Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-10-20
rmE ONLY CITY.

The following extracts are from a let
ter written by Judge X. X. Parkinson.
to his paper, the Daily ysrada Tribune,
Published at the State Capital, Carson
City. The Judge is keen observer.
As intimated he ia likely to settle here:
SEATTLE, Oct. i, 1883.
EDITOR TRIBUNE: Having been on the
tramp for the space of three weeks
through parts of Oregon, have collect
ed some matter of interest which pro-
pose giving you in future communica-
tion. arrived at this thriving town
from Astoria, Oregon, late on Saturday
evening in company with Major Gard
ner and Mr.. Boyle, Of Carson Valley.
who made the journey from Reno to
Salem, Oregon, in their private convey
ance. We had scarcely secured rooms
before our arrival was known, and a
deputation consisting of Doctor Smart,
Captain Lyon, Asa Dawson, Ed. Pow
ers, and dozen more Nevadans well
coined the strangers to Seattle and did
the honors in truly hospitabie style.
Yesterday was lovely day, the first
sunshine had seen for over two weeks
and can with truth affirm that not
half hasover been told of the immense
growth of this wonderful town, or the
magnificent bay on whose shores it is
growing to metropolitan proportions
Three story buildings and some of four
and five stories are built and still going
up in every. direction, and one hotel Is
in process of erection that will equal
the Baldwin in point of architecture. A
theater is also being erected that will
cost 100000; and may say that in no
town or city l have visited has there
been signs of as much prosperity. There
nust be at least 10000 inhabitants and
the number weekly increasing.
There are some fine hotels. notably
the Brunswick anu Arlington, but rs
vet have not found what 1 call first
class restaurant. Living is reasonable
enough, although houses for families
are difficult of attainment and rents of
ground and tenements rather too high
70 continue long. All round the out
skirts of the town dwelling houses are
being erected and there ID no place on
the Pacific coast where pleasant home
gardens can better be made. Seattle,
As far M my knowledge extends, is pc
culiarly adapted to large families of
grown children, for young ladies, not
too proud to perform honest labor. can
get employment in millinery and dry
goods store, and are in great demand.
The harbor and Sound are especially
worthy of notice, for most certainly
there Is net in the world SO beautiful
an estuary as this.
should not 90 into immediate en-
ployment, shall take in all the islands;
thxz< In. .lxxaR
having been offered all the facilities
may need. There are three newspapers
in Seattle. two morning and one even
ing and all sesm to be doing well. Capt.
Lyon Is editor of the Posi- lNTELLIGEN-
GER and makes first-class paper of it.
l find so many Nevada people here
that almost feel at home.
You may perhaps wonder at nay not
writing o. other towns and cities before;
but the reason may be given that have
as yet seen no place so congeniai to my
ideas for future residence. have my
notes, and will send you daily letters
until you have all my travelling expert
ence. As 10 this place, have to say
that the large coal and lumber interests,
the splendid anchorage for shipping,
the easy access from the ocean for ships
Of the heaviest draught, the immense
lumber mills on the Sound, the salmon
canneries and the agricultural land back
of the timber belts mark Seattle as the
future emporium of the North Pacific
coast.
l will conclude this rambling letter by
stating that here is the only town or city
l have struck in my pereer,nations in
which honest labor seems to be respect
ed above high tone, and for that reason
n contend that for families it must
prove good location in the present and
for the future. and for the further rea-
son that il will be the terminus of the
Northern Pacific Rsilroad. p.