Olympia Declares War on Loose Hogs
A newly passed town ordinance empowers the Marshall to seize and auction off any swine wandering through the streets of Olympia north of Union Street.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
It is ordained by the Trustees of the Town of Olympia, that all persons’ hogs or swine are prohibited from allowing the same to run at large within the following limits of the town of Olympia: all that portion of the town of Olympia aforesaid lying upon the east side of Budd's Inlet, and north of Union street, continuing eastward to the east boundary of said town. The owner or owners of any swine found running at large within the said limits shall be liable for any and all damages caused by said swine, to be recovered before any court of competent jurisdiction. Any person may take possession of any swine found running at large within said limits, and give notice thereof to the Marshal of the town of Olympia, who shall have power, and it shall be and is hereby made the duty of said officer to sell such swine at public auction to the highest bidder, for cash. This Ordinance to take effect and be in force from and after the 1st day of April, 1861.
“All persons’ hogs or swine are prohibited from allowing the same to run at large within the following limits of the town of Olympia.”
This ordinance reflects the messy reality of 19th-century urban development, where the line between rural agriculture and town life was porous. Today, the regulation of urban livestock remains a subject of civic debate, though perhaps with less frequency in downtown Olympia.
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