The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-06-01

The most progressive era in the
history of Seattle is Just now at its
hight. The depression in the lumber
trade, coincident with the Willard
failure, ended nearly two years ago
and has been followed By an extremely
active demand. All the Sound mills
are running on full time, finding
ready sale at large prices for their
product This means an active de-
mand for logs, labor, heavy teams,
forage, provisions of all kinds. 1t
means the presence Of many ships,
to the business of the country. The
local business. too. is more active than
for long time past and the output
attic has largely increased. Popula-
ton, too, is pouring into the country
at rate never before equaled. Rail-
road construction is going on upon
two routes tributary to the city. All
these activities are reflected naturally
in the general life of the business
and social center, giving Seattle
the aspect of "boom." 1t is a
boom in fact, but its basis is not in
prospective and speculative conditions,
but in a situation whose elements are
all actual and permanent. The effect
may easily be traced to its
ANIMArfNG CAUSES,
And it is this fact that gives that alb
solute and Astounding faith in the fu-
ture of the town OF which l have
spoken. There is some speculative
movement in the real estate market,
but as a matter Of fact two-thirds of
the ground changing hands is acquired
for purposes of building. Since Janu-
airy three hundred dwellings have
been built, and at this time there are
five hundred in process of construc-
ton. That these houses are built to
live in is demonstrated by the fact
that there is not one unoccupied house
in town. Increasing population Is
based upon increasing industry. There
is no enforced idleness.
Recent progress is illustrated by
many things. Banking returns report
deposits more than doubled within
the past year. For the quarter ending
June 30th last, the value of
POST OFFICE TRAFFIC,
Computed in its lowest terms, was
a, 200. %; for the quarter ended Sep
tember 3Dth the figures were $5.lD 65 I;
for the quarter ended December 30th,
$6,6O695, and for the quarter ended
the 3ist of March, 81, 32292 The pro-
digious development of the postal
traffic has 80 far outgrown the capa-
city of the post Office force that several
additional clerks have been employed
and paid by private subscriptions.
That population is rapidly growing
is fact OF universal demonstration.
Its signs appear in the hundreds of
new houses, in the crowded condition
OF the hotels, in the heavy excess of
arrivals over departures by boats and
trains, in the increased volume of
street population and in n hundred
other circumstances equally sugges-
tive. The present population of the
city is claimed to be @,00. My own
judgment is that these figures are lit
tie too high. but there is certainly not
less than 1890 Even if this lower
figure be accepted, il makes an adj
vance OF 500 in twelve months, and
this I think a moderate estimate.
What the population will be in five
years is. of course, purely a matter OF
speculation. but IL is believed conf
IDENTITY by many that IL viii reach l0o,-
0p. The increase in the value OF real
property by improvement and other
wise Is beyond the range OF reasonable
estimation,