, 1889-08-22
HOME FROM ALASKA.
Mr.. ]. N. Squier Returns and
Talks About the Trip--A
Singular Coincidence.
He Makes a Proposition to Build
a Large Hotel in Spo-
kane Falls.

Mr.. u. N. Squier returned yesterday
from an extended trip to Alaska, on
which he was accompanied by his niece.
Miss Minnie Evans of Grand Rapids,
Mich, who upon their return from
Alaska proceeded to san Francisco,
from which point she will return TO her
home in Michigan.
Mr.. Squier was seen by REVIEW re-
porter yesterday afternoon and sbeiug
asked how he enjoyed his trip, said
I'VE had u very nice time, indeed. We
visited all the points OF interest
and | paid some attention to the
II incral resources of the country, and
inspected the famous Treadwoll mine
IL Is great mine, undoubtedly. Alasks
is rich In mineral and timber, but ia,
climate Ia a great drawback--too muCl
rain for one thing. If we only had SomG
of their rain down here we would have
country good enough for anybody
When did we hear of tho fire. oh, no
for long time afterwards. We hearc
Of it 25O miles on the other side O
Victoria, when we were ON our waI
homo, and when we met the
steamer Ancon. We came down
on the Elder and when ",
sighted the Ancon our captain ro
marked; we never meet the AnCon
w AZ NlAAApNl lfN'lNAiik bbAt ilNNN lpi
some of our passengers. ON the june
trip down we had Ex-Governor Squh
and wife of Seattle on board, and tl1
time the Aucou brought the news Of the
dctruction Of Seattle by fire Singu-
larly enough, the captains words were
verified, for the first thing we heard
when the Ancon came alongside wa.
that SPOKANE Falls had shared
the fate OF Seattle. Ii was
u strikingly singular coincidence
We'll, when I reached home | found tha
the story of the destruction of tho town
had not been exaggerated, and yet, lying
in ruins as 1t Is, the place looks a thou.
first came here. When first saw my
partner this morning asked him how
we came out, and he answered brietlyi
"Well, we've lost" Ana so we have
but | have come back prepared to begi5
the work of rebuilding. What money
having abundant faith in the towt
| shall do what | can 10 help
rebuild it better than before.
have not yet had time to decide on any.
thing or to formulate any plans. mus
first settle up my insurance and get my
affairs straightened out before | can be
gin to think about my future plans
Being asked ithe would rebuild either
the Grand hotel or the building oppo
site, adjoining the frankfurt, this tall,
Mr. Squier said: "When | rebuild the
block adjoining the Frankfurt, desire
to make it the same style of building, SO
we will have one continuous, uniform
block. do not yet know anything
about the plans which are being pre-
pared for the new Frankfurt. will
probably get the debris cleared away
and the foundation laid this fall. | will
know more about 1t in few days.
In regard to the rebuilding of the
D Grand | Ia
just how much will be done this fall If
/ rebuild the hotel, assure you will
make II good one, although | know
enough about large hotels to know that,
as a rule, they do not prove paying in
vestment am salts tied that if should
decide to put up hotel to cost Sl5O,000,
ana nave the plans drawn for ~
structure to cost that amount, 1t would
cost me 800 600 before | gotst finished.
| know Spokane Falls is in great need OF
q iirst-class hotel, but ii is a noticeable
fact that few cities have secured first.
class hotel without subsdy--usually
| ono-half of the amount necessary to
build 1t. The people of Portland raised
a subsidy of S50O,00O toward building the
large hotel now in course of erection in
: that city and the citizens of ST. Paul did
/ the same thing to secure the hotel Ryan.
These large hotels will not pay sufficient
interest Oh the Investment, hence no one
can usually be induced TO take the risk
without II liberal subsidy. Now if the
citizens OF Spokane Falls are willing to
raise a subsidy | will take the risk and
build iirst-class hotel. | am getting
along in years and | do not feel like tax.
ing the risk alone. do not ask them to
subscribe half the amount, but If they
will raise $4,000 ! will bald them a
hotel which will be a credit to the town.
4 subsidy to this amount would
enable me 10 purchase more ground. on
| which | will agree to build hotel l10x
| l42 feet five or six stories high, with all
modern conveniences and not less than
200 large rooms. | think this is fair
| proposition and am ready TO carry out
| my part of it at any time. In any
event, If build hotel 1t will be one
| strictly tirst-class in every particular"
Mr.. Squier is in possession of an in
surance policy which shows considera-
| BILE business foresight on his part, and
| there is perhaps not another policy of
| the kind in the territory. 1t is rent
, insurance policy and was taken out
three months before the fire. Mr. Squier
showed 1t to the reporter The contents
We're to the effect that in consideration
of certain premium the insur-
ance company insured TO MIR.
| Squier the rent of the Grand
| hotel for year in the sum of $500, be.
ing mt the rate ofS700 per month. Three
months after the policy was issued the
hotel was destroyed by fire, hence the
insurance company must pay the rent
for the remainder of the year, amount.
| ing to $4,000. MIR. Squier is very natur
! ally well satisfied with his experiment
] nf iug1riuer