Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-10-21

When in 1882 the Oregon Improve
ment Company found the accommoda-
tons of Yesler's wharf at the foot OF
Mil street inadequate for its rapidly in
creasing business, it was decided to
build large warehouse and wharf at
the foot of Main and Jackson streets,
with capacity for freight storage suffi-
cient. as estimated at that time. for sew
eral years to come. Work thereon was
begun in June, 1882. and completed In
the following November. This wharf
extends GOO feet out into the bay from
the water line at the foot of Main and
Jackson streets. There are two drive
ways 80 feet wide leading from the foot
of those streets to the main wharf and
warehouse. The wharf on which this
warehouse is located is 24O feet In
length from north to SOUTH by LOO In
width. The main warehouse building
is 200x6O feet, and from each end wings
extend shoreward 100 feet, with width
of 40 feet. The hight of buildings
from floor to tie beams is 16 feet, making
In all storage capacity OF 39O,UOO cubic
feet.
1t soon became apparent that the esti-
mate of storage capacity needed by the
company was altogether too low, and
business increased so rapidly during the
spring and early summer of this year
that this large warehouse was constantly
filled to OVERLOOKING. it being almost im-
possible to find room for unloading car
goes. 1t was therefore determined by
the management to at once enlarge their
wharf and storage room by the building
of a new wharf and warehouse. Work
was commenced ON these in August of
the present year, and has been prose-
cuted so vigorously under the able direc-
ton of Superintendent Miller that the
last of next week will find everything
completed and opened for business.
The new wharf lies between Main and
Washington streets. 1t is elevated 2L
feet above the one built last year, and
extends out into the bay lis feet
farther. 1t is of the same length as the
other and 10 feet wider, being 24Oxl7O
in area. The depth of water at the
outer or west side is sc feet at half tide.
This main wharf, exclusive of drive
ways, rests on $50 coppered piles, set
10x12 feet apart. Like its predecessor
it has two driveways 30 feet in width
leading from the ends and connecting
respectively with Main and Washington
streets. The warehouse is one span
l90x100 feet in area, inside measure
ment, and 16 feet from floor to tie
beams, thus enclosing. 3O4 900 cubic
feet for storage purposes. There are
two slips on the west front, and one at
each end of the building. A tower will
se erected on the roof at the south end,
in which fog bell will be placed. The
warehouse is covered by q truss roof,
and held together with tie beams, COM
posed of 3xl2 and 4xl2 plank, each
beam being bolted together with thirty
inch bolts. The beams, Ii in num-
Der, are suspended by rods of IL and II
inch round iron, and are slightly arch
ed, being inches higher in the center
than at the ends. The rafters are also
arched little, adding much strength to
the structure. One hundred and eighty
thousand shingles were used upon the
roof. In the southeast corner of the
warehouse a section 30x30 feet has been
partitioned off, which will be divided
into two compartments for offices.
Along the outside of the driveways and
wharf curbing will be placed, and on
the inside strong railing will be ex-
tended all around.
AS before remarked the new wharf is
215 feet above the old one. We are in
formed that the railroad grade will be
esta blished on a level with the old
wharf. This will render it necessary to
cut down both driyeways of the new
one to that level where the railroad
track interseOts them-nOt a good thing
by any means. When the company be-
gan the building of the wharf it was in
sisted that it should be raised to the
hight of Commercial street, which was
done. 1t appears strange that this
should have been done, and after the
work of building the wharf and ware
house has been completed, the grade
level for the railroad, and, of course. all
wharves hereafter to be built. should be
fixed below the hight then assumed as
correct. 1t is TO be hoped that there
will be comprehensive survey and set
Element of this water front question in
all its bearings before long.
1t will thus be seen that the company
has duplicated its storage facilities of a
year ago. at which time it was thought
that, upon completion of the south
warehouse, ample room for several
years would be afforded. We venture
now to prophesy that before two years
have passed both present buildings will
be found fully as inadequate as the
building of 1882 has been during the
past six months. The foregoing facts
are proof incontestible of the solid aud
rapid growth of this city from a COM
mercial point of view. That this prog
-ess will be maintained no careful OBJ
server Can find reason to doubt.