Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-07-29
Dowx TIE SOUND.
rhe Trip from Tacoma 10 seaesie-
Hopes OF q Great Failure.

The HID hbO0h hS~~e -
Wopes Of Great Failure.
rCorrespsndence of 8. F. Chronicle
The ride from New Tacoma TO Seattle
hv vater is a most delightful one. Con-
nsction ia effected by the trains at such
times as 10 enable the short passage to
- made late in the afternoon. The
risssnres and comforts of the trip and
he beauty of the scenery are very SEN
s;bly augmented by the waning after
noon and early evening hours. After
fhe dry, dusty ride of over 100 miles in
cars the tourist is reduced to a physical
condition which qualities him TO thor
onohlv appreciate a three hours trip
ovsT one of the NEST enchanting bodies |
N vater TO be found on this continent. |
Famed by refreshing breeze and en- |
tertained by variety Of scenery-water, |
Soreste. distant mountains and an al |
meat Cloudless sky-the fatigued trav-
eIer cannot fail to experience sense of |
tranquil pleasure. Half an hour after |
The arrival of the train from kalama |
the large and finely appointed steamer
vhich is to carry passengers to the me-
tronoIis OF Puget Sound leaves her dock
and turns her PROV northvard. "Down
the Sound" is the expression used to
dcuify going north or toward the en-
trance Of Juan de Fuca straits, and "up
the sound when travelling in an oppo-
"a direction. We were steaming TO
he north, consequently We were NOV
inc s'down the Sound"
NOBLE VIEW.
Looking north, as the boat swung
roand and moved away from the dock,
tbe view was superb. To the left, or in
westerly direction, q broad sheet of
nnruffied water meets the eye, smitten
by the san, now approaching the edge
al the horizon and glimmering like a
"a OF polished silver. Ahead and still
70 our left rises the southern end OF
Vsshon Island, its steep wooded shore
line extending far away to the north.
Directly beyo I'd the steamers jack-staff
the main channel Of Puget Sound
spreads out its rosy, sea-lke arms,
reaching northward until the sharp pro-
truding point of Msury Island, around
which the tides rush with a roar, inter
rupts the distant view. This channel,
from which Commencement Bay
branches to the east, is several miles in
width and resembles an immense river.
On the right, or to the cast, appears the
the mainland. The shore is high aud
broken in places and covered with a
heavy growth of timber and underbrush.
The shore winds in and out as 1t extends
down the Sound, presenting view
trsnquilizing To the senses and pi0tur-
esoue TO the eye. Far to the southeast
the tide fats of Commencement Bay
pljsten in the light Of the setting sun,
and above and beyond rise in cold,
frowning beauty, the Cascade moun-
tains. Mount Tacoma, over-topping
all, Qlows in hues of purple and fiery
cold, a. its frozen summit throws back
the fading light from sun and sky. Back
Of us stands the promontory-likes site OF
Tacoma, the smoke of sawmills rising
high In the evening air and its white
buildings shining like beacons. just
east Of the town. and at the extreme
southern end of the bay, the blue waters
Of the Puyallup river are dimly discern
lille a. they pour into the Sound.
THREE -HoUR's RIDE.
The steamer moves rapidly on; Taco
ma sinks slowly from sight and fades
70 nothing and the opposite shores pass
IN quick review. Occasionally set
tlee'a house Is seen ON the mainland
pesping ont between forest vistas, and
far back in the depths of the unbroken
timber, here and shsre, black smoke can
be sen curling skyward, den0ting the I
existence Of sawmills. Seattle is about
thirty miles north of Tacoma. Three
hours are usually required to accomplish
the trip. Pulley Point 10 soon passed.
North Of this point the Sound widens
and further down the northern end of
Vashon Island appears on the left. Half
an hours steaming and it is passed.
Here the steamer leaves Blake Island
On the left and rounding Alki Point, is
In full view Of the town of Seattle. Ten
minutes Of brisk steaming and We are
among the shipping and safely moored
al0ngside the dock.
'rHR QUEEN CITY OF THE SOUND"
Seattle, the county seat of King coun-
~ and ut present the emporium of
Puget Sound, il located on the eastern
shore Of Duwamish Bay, another arm OF
ths great water system OF the Territory.
Probably the town contains q popula-
ton. resident and transient, of SOOO.
Some estimate the population above
that figure; others, again, place the
number below. Striking fair balance
between the opposite estimates, the fig
uFes given are not far ont Of the way.
SEATTLE was founded about 1853 and Is
ono Of the oldest settlements In the Ter
ntory. II has had quite an eventful
history and passed through the fuctua-
lions and reverses incident to frontier
towns. For many years IL remained a
STRUGGLING, insignificant village. In
1851 seattle contained only 400 popula-
oon and seventy five houses. Five years
hlsr-lS72-ths town had outstripped
lAid claim to 1000 souls. Since that |
Tine the growth Of the place has been
deAdy. There has been only one period |
& anything like serious depression os- |
saning during an interval OF ten years |
and Seattle has occupied for six years |
= more the foremost position OF I'm
pNAnce on the whole finland sea" in |
Mgeel TO activity, enterprise and vol |
~ of business transacted. Even Vic-
nm, the largest port Of British Colum-
~ has been compelled to be content |
vitA position second In importance to |
a&vigorous yonnR American cousin.
rrRsr Views OF srArrLR.
Viewed from the bay, as the steamer
so0nds Alki Point and approaches the
ohote, Seattle fails TO imprsse one with
particular favor-in fact, the impression
3 rather an unfavorAhle one. The site
\ high and commands splendid view
e DuWamish bay, the country TO the
vsst and still beyond. the snowy peaks
4 the. Olympian range: Frem the
vlAsr'G margin tho ground rises-quite
VAduAlly In places, in others the ascent
bulssp and abrupt, presenting a ter
- aspect. Nearly a mile east Of
ueevsAsr long ridge extends, running
onoa north and south. The crest Of
~ Rolougcd hill, or backbone, il par
~ With the shore line, about equi-
0seant from the bay. Along the west
e dsclivity Of this elevation the thriv'
Ihe port Of Seattle 10 located. The
0en6 was originally covered with
envy timber and 10 in numerous places
eeesen and rugged. To clear the trees
- 3umps and grade down the land
building purposes, has involved
etoas labor and much expense. But the
seeseent industry Of its public spirited
aasnA extending over period Of
yean combined with the natural ad-
1nsARes Of the place, have measurably
alemphed over those obstacles inter
keed By nature. With Seattle's natu-
- advantages and commanding a. the
- stts b, the subduing Of forests, the