The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-09-26
The Sound.

Taking one Of the several steamers
that ply between the Sound ports. q
delightful voyage Of 80 miles brings
the travellers to the capital of King
county. 1t is worthy Of mention that
the waters of Puget Sound are 90
pleasant to travel on-pleasanter than
0 river, and far more agreeable than
the open sea. The shores, though
covered with trees. are, however, lone
ly; but they furnish interesting resting
places for the eyes. With good passen-
ger boats and reasonable fares. the
Sound ought to be the greatest pleasure
ground In the world for tourists. Fares
are very unequal in smount-being
cheap in some directions and high il,
others. From Tacoma to Seattle your
ticket costs but one dollar; but from
Seattle down the Sound the rates are
much higher.
SEATTLE
is town on the eastern shore, of be.
tween four and five thousand inhabi-
tants, built on the side of q hill 800
feet high. The bay on which it is 10.
cated-Elliott's-is five and o hall
miles long ana two and half miles widc
The harbor is an excellent one, with
water in it from 90 tc so fathoms deep
A few blocks of land have been re.
claimed along the city front by filling
in with the sawdust from the mill there
located. This portion Of the town is
covered with rrills Of various kinds,
ironworks, factories, wharvcs and ware.
houses, and presents peculiarly bust.
ness aspect. There are few really
handsome buildings in Seattle, either
for business purposes or residences; bu,
it has. nevertheless. an air of thrift,
which comes from every possible corner
being occupied. The Territorial Uni.
versity. on the brow of the hill, is the
most pretentious public building, which
is almost eclipsed by some Of the more
modern private dwellings. No cour,
house has yet been built; though a
county Jail has. with offices in the up.
per story for county purposes.
At these Offices some figures were OBJ.
tanned which show the condition oil
affairs for King county. The total cash
value of lands aud improvements. and
town lotsand improvements. is estimat-
ed at $l,54O,267. Total cash value oil
personal property, &7O2.5l7, making a
grand total of $2.243,SO3 The total
population of the county is reckonsd al
less than 5000. The county revenue j.
$4,000. Business of all kinds has been
usually prosperous in Seattle, but this
year it shares the almost universe!
stagnation. The two great products Of
the Sound. coal and lumber, have no:
found Is ready market ~ formerly il
California, and, consequently. the pro-
dnction Of these articles has in o grca,
measure been suspended. causing Losses
and failures, not in Seattle alone, but
quits generally.
Seattle has seven churches. The mum.
Der Of school children is .32l. Graded
common schools. and preparatory and
collegiate school. in the university
building. under . corps ofenergstic and
considerations tcachsrs. afford good op-
por' unitiss tor education. The pupils
are intelligent and enterprising and
the future Of this city is destined to b
brilliant one. il il only succeeds il
getting the much desired transmontans
railroad. Money 10 being raised to con.
tinuc the Seattle and Walla Walls
Railroad across the Cascades, to open
up the Yakima country, and proceed
eastward to Walla Walla. This enter
prise completes. Of course. with that Of
the Northern Pacific Cowli,x Pass pro.
iect; but II either or both or su scessful
the greatest good will result to lhs
whole Sound country. Heretofore sew.
eral coAl mines have been worked in
the vicinity of Seattle. At present. onl,
one is in active operation. This one i
the Newcastle mine. which has ,
branch railroad 10 the Seattle & Walls
Walla railroad BY AZ elevated road
way il runs out tho cars to load COO
into vessels. About 500 tens On
brought down from tha minc daily and
the work Of loading ships g1ss on nigh
and day.
Tho coantry around Seattle that i
good for farming purposes lice chiefly
in the small valleys Of the several shor
rivers emptyine into the Sound in u.
vicinity. These are the Duvamish
White, Green. Stuck, Hquak. Black
Snohomish. Snoqualmie and othe'
strcama These valleys. together with
the land bordering on lakes and som,
small islands. aggregate about TO- O(
4 - ~ l. -ssl