, affording an outlet for its manu factured products, as well as bringing to tho mills largo quantities of logs from the interior. What Tumwater needs is a better utilization of the CTAftfc noWAr atnrnA in t D f v .i VB uvuiuu iu tho various falls of tho Des Chutes. There are three iaus, with a total doscent of 82 feet Owners of this property have held it at so hieh a effectually repelled those who might have established in- uusvnes wnicn would have largely increased the popula tion and business of the town. Mm VrA mru-i-ii Oo. are owners of the upper falls power, only a portion of winch they use in their business. Tl iav nra HnaiiAin that tins txiwer be taken bv snmo firm .:n ..i.l I i . .... " " UI"U U1 CBU1U- lis J an important industry, and for such a purpose they Will uill if t I i. . ' ... . ,clJr 1UW rBW mre ,g an opport,,, for some enterprisintr firm, whn ma ..if ' plish something, to secure one of the best water powers in the U est, one winch possesses the advantage of being located on . radroad and contiguous to a deep water port n, . v , ' , J"ncuon botween Olympia llielmlm Valley and t in V41, t. -e. . . . . ' - " "wu x nc uc railroad and u seventeen mile, southeast of Olympia. It hT