Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-11-11
A PkS PICTURE OF SEATTLE.

w. II. Roberts, OF olympia, who visit
I'd this place last week, has contributed
TO the columns of the 0rsqo.iaa the
sketch following of our busy little city
Leaving the capital city on Tuesday
last your correspondent took passage
on the steamer Emma Hayward for Sc,
attic, for The purpose of visiting the
Territorial University at that place. On
nearing Steilecoom we passed the rev
enue cutter Oliver Wolcott, on her way
mp the Sound, her destination probably
being Olympia. Passing Old Tacoma,
with its extensive mills and lumber ves-
sells, We soon arrived at the terminus
New Tacoma }, where we found a couple
OF sailing vessels and collier lying al
the bunkers taking in coal. After
leaving this place nothing of note oc-
CARED until we reached
sKArrLB,
Commonly called the "Queen CITY,"
and indeed, TO tell the truth, she is very
appropriately named. A space of two
years having intervened since my last
visit, the improvements during that time
are simply wonderful, If not almost in
credible. Instead Of the old, dingy-
looking building called the Occidental
Hotel meeting the eye Of the traveller ~
he emerRes from the sawdust of Yes
ler's wharf, you now find Q magnificent
structure 119 feet in length, coming
dswn in point to the main street,
rearing its proud head heavenward,
until the eye becomes daxzled in the
effort to count the number of windows
contained in the building. This hotel
Is certainly beautiful structure, and
reflects great credit on its owner. Hon.
John Collins, who is also a member in
the Legislative Council. Almost oppo-
site is the massive Yesler- Leary block,
which is another grand addition to that
part of the city, and in looking at it
one is forcibly reminded Of the Baldwin
Hotel in San Francisco in the style of
Its architecture. Some of the finest
stores in Seattle are located in this
block, and were it not for the fact that
at the point where the various sire ts
intersect each other there is decided
want of room, which will be more seri-
oasiy felt hereafter, have no doubt
that its superiority could no. be ex-
celled.
Taking bird's-eye view of this IA
nous city, We SEQ fine buildingssgoing
up on every side. Here is the palace
being built for Yesler; there the mag
nificent residence being built for Sta
cey; then the McNaught building. the
Grand Opera House, 120 feet square,
soon to take the place of the old hall
that has done such service in It's time.
Then we have the $25, 900 school house
upon the hill. aud another one about to
be erected; the new engine house, the
handsome Boyd q Poncin block, the
saw mills, residences, stores, railroads,
shipping, electric lights, and everything
so far in advance of other places or the
Sound, that one cannot help exclaiming
" Wonderful - for wonderful indeed it
is to think that lots that were selling
ten years ago for $25 are today worth
from $4,000 to $4,000. The question
may easily be asked, DO these people
deserve such prosperity" | think l
may truly answer, They d." for had
it not been for their hard, patient toll
and labor, combined with an unusual
quantity of grit, they never could have
reached the wonderful hight to which
they have long and anxiously aspired.
There was time, u few years ago, when
Seattle was called Q paper city," 60
little ready money was there to be found
in all her borders, bus today there seems
to be plenty for all, and no end of work
for the laboring man, while those
who worked hard for the interests
Of the city. are now rcaping q rich re-
ward. The only drawback to the CITY 10
the present state of its streets; what
mud! It is said to be from one to ten
feet in depth, and woe betide the unfOr.
tunate inebriate that happens to stag
ger into its depths. Il will not be sur
prising to me il quite number of vic
tims are raked up when the street clean
ing committee gets to work. A new
song has recently been brought out en-
titled "When the Streets of Seattle are
Clean," and when this event takes place
l have no doubt the citizens will be
happy. 1t is said that the sidewalks
cannot be improved until the grade of
the streets has been settled, and indeed
the sooner this is done the better il will
be, especially for pedestrians. Taking
1t all in all, Seattle is a wonderful place,
and will probably take rank as the chief
city On Puget Sound in the years to
come. The principal hotels now in op-
Grafton seem to be tho Hotel Brunswick
aud tue Arlington House, but of course
there are quite number Of smaller ho-
tells throughout the city. However, as
my time WAS limited, had no chance
to visit the environs of Seattle, where !
should probably have seen as great i'm
pfovemeats as those referred TO above.