Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-11-26

fer cultivation. The agricultural int,
e Is OF the county have therefore made
real. substantial progress during the
year. Notwithstanding the prevailing
low prices for products
RAu.RoAps-
There are nox about 50 miles Of com
pleted railroad within the coenty limits.
only - miles OF which are operated and
OF any benefit 70 the coanty. On 40.
count Of multiplicity Of Ownership of
part OF the remaiRing connecting roads,
and unfortunate Engagements among
the managers Of the various companies,
much valuable road u not operated,
These difficulties nov sesm to Be Ia q
fsir way Of solution, and IL 10 expected
that within few weeks the road will be
operated, With mush benefit 10 the entire
community.
The operation Of this road and the
cornpie ton OF the projected line Of Is
miles, heretofore referred to, will afford
hing county a very oouplsts system of
internal transportation. will rapidly de-.
veiop Its marvellous resources, and naks
u one OF the foremost counties In the
United States. The shore line Of King
couhty on Puget Sound 10 about 60 miles,
exclusive Of the 50 miles shore trent of
Nashon Island and shore line Of about
70 miles on navieabie fresh water lakes,
VIZ: Lakes Union, Washington and
samanish. Lake Washington Ia the
largest lake In the Territory. A ship
canal Of les than two miles, over an
easy route, would connect Lakes Union
and Washington With the tidevatefs of
Puget Sound in Seattle harbor. The
protest OF connecting thess lakes BY
canal with the Sound. for naval and
other purposes. has been under discus
sion by the United States Government
at times since 1870, and il nov seems
likely that early action will be taken In
the premises, as renewed interest in the
matter has recently been manifested by
public men and engineer officers of the
Government.
BUILDING NATRbIlL.
Good buildine material abounds In
the county. The best of brick are now
made at reasonable prices, and, when
the railroad through the Snoquaimis
Pass IL built, excellent building stone
and the best of marble will be brought
within easy reach of tidewater.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
The city of Seattle ia not only the
chief city of the county. but of the
Territory as we'll. and contains a popu-
lation Of 1900, being nearly twice as
large as any other city in the Territory.
In the magnitude of its commerce and
industries it outranks any other Ia even
Rroaeer proportion. IL is centrally To-
GATED on Puget Sound, and has one of
the best harbors in the world. 10 which
the largest ocean vessels can 6ud nneb-
structsd entrance. Il 10 the great trad
ing port of the Puget Sound basin on
account Of its central location, the en-
tsrprise of Its merchants and the fact
that the steam marine of the Sound
radiates from its vhaFves. No less than
30 steamboats, Of all sizes run from this
port 10 various points on the Sound and
up the rivers running iato 10. To this
hset OF steamers Seattle IL largely in
debted for it's commercial supremacy.
There 10 regular line Of large ocean
steamships to San Francisco from this
port. There are also several large steam
oollisrs and large heet of sailing ves-
sells engaged in the coal trade, making
this shipping port Of very considerable
consequence.
IRON INDUSTRIES.
There are several iron foundries, ma
chine shops, boiler works, blacksmith
shops, &c.. Turning out large amount
OF work and giving employment to
many workmen. Some Of the machine
shops can turn out engines Of large
size.
PUBLIC WORKS.
There are many miles of graded
streets and excellent sidewalks. The
gas and water works are equal to the
supply Of q city of $1,000 inhabitants.
Both are owned and operated BY eorpo-
ratious.
The water supply Is pumped frsm
Lake Washington into elevated reser
voirs. the highest being $50 feet. There
are % hydrsnts having 4-inch conaec
tions, with pressure that makes each
hydrant almost equal 10 a steam fire
engine. There are also two FIRST class
St. sm IRE engines and an abundant
supply OF hose. =
A we'll equipped street railway has
been In active operation for ayear past.
Prominent BuiLpnos.
The city can probably boast a greater
number Of large and Substantial build
ines than any other CITY 81 it, sizs on
the Pacific coast. Among these are two
large and well kept hotels. aplendid
brick stores and Office buildings, q safe
deposit building, and the largest and
hsndsomest opera house on che coast
outside of San Francisco. Few cities
Of 100000 inhabitants IN the United
States have schoolhouses equal to two
Of the public school buildings Of this
city. The Sisters Academy Is also q
very handsome structure. The Terrific
rial University, With its hne buildings,
10 located in this city, and the institu-
ton Ia growing in usefulness. Altogether
the educational advantages enjoyed here
are OF very superior order.
Seattle has not escaped from the gen.
eral depression prevailing shrouahout
the Whole country, and there has been
very little, II any, increase In population
during the past year, bat there has been
a very substantial advance made in
building and improvements; 20 that,
take Il all In alt, the city has more than
held its own in time that has severely
tried most places 10 the couBtry.