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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (April 1, 1889)
200 So much has been written about the magnificent scenery of the northwest that it seems almost useless to speak of it in connection with each of the places we have occasion to describe. Still, grand as is the general character of this scenery, each locality has features peculiarly its own. The rugged mountain ranges and the grand snow-capped peaks form a part of the landscape from almost any point of view, and from no two points do they present exactly the same appearance. From Olympia the white mass of Ruin- ier looms up against the sky to the eastward and Olympus to the northwest To the southeast, Mount Bt. Helens is the principal feature. But immediately around Olympia are many charming bits of scenery that interest all visitors, the chief one being the inlet at the head of which the city is situated. Its deep, clear water, and the banks clothed with verdure in luxuriant variety, its placid wildness, make a view that is rarely surpassed. The high shores are fre quently cleft by wild streams flowing down from the hills of the interior, where the angler may find as rich Bport as his heart desires. The drives about the city form another attraction that is much frequented. There is boating and driving and hunting and fishing to suit the most fastidious or timid, or for the most daring. The traveler in search of healthful diversion and pleasant surroundings will find both at Olympia. A special t ffort is now being made to provide acoora modations that will attract the vast number of tour ists that frequent the Pacific coabL It is estimated that about six hundred people a month are being added to the population of Olympia and vicinity through immigration. This estimato is based on the number of passengers which the trans portation lines carry into the city in excess of the number taken away, and is a pretty reliable indica tion of the somewhat remarkable growth that is tak ing place there. Of course, many of the newcomers settle outside the cicy, some of them going a number of miles back in the country and buying farms or tak ing up government lands, which may yet bo obtaiued in fairly eligible locations, but they increase tho wealth of the territory directly tributary to Olympia and build up the interests on which it depends for support and growth. The inflax during tho pant few months has been so great that tho facilities for enter taining the strangers in tho city have been taxed to the utmost Recognizing the demand for greater ac commodations, the citizens have organized a company and raised $50,000.00 for the erection of a fine hM nd the work is fairly under way now. The sit. v. Wted is one of the most sightly and pleasant in tho city, and the structure, when compI'M iH first cl&as in every respect, and one of which tho citwus ay well feel proud. Besides tho important purr- which it will serve, this hotel will add another to tho already considerable list of public buildings of tho city. The most important public building in Olympia is, of oourso, the capital. This is a framo structure, two stories high, with a dome. It is situated on an eminence in tho southern part of the city, and over, looking a portion of tho inlet Tho needs of tho tor. ritory havo so far outgrown tho limited room of tho capitol building, that it has boon found necessary to provide quarters for tho territorial auditor in another building, down in tho business nrtiou of tho city. One of tho most imperative demands of Washington at present is a now capitol, aud as provisions havo boon made for its admisMinn as a stato this year, tho construction of a state house will not lo delayed much longer. Next in imKrtanco aro tho court house, county clerk's oflico aud tho county jail. Tho city hall and firemen's headquarters complete tho list of structures used for official purines, unless tho threo publio school buildings, in which right hundred chll. dren receivo instruction, In) so classified. Thero aro two academies in tho city, nno under Methodist aud tho other under Roman Catholio supervision, and a hospital maintained by tho latter denomination. Tho city has seven churches, all of them neat and auhatan tial structures aud well supurted. IV ur public parks aro provided for tho city's adornment, and in tho suburbs aro tho territorial fair grounds aud race track. For a town tho sizo of Olympia, it has unusu ally fino business blocks and resideuoea, which aro constantly iucruasing in number. In tho matter of municipal improvements it is iu tho front rank, and is keeping pace with tho growth that is catering at that poiut Thero was recently incorporated in Olympia a company for tho construction of a stwt railway, which is ouo of tho iinortaut I reject at prent oc cupying tho attention of tho local capitalist. It is probablo that, Ix-foro many months havo pad, tho motor liuo to Tumwater, which is now under con struction, and a street car lino arr tho brldgo to tho west sido, will both bn in ojteration. Theso en trpri s will met with a hearty welootno on tho rt of tho citi 'us, and, no doubt, will U handsomely supjurted. Tho rapidity with which tho city's area is beiug ntendd surely warrants tho building of it reet transit lines to accommodate suburban real, dent. Tho town of Tumwater, adjoining Olympia on tho south, and for all practical purposes a pari of tho samo corpuration, has ocn of tho Ust waW powora iu Weston Washington. Tho largo body of water of the lMChutes river falls oighty.flvo fwt la a horl. i jntal diaUnco of about fifUn hundrrd fol Thoro
