The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-09-01

Tacoma, prominently interesting point
which visited more particularly upon my
return, and to which intend to devote my
next communication. We passed this i'm
portant place about noon and having arrived
at Seattle at about P. NJ, we had few
hours to examine it. 1t presents a very fine
appearance from the Sound as you approach
it. Seattle shows from the Sound to better ad.
vantage than any other place visited by our
party. The city rises gracefully tier above
tier, the university building prominent OBJ
ject in this picturesque sight; sight not
very common along the Sound, whose shores
are marked by the somewhat monotonous
dark green of its fir trees. q The sight of Sc
attic is positive relief from this uniformity
and all the passengers rushed out to enjoy it.
At present Seattle is the largest place
on the Sound; its population is claimed to be
about 5000 people; but think that this fig
ure is probably few hundred more than the
reality. A line of large and powerful steam
ers run regularly from San Francisco to this
point, and Seattle is certainly lively point
Great quantities of coal are shipped from
here, bringing large price in the capital of
California and elsewhere; the coal trade of
very important and is destined to increase
magnitude, for it seems that the Cascade
range east of this inland sea is full of coal,
and new discoveries of coal beds are frequent.
1t is remarkable fact that the three great
articles of commerce which San Francisco
most needs, are here found in the greatest
abundance, viz: coal, timber and iron. The
town plat of Seattle is very favorable for
easy grades in some portions, but bluffy in
others, and with even the most skillful grad.
ing will ever be rather steep. 1t is situated
between Lake Washington and the east shore
of the Sound, distant from each other about
three miles, and the ground between the
two rises to height of at least 200 feet In
a northerly direction and within the limits
of the city is another and smaller sheet Of
water called Union lake, which is of easy
access. This is very irregular in shape and
has small outlet which is discharged into
the bay some distance below. On this lake
used to be the landing point for coal, where
it was brought in boats and carried from the
lake to the dock by narrow gauge railroad.
This roundabout way was expensive, like all
transportation which requires several hand
lings of goods That mode dong business
is now entirely superseded by railroad
which connects the mines with the docks,
where the coal is dumped directly into the
vessels and the rails of the narrow gauge
have been taken up, leaving pretty shady
foot path somewhat used for walks. Seattle
is the fortunate possessor of the Washington
Territory University. This institution has
been badly managed in years past. Orig
inally large grant of public land had been
made for its benefit, which, had it been hon
estly or at least judiciously administered,
would have proved liberal and sufficient
I -: l,rk
would have been credit as well as great
benefit to the place and to the Territory.
But here the experience has been the same
as in many other states, the lands, which
were not liable to be taxed and might have
been held until they brought large sum,
have been disposed of with scandalous
haste before they had attained any great
value, to satisfy the greed of spectators;
the proceeds were loaned without sufficient
security, and almost the whole of it is ire
coverably lost. The way in which the uni
versity accounts were kept would be anus
ing if it were not so sad and SO lamentable,
The university building stands 50xl0O feet
on the ground and is two stories high. The
building is said to have cost the enormous
sum of $4,000. One is greatly puzzled to
comprehend that such large sum Of money
could have been required to produce such an
edifice. 1t seems to me that builders could
contract to put up seven such buildings for
the amount, and make very handsome prof
its from the venture. The ground upon
which the university building is erected is a
square of ten acres, situated on a rising
ground from which can be enjoyed very
fine view of the city and the bay. It was
donated for educational purposesby couple
of residents of Seattle, the name of only one
of whom is recollected; the gentlemans
name is Denny or Dana, and he donated
about nineteen of the grounds which are
very valuable, being located in the very Gen.
ter Of the city on beautiful plateau. Prof.
Anderson kindly took the writer through
the building. showing him the recitation
rooms, cabinet of natural history, library and
and also leading the way to the
roof, from which point truly magnificent
prospect is obtained. Prof Anderson 10 de-
voting his whole time and energies to repair
ing the mistakes and theneglect Of which this
institution is the victim. Many chairs or
professorships are filed up and it 10 now
possible to obtain q tolerable education at
the Seattle university. thanks to his untiring
efforts to raise it up. But we are sorry that
those efforts are not always seconded ~ they
should be, and that several students Of both
sexes have been sent from Seattle to Califor.
mia and elsewhere to complete their course
OF studies. Prof. Anderson says this course
vas not necessary and that about every
branch Of human knowledge can b taught
here when desired.
Among the industrial establishments. Sc
attic possesses stave aud barrel factory Of
large proportions. Mr.. Louis Sohns. j.,
with great courtesy showed me through the
4 IL L. II = L.