, 1888-03-29
ENrHusIAsTIC.

A correspondent OF the Walls Wslla
Daily Union thus writes concerning
Spokane. and his words voice the opin-
ious of many
Having lived in this territory for
many years and being 30 accustomed
IN the slow and sleepy ways of most OF
its towns. could not realize that such
place as this could develope no rapid
1y. When first saw the place, more
than six years ago, there WAS nothing
~ indicate such n growth. A fine water
power had .rnn to waste for long ages,
but older PCS had plenty OF that
enough to ~ upre mills than are
here now. Sosthat did not strike mo
as being of much Importance then the
railroad pad just been completed
through here, but other places had
that for some yQRSs before and did not
grow any either. The climate was ex-
Cellent, as it is anywhere between the
Cascades and Rockies; the scenery
magnificent, wyk5'the view from any
elevation Hseupefb,' charming. But
the land r miles around was OF
little value for agricultural purposes,
aud could have been bought at that
time at atgovcrnment price--thatiss is some
Of il, and how town OF any dimensions
or i'm mportance could grow here was n
problem that no one could solve and
very few had any faith in It's future.
But citp OF no mean proportions
has sprung up like magic. a won
derful growth has been made values
have increased over any other city in
the territory and money is freely ex-
pended in improvements that outrapk
them all. Aud no other place need be
jealous of this, II II has outgrown them,
for il is part Of our territory, and has
added an immense amount of wealth
20 the general fund. which ten years
ago did not exist. But the question
is being asked frequently: What has
made and is making II city horeY' i
think can now answer that To my
own satisfaction ,at least. Eastern cap.
ital and people are continually flowing
west, seeking homes and places for in
vestInent. The residents OF Spokane
Falls are mostly young people; its
business men are young men, as rule,
who have left the over crowded cities
Of the east, and have como here, at,
tracted, first, by its mild climate as
compared with the severity Of eastern
winters and cyclone summers, second.
ed by the beauty of the locality; third,
the chances offered here for profitable
investment, and they brought with
them money, enterprise, and a deter
minatiop to succeed. They also
also brought the same tastes for the
styles of living, TO which they had al
ways been accustomed. HENCE we
SEQ the outgrowth-elegant brick and
stone business blocks, palatial resi-.
dences by the score. and miles OF
graded streets and sidewalks. No dii-
ja the way, they had to be removed at
any cost.
A splendid system OF water works,
by which water is carried all over the
city with such force that no fire can
do any great amount of damage before
il can be completely drenched by sim
ply attaching one or more hose To
plug or hydrant, which are placed at
convenient intervals on all streets.
There is HOOK and ladder company,
but no steam fire engine or other APP
RtittuS 10 iSSuNu VI ucSu. Shb Cs''h7
rive sewerage system, costing iuuc!,
money, is also in use. These two en-
terprises are owned by the city. Pri-
vate enterprise furnishes al fine electric
light, while extensive gas works are
pressed to meet the demand.
This season will see large number
of business blocks or residences erected,
street railways in operation, and many
other improvements. Another ques-
ton is VIII this thing la-t or will
there be a collapse? l think there is
no danger now OF collapse. There
is TO much capital here for that. 1t
has developed into business center
for an immense agricultural and min
ing region. Population is steadily
flowing in; eastern capital is being
invested here every day; real estate is
increasing IN value and changing
hands rapidly, while the building
boom has set in on an extensive scale
Three immense cellars are nearly COM
pleted and foundations laid, each
about $50 feet square, for three four
story brick blocks ,one of which is for
hotel. Work is also progressing ON
two Iii fferent lines of street railway,
while street grading and other i'm
proveLnents 10 numerous to mention
are all under way.
pilaz a CnrnSaS