The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-09-30
IN WEST SEATTLE.
Besasifai street. and Avenues Laid
Dat ON the P,asesu At the summis-
Tr.nsferm.ssea Facilities In . Fe~
Weeks.

There is q distinct surprise at we<,
Seattle for all who will take the troab.e
TO goover and look At the work in pro.
gress there The changes Of the pa<t
few weeks have entirely transformed
the appearance OF the headland- On
the east side. facing this city. two
broad avenues leading to the summit
have been made. and at their point o.
juncture at the water front sub~tan-
tiaI dock has been built. and Is now re
ceiving the flooring. Several hundred
acres Of the broad plateau at the sum-
init have been cleared OF timber. and
the work still in progress viii soon
make II an almost perfect level ready
for binding operations. Surveyors.
under the direction OF Mr.. Stretch. a
skiilfui engineer from San Francisco.
are laying of streets, lots and blocks
upon a plan in which the fine con-
ditions OF elevation and contour are
adapted entirely and practically to the
best possible advantage The names
given to the principal avenues are APP
appropriate and euphonious-R Rainier.
Grant, Fashon, sunset, etc. and equal
taste has been employed in naming
the numerous streets which cover the
point east and west.
Even those who thought themselves
familiar with the point before the work
Of improvement begun are surprised
at the fine adaptation of the site for
the purposes in view. For the space
Of tgo square miles the pieateau Is
practically level, the slopes being Just
enough 70 give variety and beauty
The views everywhere are magnificent
and include all the features of the
splendid natural panorama of which
Seattle Is the center. On the land
side, Just above the green cliff under
which the ascending avenues pass. a
site has been reserved for a hotel with
an outlook upon the city to the west
and TO the Sound on the northwest
and south.
The route selected for the entrance
OF the Seattle & Southern railroad
is along the Inside curve of the harbor
through the present Indian village,
terminating near the site Of the
old Marshall mill ut the water
front Besides the dock, which
is n fine and large structure,
very important improvements have
been made here. The shore line has
been cleared Of the trees and NIGEL
laneous drift which had always OBJ
structed il, the old roadway near the
high-water line has been cleaned out
and in few days the sawmill will be
removed. While things are still in
the rough enough has been done TO
show what the promoters of the work
have in view, and that IL will be upon
a vast scale.
At the old Marshall dwelling, q re-
porter who went over yesterday. found
Mr.. Ewing, the president of the
Improvement Co., Mr.. Rates the
manager, and Mr.. Stretch, the engi-
neer, with their coats off. hard at
work He was permitted TO see the
engineering scheme, a marvel not only
of engineering but of the draught-
ing art. Noting the fine prearrange-
ment OF streets, blocks and parks
suited 10 the purposes of a large popu-
lation and extensive business, he
could not but reflect upon the advan-
tage il would have been to the city
proper IL ii could have been laid out
at its beginning upon an equally wise
and tasteful plan.
The ferry which is intended to con-
meet West Seattle with this side, is
now nearly done at Portland. The
hull is being made by Mr.. Stefien, the
weli-known steamboat-builder, and
the machinery is in process of making
at the Willamette Iron Works. IL is
hoped 10 have the boat here and regn-
larly established on her route within
three weeks from the present date.
When asked II he cared TO give the
public any statement OF his plans, Mr..
Ewing smilingly asked if the work he
was doing wasn't n better statement
than anything he conld possibly
say; and the reporter couldn't
help but think that he was
right. However. added Mr.. Ewing.
"fm not here for my health as you
can see. and If you'll come again
in few weeks or months I'll show
you something worth looking at. "
And the Posr-lNTELLIaENcER il will
ing to stake its judgement upon the
prospect that Mr.. Ewing will not dis
appoint any expectations that have
been formed concerning his opera
tons.