, 1874-04-23
gugft Sound 1ispateb.

A~eso AA0s ~>NSA AuoAAy 40 81 Cav t4Ao COL do
last, and attributes the decrease to the
fact that before tho location of the rail-
roal terminus the country was filled with
spectators waiting for the opportunity
to invest when and where that location
should be determined, and when that
event happened the spectators left,
and have not been back since. From
all of which the reasonable conclusion
is, that all those who were waiting to
invest in terminus property were like
the boy who caught the hornet: when
he got him, he didn't want him.
TACOMA Town PROPERTY The Taco
ma Tribune of the 18th inst. sets forth
the price and advantages of town props
erty in the great terminal city in the
following glowing terms:
For two lots only-corner lots, and
supposed to be the best business sites
IN the town-the price is $500 each; a
price that would be regarded as ridicu-
lously cheap in any other town on Pu-
get Sound, not one of which has one-
quarter what Tacoma has to build up
great city. For half dozen other cor
ner lots $3.50 each are asked, and for
inside lots 5000; all these being situated
on Pecifc Avenue, certain to be the
leading business thoroughfare in the
isce. The prices range down to $50
lot, according to location. thus placing
a landed interest in the terminus within
the reach of all. The prices Of the lots
will hardly pay tor the magnificent
street work already done. To the 25th
instant will be given parties now occu-
pying lots to make good their payments.
These prices are significant COM
mentary on the pretention that no other
town on Puget Sound has quarter
what Tacoma has to build up great
city," Who should be the best judges
of what constitutes the advantages upon
which to build up great city-the sue
cessful business men who have money to
invest, or the impecuneous blower for
a ring Ct resident land speculators?
The best test is market values. Mr..
Yesler has standing offer. which he
has declined, of $4,000 for the lot in
this city on the corner of Commercial
and Mill streets, now occupied by Gen.
Hovey for store. In case of sale. the
Improvements now upon the lot would
go for nothing, az they would be imme-
diately removed. Mr.. Yesler last year
sold the adjoining lot for $4,000, upon
which buildings have since been erected
which cost $4,000. He has repeatedly
refused $4,000 for the lot on the appo-
site corner, now occupied by the Aiham-
bra Saloon. No town lot in Seattle
within a mile of the centre of business
could be bought for 800. and no eligi-
BILE lot upon any business street in the
town for less than 800 foot front.
Could these things be if capitalists and
business men had any doubt about the
future prosperity of Seattle, or any con-
fidence in Tacoma as the future COM
mercial emporium of Puget Sound? Is
any one SO stupid as to believe that the
unscrupulous sharpers who own and
control the Tacoma town site, would be
peddling off their lots at $50 apiece if
they believed that Tacoma was to be the
permanent terminus of the N. P. Rail-
road and become great city? Within
year after the location of the eastern
terminus at Duluth, business lots in
that town sold as high as $7,500 lot.
We saw report of sale in San Fran
cisco. few days since. of an unim-
proved lot on Mason street. three-fourths
of a mile from the water front, to VIM.
Shannon, for $4,000. In view of these
facts, Low ridiculous the assumption
that Tacoma is regarded by its proprie-
tors as anything but wild cat specula-
ton.