Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-06-18
A STATEMENT OF rsTRREsr FEE
ctr CITTzEss To CevsIDER.


OsCEoLA, King Co., June IL, l3ei-
EDrros PosT-IxTELLIoRxcER:
The people Of Seattle appear 90 CON-
fairs, as to bs wholly oblIvIoos Of the
poral or spiritual, outside the corporate
limits Of that city.
Ii Is, doubtless, the privilege, and per
haps the duty of cities, as well as indi-
viduals, to promote their own interests
By all fair and honorable means; and
we have no quarrel with Seattle for her
zeal and industry in that respect; bat
if Seattle expects to disas9ocists her
own interests FROM those of th, country
by which she IL surrounded, and upon
which her prosperity so largely de-
ponds, she will make grave mistake.
The interests OF the two, il not iden-
teal, are at least mutually dependent
upon one another. SEATTLE must bear ID
mind that her splendid harbor and
other great natural advantages, eonstl-
tute bat one factor of the many requlr-
ed 10 make up a great city; for without
commerce a splendid harbor "a only a
splendid Illusion.
IL il as evident as an axiom IN mAth-
ematics, that the prosperity Of any city
must depend upon the volume Of her
trade; and that, in its turn, upon the
country made tributary 20 II.
Now, the laxity and indifference Of
Seattle in extending her territory, on
even retaining that already within her
reach, is simply astonishing; aid more
especially when we consider that she
has such on energetic rival In Tacoma,
which we may rest assured will not fan
to profit by your mistakes.
There IL a region In the southern part
Of King county, embraced by the hist
and Green rivers and the Cascade
mountains, comprising some 6n,eO
acres of agricultural land. and know
as the Useeola country. This traes has
now a population of upwards Of To-
families of hardy, industrious settlers
who are fast developing into farmers
Moreover. there u perhaps no part oi
the Territory receiving q greater lnfiul
of immigration, which will, OF course
be vastly accelerated as soon AS the rail
road land question is once definitely
settled. Yet, Mr.. Editor, this whole re
Rion is practically isolated from Seattle
for the want Of few miles of Wagon
l q
road over which people have, b.
means of wadine, wallowing and swim
ming. made the trip TO Seattle and back
but the instances are necessarily Of rar'
occurrence, aud only resorted 10 IN tbs
most pressing emergencies.
| Here, then. We are presented with tn,
rare and edIfying spectacle OF yonnl
and growing citv, full of lofty aspira
ton and fiercely ambitious Of main
tanning her supremacy over all oom
petitors, yet eifectually debarred of th'
trade Of one third of the very count,
in which IL is situated.
| Il may be the Osceolans are so deepl,
imbued with that underlined quality
known as allegiance, or some othel
mystical attachment TO their COUNTY
seat, that they will persist in forcinI
their patronage upon you IN spite of al
obstacles but IL Is more likely tina
they will avail themselves of the frs
market open 10 them, let that be wher,
it will.
Aud Just here wish to say that, from
present indications, Tacoma IL gettlnl
matters into a shape that must give be
the trade of this whole region for, n
| am credibly informed, the authorities
of that CITY have taken the matter un
| der Amusement, and alse taken 81,
initiatory step toward opening mp
good practicable route to this settle
ment. The people of Tacoma yer,
| justly infer that we enjoy no specia
ImmuRities from Natures law, and tha
We therefore have to eat, drink anC
wear clothing like ordinary mortals
which involves the consumption Of DIR
| goods, groceries and provisions. The,
| also sutmise that We can't successful,
cultivate farms withous farm nipple
ments of various kiAds and they know
| moreover, that our requirements il
those various lines are very consider
able already, and that III the near fu
ture they will have grown to such pro
portions as TO fully jastify them il
| making every reasonable effort to So
cure our trade. They have taken pain
to inform themselves as 60 the extent
resources, population and prospects q
this country, and know Just what the,
are doing.
In conclusion, ] desire to say that i
was not the purpose of this article t.
beg, scold or complain, but to stmpl,
and respectfully set forth the plain AM
somewhat disagreeable facts in tia
case, and leave you to draw from then
any conclusions which the premises
may suggest. Very respectfully,
Nj. J. MURPHY.