Bypassed by the Railroad, Olympia Grabbed a Shovel

Olympia’s progress has not been fast, but it has been marked, and its people have shown a spirit of enterprise that is lacking in much larger cities. It is not necessary to review the past. The present tells the tale. Twenty years ago its people were assured that the Northern Pacific would run its trains into this city, but the inevitable took them around to Tacoma, and the growth and prosperity which that city now enjoys is what Olympia looked for.

Disappointed but not disheartened, our people were bound to have a railroad. Each Thursday, which was termed “field day,” the merchants, lawyers, professional men and everybody put aside their regular business and with pick and shovel cheerfully and energetically worked away until a road bed was completed. The housewives and daughters were on hand too and prepared a dinner which was disposed of with more relish than many a Christmas fare. The county was bonded to purchase the rails and rolling stock, and when the first engine ran over the narrow gauge road that connected Olympia with the Northern Pacific at Tenino, there was more rejoicing manifested than when the overland trains of the Northern Pacific came puffing into the city nearly twenty years after.

The people didn’t seek the railroads after that, but in the last few years a steady growth has taken hold of the city, which has entirely transformed it from an easy-going, quiet place of 3,000 to a busy, bustling city of 8,500, with railroads at its door and the hum of industry within. The change which has marked its appearance within the last two years is almost incredible. Streets have been opened and graded, sidewalks laid, railroads and bridges built, and dwellings and business blocks erected in every section of the city. Within two years more than $200,000 have been expended for street improvements, and nearly 1,100 new buildings have been erected. The total cost of imposing brick and stone business blocks aggregate over $3,000,000. The growth of fruit for canning and shipment as an industry is one that affords the most alluring inducements.

The climate is temperate—it is not tropical, hence corn is not a staple, but grows finely for use as a green vegetable. Sweet potatoes also need more intense heat, but with these exceptions every variety of vegetables thrive. Potatoes are particularly fine, as well as turnips, beets, carrots, parsnips, peas, beans, cabbages and snow-white cauliflower.

The city of Olympia contains an excellent collegiate institute, two public school houses unexcelled in architectural beauty in the state of Washington. Nature has indeed been generous in her gifts to Thurston County, and especially so as to the region of peace and plenty, of which the prosperous city of Olympia is the hub. Nestling in the heart of such rich and favored surroundings, and her interests and welfare carefully guarded by shrewd and wide-awake citizens, it goes without saying that the Capital City will go ahead and mayhap become one of the greatest trade centers and shipping points on the Pacific slope.