, 1889-10-24
STRANGERS VIEW.
How a Pennsylvania Journalist Is
impressed With This
City.
Its Wonderful Activity and Varied
Resources Subjects of
Admiration.
Its Fame Has Spread to All
Points of the Distant
East.

EDITOR FEvIEw: An Eastern news
papermans impressions of this wonder
full Western country may not bo worth
much, but since you request them take
pleasure in jotting down . few observa-
tons. From the conservative capital of
Pennsylvania to this bustling, progress
i've city is a long jump, but the ride
across the continent is so full of interest
that one forgets fatigue aud only thinks
Of the greatness of his country and the
unparalleled development of that sec
tion beyond the Mississippi.
spent some time in Chicago, st.
Paul, Minneapolis and Helena, but 1t re-
mained for Spokane Falls to dwarf these
older places in all that constitutes thrift,
enterprise and phenomenal growth. An
Eastern man can not properly appreciate
the pushing spirit of your people. He
simply looks on in amazement
and wonder at the indomitablo
energy displayed in the erection of
block after block of massive business
houses, handsome residences, great
hotels and places of amusement where
but few weeks ago fire swept away the
very heart of the business community.
II is this .recuperativo element in your
Western business life that astounds the
people of the older states. We can not
grasp nor understand the immense re-
serve force Of the inhabitants Of this sec
ton.
When we heard in Harrisburg of the
confiagration here, the sympathies of
our people were deeply reused, because
they felt a peculiar interest in this young
city about which they had heard so
much, but when upon the heels of tho
disaster came the intelligence of the i'm
mediate rebuilding OF the section de-
stroyed, their admiration was AS intense
as their sympathy had been profound.
/ have been in Spokane Falls only a
few hours but what | have seen and
heard confirms all that have been led
to believe concerning your city and peo-
pie. have been astonished at the bust
ness activity at every turn and delighted
with the hospitality of those with whom
have come in contact.
Some of our Harrisburg people have
wisely invested in your city and so far as
one can judge the future by the past,
they have reason to expect large returns.
Men of my profession are not as rule
credulous and when | was told away
back yonder that fortunes were being
made out here in real estate and other
enterprises, was inclined to be skepti-
cal. This morning, however, these
doubts have been expelled and am now
ready to accept as truth all that have
previously heard.
1t seems to Inc that the most casual
observer can not help being impressed
with the wonderful resources of Spokane
Falls and the country round about.
With natural water-power for manuiac-
81 s..t. al lts..
territory to the south and west, and vas I
timber land near the city, with an mex
haustible mining region depending upon
it for supplies, the future OF this already
ilourishing community is assured.
Picturesque in its location, hoalthhil
| and pleasant as to climate, with first
class railroad facilities constantly i'm
proving, and with no competition within
! hundreds of miles, even an Eastern man
can predict, with some degree of aCcu
racy, the coming greatness of Spokane
Falls.
This afternoon myselfand wife strolled
over the high bridge spanning the river
below the falls, and were charmed with
the splendid panorama spread out before
us. Beneath us leaped the foaming
waters, while farther down the stream
the tents of an Indian camp were visible.
On the level stretch of country across
the river pretty homes dott the land
scape, and miles beyond majestic noun
tain peaks pierce the sky. No poets pen
or painters brush can properly portray
the loveliness of the scenery from this
point of view.
Our trip through the Northwest has
been one of rare pleasure. We have met
so many interesting people, and have
been so captivated by the social side OF
those whom we have met, that we do
not feel at all like str1ngers in q strange
land. Upon every hand kindness has
been our portion, and we shall return to
our home with the most pleasant recol-
lections.
1t is with some regret that we find II
necessary to continue our trip westward
on Monday morning as ii would have
given us great pleasure to have become
better acquainted with people whose
leading characteristics are industry, in
telligcnce and local loyalty, and whose
faith in the prosperous development OF
their city is we'll founded.
L. J. SrAcKPoLE.
Eel