Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-07-17
4 SOUND CITY.
An Interesting Description Of
the Metropolis Of Seattle.
uasiuess Interests. Public Bald.
Tags. streets and Residcnees-..A
Ceuntv, that will support
several Fine Cities.
rcorr. of The Northwest News.

fCorr. of The Northwest News
Cattle. July 9.-The ali-absorbine
80 on Page Sound, and in fact all
w ~ tina North western country, is where
vi vi the Northern Pacific terminate,
nd vhat effect wSl it have upon the
s:S.,snt cities of the Sound? Under
~ terms of the act of Congress, grant
" the Northern Pacific Railroad Com
- . right of way across the CONT
Pt thew were obliged 70 90 TO tide
.,s, AZ some point on Puget Sound.
Ts;s OBLIGATION has been complied with
- ,bs bnllding of the road to its pres
-. ssrminus, New Tacoma, which 10
su.,tsd at the head of Puget Sound, on
IA water. At this point the Railroad
comnany own absut 1900 acres OF
"a together with other interests, that
- uorth. at present, in the neiQhbor-
snod of about 81, 100000. This fact, to-
.s,hsr with other circumstances, led
snanv psopls to believe that the COM
AM would discriminate in favor Of
Tacoma. and against the other points
on the Sound.
This theory, based upon the experience
.sother railroads in their dealings with
ssyorite towns, would have been good,
49,, the policy Of the EortherA Pacific
Raiirosd Company IN this respect has
I'm 20 widely different from that of
oshers. that there can be no comparison
.hatever. The men who have been
identified, and successfully carried
shyoueh 10 completion, the greatest en-
ss,oyise OF the nineteenth century, have,
n ali their dealings and undertakings,
srhibised too much business CAPACITY to
s,e, adopt the penny wise" policy that
h.s cbafsctsrizsd other transcontinenta
,s;l,oads. Just as Mr.. Villsra said, in
one Of Lis speeches. that he and the CON-
ranies he represented was not engaged
n building cities, but were building a
railroad. That the duty of building a
oitv devolved upon its citizens, and that
he would give them, wherever IL was
posaibIe, railroad communication with
he outside world, and thus place them
In q position to help themselves. He
would, further. render any assistance in
the development of a town, that was
consistent with the interests OF the CON-
pany. but they would.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES
Build up one town at the expense or
downfall of another. Nowhere has this
promise been more faithfully adhered
10 than in the voluntary extension of
the Northern Pacific Railroad from Ia
coma TO Seattle, several miles further
down the Sound. The fact that the
road has been extended does not lessen
Tscoma's chances az chipping point
particle. whilo it materially enhances
Seattle's interests. On the other hand,
1t will rather tend to stimulate business
between these two points, as their inter-
ests are Identical and their conn sction
by rail will bring them into closer bust
ness relations with each other, which
must result advantageously to both.
The experience of other cities so stu
ated has been such, and this is not
likely tn be an exception to that rule.
Puget Sound generally, by virtue Of its
natural advantages, Is destined to be-
come great trade center, or, at least,
10 perform very important part in this
commercial world. but that conveys no
exclusive rights TO any one city on the
Sound. In the division of the trade
that will follow the completion of the
Northern Pacific Railroad each town
will share alike, tn proportion to their
ability to handle II.
Every town or city on the Sound to-
day has some natural advantages, such
~ coal mines, saw mills, smelling works,
good harbors and other resources, any
or all of which il bound to make each
OF them place. But the rapid devel-
opment OF a city will depend altogether
upon the energy Of its citizens and the
amount Of available capital. In this re-
spect Seattle il ahead OF any other city
on the Sound, and not far behind any
city In the United States, so far az en-
terprise is concerned. Seattle. AZ 10 il
approached bv water, presents q very
animated appearance. with the long
piers extending out into the bay, from
which numerous ships and steamers are
taking in csrgoes of lumber and coal,
probably bound for some foreign port.
All along the city front, for distance Of
about two miles, can be seen water craft
OF every description, either arriving or
together with nearly every
craft that plies on the 8 ,und, pay trib-
ute 10 Seattle. Here and there along
the city front il seen
sANpwICiIEo IN DErwEEN,
The docks. about dozen sawmills.
planning mills and machine shops, to-
gether with the elevated railroad track
and coal bunkers Of the COMPANY,
all OF which give IL the appearance Of
perfect mine of industry. Seattle is
situated on Elliott Bay, and has pres
ent water frontage, running north and
south, OF about three miles, with faoiii-
ties for extending il several moro when
needed. The bay affords an excellent
har5or, being provided with q great
depth of water, and protected froru the
storms by Alki Point, which extends
out for a distance of about two miles.
Tho present popopulation Of Seattle IL
about 5000; but a person on going ashore
and trying to elbow his way through
the crowds ON the streets, together with
q glance at the stately buildings that are
70 be seen. would be apt TO place the
inhabitants at about 5000. There Is
something that Seattle can we'll boast
Of, and that In lts hotels. among which
are the Arlington, Brunswick, Nsw En-
gland and Grand Central. They are
nicsiy arranged, well furnished and the
tablss are supplied with everything the
market affords. The prices for first
class accommodations range from 81 80
TO 81 per day. The Arlington Hotel 10
probably the best furnished hotel north
Of San Francisco, and IL il o credit to
tbs city. The handsomest and most
prominent building in the city il the
Ycsler-I 1eary block, located at the inter-
section of Commercial. James and
Front streets. IL is a four-story brick.
With iron front; IL has large bay win.
dows projecting out over the street, and
French plate glass windows on the
lover floor. ID has frontage Of about
100 feet ON James street and lbs on
Front. The corner 10 occupied a. Z
bank, and is elegantly fitted mp with
walnut casings and marble floor. The
cost Of the building was about GO. 100.
Directly opposite this building In found
NE Occidental Hotel, or rather two
aoriss Of il are found, Il being
IN COURSE OF ERECTION.
II 10 fiat-iron shape. being on q frao-
tonai block. and faces four streets. II
viii be composed Of stone and brick,
four stories in hight, with bay Windows
I'll around il. The part that II 20 be
completed this fall will cest $4,000,
bat q is the intention of the owner, J.
CoNins. TO cover the entire block soon
after With the same structure, which
viii have total cost Of $2dtO00. The
corner Of this building will also be CO.
00nias1 na q hank and A thu third