The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-01-14
What has Producedl

necessary to fix on a western terminus for
the Northern Pacific railroad, in its con-
nection with ship navigation on the Pa
cific ocean. The road had already cross
ed the continent and had established its
western terminus at Portland, Oregon, but
the distractions to navigation at the
mouth of the Columbia river, determined
the directors of this road to secure if pos
sible, shorter and safer outletlto the
Pacific ocean.
After CAREFUL examination Of the va
rious harbors on Puget sound, the rail-
road commissioners, appointed especially
for this purpose, decided upon making
the terminus of the road at the head Of
Commencement bay, sheltered nook or
cove, three miles wide and five miles long,
with depth of water ranging anywhere
from thirty to fifty feet, and where the
largest ships that float upon the Pacific
ocean may safely lay at anchor, or load
and unload at Tacoma's docks. On the
west bank of this bay the Northern Pa
cific road has established its freight and
passenger depots.
In order to reach this point by the
nearest practicable route, the road branch
ed off at Pasco, just east of the Columbia
river, and forms what is known as the Cas-
cade branch of the N. P road. This branch
road was completed through to Tacoma
last July, since which Tacoma has added
25 per cent to her population. So great
has been the influx of people, that COM
Portable houses cannot be procured to
shelter them. Tenement houses are pay
ing from Is per cent to 40 per cent per
annum on the cost of lot and buildings.
The $40 houses that have been and are
now in course of erection within the city
limits during the year 1887, are made
quate to supply the demand. Scores OF
families that have been led hither by the
marvellous stories that have been told
them of the growth and prosperity of Ia
coma, and the certainty of wealth and
comforts attending their investments, il
made here at once, are either compelled
to remain at the hotels or find rooms in
private houses until such times as they
may be able to secure lot and build.
There is scarce building site within
the boundaries of Tacoma, where the
bay, the mountains and the beautiful val
ley of the Puyallup river may not be
seen. The city faces to the east and
south, and looking out from house or
hillside. you see looming up in the south
east, the
Mighty Form of Mount Tacoma
rising to height of 14,444 feet. with its
hoary head covered with perennial SHOWS,
and is we'll supported on the right and
left by the lofty peaks of the Cascade
range of mountains. Up one of the SO
peaks the Northern Pacific road climbs
in zigzag or "switchback" form to the
height of 1,198 feet on grade Of 296 feet
to the mile. To supersede this switch
back" they are constructing a tunnel
through this mountain of $3.50 feet in
length, which will be completed sometime
during the present winter or early spring.
At the foot of Tacoma lies the bay; to
the north is the sound with its thousands
of beautiful and fertile islands, while be-
yond is seen the snow-cappsd Olympus,
or Coast range mountains; to the south
east is eeen the clear limpid waters OF the
Puyallup river which is fed by glaciers
far up the sides of Mount Tacoma or
Bainier, and after wandering in it's
course down the mountains side and
through the valley for a distance of
fifty miles, empties it's waters into the
head of Commencement bay on the south
east corner of the city.
The Valley of this River
is very correctly described by writer in
one of the railroad guides in these words:
"The valley as seen from the city OF Ia
coma, is competitor with the bay, sound,
island and coast range, for the admiration
of those who love what is beautiful and
grand in nature" Two or three miles of
the northern end of the valley is de-
void of timber except the fringe along
the river banks; above that for eight or
nine miles, the tree tops in the distance,
as looked down upon from the heights of
Tacoma, seem like carpet of green vel
vet, while the light green of the valley
timbers shade off into the darker green
of the fir trees that cover the uplands.
Then a little further on and higher up,
comes the hazy blue of the foothills of
the cascades; then beyond and far above
these is seen the snow-clad top Of Mount
Tacoma against sky of purest blue"
1t is generally supposed by those who
have not acquainted themselves with the
facts, that Tacoma being situated some
six degrees north of Chicago and eight
degrees north of Washington city, must
be somewhere up in the frigid zone, and
therefore the winters must resemble
those of Lapland or Siberia. Such is
not the case.
The Winters are Short,
not usually exceeding three months, and
are mild and free from the extreme
cold of Chicago or even that of Washing
ton city. This is owing to the fact that
that portion of Washington Territory ly-
ing west of the Cascade range, borders
on or near large body of we'll tempered