Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-05-18
DAILY Observation-Disclosures.


A Portland real estate dealer in an ar
ticle in the last Sunday Orygonia" says
the growth of Portland during tho last
sixteen months has amounted to more
than the building of a whole town like
Seattle. He makes the assertion boldly,
but submits neither argument nor proof
to support the position taken. We main
tain that he is wrong. We claim here
400 to 500 inhabitants. Portlandefs
claim from 5000 to $4,000. or about |
seven times As many as We claim. What
is there to justify any such sxtraordi-
nary claim on the part Of our neiRhbors |
of the Oregon town? The census OF less
than two years ago gave them about
seventeen thousand, and gave US about
thirty-six hundred. That our town
has grown at least oEe-third in two
years there is abundant reason for be
lievine. but that Portland has doubled
in the same time is simply absurd. At
q recent special election 80 votes were
cast in this city, and had the election
been of q general character at least l1O
would have been cast. To support the
assertion of our Oregon friends Port
land under like circumstances would
cast about GOO votes and at general
election 100. Were any such votes
ever known in that city? Oar recollec-
ton il tina: the vote of Portland never
yet reached 1909. Again, the taxable
property Of the city of Seattle a. recent
IL returned by the assessor II s, 81. OO.
and will undoubtedly 60 up to 81 ,O0O.-
eco or over when past the board OF
equalization. Ifthere il any one thing
UPON which Potlanders pride them
selves it is on the wealth Of their town.
and the assertion is COMMON that the
city IL richer in proportion tn popnla-
ton than any other place in the coun-
ty. Now, il it il no richer than Seattle
AID it has rs maiiy people rs are
claimed, its taxable property should
rats ut S2s,0O0,Oo0. BIT does it! Oul
recollection is that that figure must b.
cut into halves, and that aboui $i4.
O0U.OOO is the actual amount Of thsi
assessment. Onca more. Oar schools
are attended by about 800 pupils. ant
TT least 200 are kept out for want Of &C
commodation. IL Portland has the thir
ty-odd Thousand inhabitants claimed
or seven times as many AS We have
their schools shauld bs attended by be
tween GOlO and 1000 pupils. Are they
Again memory tells us that they are il
nnnbcr between 1900 and 400. W,
have in no case the exact figures. bu
We are quite sure our estimates approx
i'm 10 the truth closely. But these com
parsons are enough for Our purpose
They justify tne assertion that PorilunC
now has about three and half or fOu'
times as many people as Senttle. against
five times as many hy the U. s. census
of June, 1880, and their wealth ia NJ
greater in proportion than Ours. Port
land is a well-built little city, and hsl
citizens are justified iii feeling pride
in their past and pressnt, but it ian't SC
big that other towns may not in good
time ba bigger. One Of tho towns
certain to gain upon it is Seattle. and il
il well for our neighbors, in the way OF
future Investments, to bear that fact in
mind, and in this connection we cannot
close more appropriately thnn by recall.
ing 10 their minds tho advice Rivsr
them 10y Henry Willard in his famous
speech to. their Board Of Trade--to ~
over to Puget Sound, take possession o;
ths most available points, build thor,
wharves and warehouses, and do theil
shipping through that unequalled high
way to the ocean.