Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-11-08
ALONG THE WATER FRONT.

A little more than a week ago we
published an article giving a short &C.
count of the various steamships and
vessels then in the harbor. Something
of an idea may be gathered of the vast
ness and rapid movement of our bust
ness in this direction from the fact that
of the seven vessels then lying at our
docks every one has departed, and their
places have been filled by another small
fleet of miscellaneous shipping. The
Detroit, the last of the vessels mention
ed week ago, left the coal dock yester-
day loaded with coal for San Francisco.
In the mean time the receipts of mer-
chandise from San Francisco at this
point have not been lessening in any
degree, whatever may be the case at
other points. The Willamette, which
arrived Saturday evening, brought $50
tons of merchandise; and the Victoria
came iii on SUNDAY morning with 300
tons more. In addition to this two
more steamships are on the way up
with probably 600 or 700 tens GU board
and three are now at the city taking in
return cargo. Within the week 600
tons of merchandise have been landed
by two sailing vessels, while another is
on her way up the coast and fourth in
the berth loading. These ten vessels,
with probably two or three others of
which We have now no knowledge, will
carry the total freight receipts from
that quarter for the current month up
to fully 1000 tons from San Francisco
alone.
At present the places at the coal dock
are occupied by the collier Willamette,
al most through loading for San Fran
cisco; and the ship Richard Ill, which
has Just moved in to take the place of
the Detroit. The Richard Ill also will
load for San Francisco. This is the
first visit of this vessel to our harbor,
and a description of her was given in
our columns some days ago. She will
probably be ready to sail within the
week,
The Victoria sailed from the railroad
dock Yesterday afternoon, carrying -
tons OF miscellaneous freight, and the
bark Montana is lying at the new dock
waiting her turn to load coal for San
Francisco.
The wreoker Whitelaw is still work
ing away busily at the wreck of the
Mississippi. The latter craft was brok-
en- IN two by the dynamite explosion of
last week, and the bow is now coming
up under the lifting pressure put upon
II by the wreckers.
Our regular Sound and local steam
boats continue to bring in large quanti-
ties of produce and other freight. The
Evangel arrived yesterday, bringing $50
barrels OF San Juan lime, and the Edith
II la1
ton to this local fleet will be Captain
Brittain's new steamboat, the w. F.
Munroe, now lying at w. ID. Scott &
Co.'S wharf, receiving the finishing
touches. She will be ready for business
by next week.
The fleet of little propeilOrs is also
distinguishing feature of our front.
Seldom less than a half DOZEN are to be
found here and occasionally a full doz.
en- may be seen. They range in size
from the length of whale boat 10, and
are a most convenient description of
craft for many purposes. The wharyes
are frequently alive with them, and
their quiet, rapid movements are a GEN
uine pleasure to behold.
In the warehouses and along the
docks business and activity are every
where apparent. The warehouse on the
City Dock is constantly crowded to its
full capacity, and vast quantities of
freight are handled daily. The new
warehouse on the Ocean Dock is almost
ready for occupancy, and the dock it
self is already in process of enlarge
ment, a strip eight feet wide being built
all along its north side. a length of six
hundred feet. Several loads of ballast
have lately been dumped into this dock,
the first put there under the auspices of
the railroad people, although fifteen
thousand tons were put there by Capt.
Marshall during his wharf DAYS. Low
ering the level of the southern bridge of
this dock detracts materially from its
fiffe appearance, and it is to be- hoped
that II will not be considered necessary
to likewise lower the north arm, which
Is now the handsomest piece of wharf
in the city.