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Murray C. Morgan
George D. Shannon: Moving the Capital to Muddy Hogham
Tacoma News Tribune and Sunday Ledger
February 17, 1974
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George D. Shannon:
Moving the Capital to Muddy Hogham
 There
probably has been no session of the Washington legislature, state
or territorial, in which some law makers did not lament the fact
that they had to meet in Olympia. Nor any session which some
Olympians did not wish were happening in Wapato, Wenatchee or
Walla.
There
even have been times when other communities, not excluding Tacoma,
have coveted propinquity with the legislators, or anyway the
treasurer and have schemed to snatch the capital and its payroll.
Of all those who have proposed purloining the government and
establishing a site more conducive to their own economic interest,
my favorite is George D. Shannon, who suggested Hogham, a marshy
spot between the Nisqually and McAllister Creek, to which he held
title.
A
native of New York who served a long and unprofitable
apprenticeship in the railroad and lumber businesses, Shannon
showed up in Olympia in 1870 as superintendent of construction for
the Kalama to Tacoma spur of the Northern Pacific. He latched onto
1,000 acres of the Nisqually bottom land which between political
appointments he farmed.
In
1887 there was agitation to transfer the territorial government
from Olympia to an area of great economic potential. Patriots and
promoters from North Yakima, Walla, Waitsburg, Seattle and Tacoma
suggested their communities as suitable for capital-hood.
When
members of the Committee on the House upon Public Buildings and
Grounds promised serious consideration of the applications, each
to be weighed to determine if it were "...the most eligible
and central location in the Territory," George Shannon had
drawn up and printed a proposed act accepting his "Munificent
Offer To Locate the Capital permanently at Hogham."
Echoing
the euphoric cries of rival enthusiasts, Shannon described Hogham
on the flats as possessing the:
...climate of perpetual
summer though surround by perpetual snow. There the lover of
Nature can admire his mistress to his hearts content.
At no point in the Territory
is the eye gladdened or the senses enthralled by scenes more
grand. Pastoral fields stretch away to the ever restless sea;
while on the West and North the grand Olympic range rears its
jagged crest, snow crowned.
On the East and South the
magnificent Cascades, the acme of grandeur, stand guard; while
grand old Rainier is never hit. It is from this most eligible
and central location, the grandest most unapproachable view of
this incomparable mountain may be had, while the face of this
lovely and pastoral field is bifurcated at right angles with
many natural canals that could and should be declared to be
public highways, streets and avenues of the new capital of the
Territory, thus making the capital a modern American Venice.
Under the kind skies,
magnificent climate, the protection of the government and its
most eligible and central location, Hogham will become the home
of the good and beautiful, and the abode of brotherly and
sisterly love.
Conceding
there were other claimants worth considering, Shannon proposed
that the capital be "placed on wheels and run into that city,
town, village, or hamlet or possession of a private citizens that
makes the legislators the best offer."
Should
the legislators choose his land, Shannon pledge to execute "...a
penal bond binding myself, my heirs, administrators, executors and
assigns to deed to the Territory four hundred aces of productive
and fertile land with the finest trout fishing and duck shooting
preserves in the territory for use as capital grounds."
providing that when the Capital reaches Shannon Place the wheels
shall be knocked out from under the moving caravan and all moving
machinery shall be destroyed.
Each
legislator voting in the public interest and for acceptance of his
offer would receive, he pledged one thousand dollars in gold coin.
Further
he would furnish each member fishing rods, flies, creels, leaders,
lines and if required an expert fly fisherman. Also guns,
ammunition and a thoroughly trained retriever. Also all the
Whiskey (OPS Cutter), Beer (Val Blatz), Cider (Shannons) and
Cigars needed by each and every member all and singular of each
and every legislature that shall meet at Hogham.
"It
is stipulated," he continued, "that each and every
member so desiring shall enjoy the privilege of adding to his
mileage and per diem, drawing to a pair, two pairs, a straight,
threes or a bobtail, and that he shall be free to place his own
estimate upon the hand after the draw. In the enjoyment of these
privilege there shall not be any distinction on account of race,
color or previous condition."
When
the legislators who voted for Hogham had spent "either
economically, riotously or otherwise," their thousand in
gold, "I will provide for, care for and maintain each and
every such one in the Asylum for the Insane of Washington
territory, without any intervention of the Probate Court, which in
this case shall be deemed an unnecessary inquisition."
Shannon
didn't get the capital on his mudflat. But he did win
gubernatorial appointments to the territorial building committee,
the board of trustees of the Steilacoom Asylum and later the state
board of land commissioners.
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