Omaha daily bee., 1889-08-05
A Place to BE Proud OF

TACOMA, July 25.-[Special to THE
BEL. Tacoma is by far the finest city
on the coast north of San Francisco.
She is still forging ahead with stronger
and moro rapid steps than ever.
People all ask will there not be stop
to this wondrous growth, and is not the
time coming when there will be an end
to golden gain and weary waiting for
small returny 1t seems not, and those
who have the greatest wealth have the
greatest confidence. Tacoma five years
ago was not known. Today she is full
Hedged city of $4,000 people. Then "a
wilderness OF trees and stumps, to-day
city of broad streets, fine buildings,
stores, banks, hotels, theaters and
handsome homes. A port Of entry
where ships from all shores come to
barter and exchange the products of
their lands and take away the wealth
of ours. A town moving along with
steady trade; no excitement, nos false
show, no boasting, for there seems no
time for anything but steady
business. Last year the sales of real
estate amounted to a little more than
100000, up to the end of June or in
the first half of this year the sales were
more than $7,0OO.OO0. Two thousand
eight hundred buildings are in course
of construction, representing an outlay
OF more than So, 200, 600 capital.
There are thirteen saw-mills within
the city limits, one of which represents
capital of 5000, 900 and yet all the mills
are not able to supply the demand, nor
have they ever been able to get a stick
OF lumber for shipping or to supply n
retail dealer, hence there are no retail
p1 t.,t I, t,t,,- -fsty. tn;l
grocery stores have been opened this
season, but they find it impossible to fill
their orders, for although several
wholesale stores have begun business
this spring, they cannot keep n sufficient
stock to meet the demands of the trade.
Tacoma has magnificent situation
at the head OF commencement bay.
Coming in on steamer from the east
ern waters of Puget sound, the houses
OF the old town are seen clustering
under sheltering hill, while back of
that and climbing the cliff that rises
higher and higher along the shore new
houses are standing and others are
going up. Down by the waters edge
are mills and factories and the new
smelter.
Following this cliff, busy with traffic
at its base, and crowned with handsome
homes hundreds of feet above the water
upon the green hills side, we come to
where upon the boldest height stands
the business center of the new town.
Here, in massive white building, are
the general offices of the Northern Pa
cific railway company, and little fur
ther away, on the very crown of the
cliff, stands 1.-The Tacoma" q magnifi-
cent hotel built by the same company.
1t stands where the rolling tide comes
in" and last December the grass was
as green upon the lawns and the hill
sides, the waters as sparkling and
bright as they lay in the sunshine, the
forests as fresh on the low-lying hills
across the bay, the skies as clear, the
clouds as soft and fleecy. the winds as
warm as now in the middle of July.
The climate is superb. You hear of
the rainy season. and you picture
days when the wind is cold and raw.
But this is incorrect. The rains fall
gently like warm spring shower, and
the sun, only half concealed, shines
round the edges of the thin light
clouds. There is no wind and the ocean
lawns and steep hillsides, and the tall
ferns, and the shining holly and other
dainty shrubs are of an emerald green,
And it is always so, for there is neither
snow nor ice.
The people OF Tacoma have an in.
spiration in the grand lone mountain
that stands off to the northwest. Though
it is sixty miles away, it seems an in
tegral part of the place, and adds to the
landscape that one touch of subllmlty
which, with grandeur and soft rarity
blended, make the scene as indescriba-
BILE as it is ineifaceable from ones mem
ory. Mount Tacoma is known on the
maps as Mount Raenier as it was called
in honor of the party of English eXplor
ers who discovered it. The people o.
Tacoma have given it its original In
dian name, Takoma or Tacoma, which
means ''the breast or fountain of life,
as it's glaciers and eusrnal SHOWS feet
the Puyallup, Green, White and Other
rivers which flow from 1T.
Yesterday was the first time that il
had completely unveiled itself for {
week. Sometimes the summit woulG
be visible. with a scarf OF clouds drawr
across the middle or lower part. But al
the sun went down the last fleecy CLOUD
melted away, and the glorious noun
tain stood revealed in all its matches
dignity and splendor. Our hearts wer
lifted up in thankfulness, and in awe a.
the sun changed the snow to faintes
rose and tho mountain looked like som,
shining bride bedecked in fleecy robes
No temple made by human hands cal
fill the soul with wonder, love and ad
mirGtion aS does this majestic noun tail
standing there in lonely grandeur.
Get rid of that tired feeling as ouicl