The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-03-30

fnted the question Oh PuDsie uftssy
The projeet was heartily approved, and
n mucn interest was manifested that
nxny believed the proposed plans
vould = speedily carried out, the sur
v~vs made, The right~of-way secured,
snd ~ roadway itself constructed
ana opensd to the public.
Many moaths have come and gone,
howevsr. since the suggestion was
6rrt nade, and there are no more IN
1fceffons Of boulevard than there
ven uhsn II. L. YesleF put up the
dirt sawmiiI on the shores Of Elliott
~. Il vas proposed 10 lay out the
dive dong the old coal road valley 70
Ixks Union. thence 10 Lake Washing
IN. ssong the shore Of the latter lake
d ! southxaydly direction for two or
thrse miles, and then lack tothe heart
u he city. No one doubted the feas-
ibiiIty Of the plan. and everybody felt
teftain that the construction Of the
boulevard would be an unmistakahle
benefit - the city, add 10 Is attract.
ivehess, and he source of much
pleasure and enjoyment 10 citizens
and strangers.
II happens that Seattle. 40 Ear as
drives are concerned. is not so naneh
fayofed ~ many other places. The
country around and about IL some
vhat rough and heavily timisered aud
be construction OF roadway has al
ways been an operation involving
asuch labor and ensaiIing great ex-
pense. Natural highways are few and
far between, the greater number OF
these now leading from the city iaav-
Ing been sIashed through thick forests
and made reaay for eonycysnceS only
alter considerable outlay. The op
portunities for pleasure driving, there
fore, are limited and viii always re-
main SO: and the question arises,
whether II IL not advisable 10 make the
best Of The opportunities We have and
construct one or two broad bouleyards
which viii amply supply the wants of
those who IN large city delight In
pleasure driving.
The route which was originally laid
ont around the lakes could not be inn
proved upon, and once completed 10
would certainly be one OF the attract
I've features Of the place. The Grades
arc easy. the scenery charming and
the distance covered by the drive suf-
iiciently long. Indeed. winding as 1t
Toaidsbetwecn hills. through savlnes
and around lakes. with ever changing
bits Of lake and mountain landscape.
Il would DO difficult to find locality
where public road could be more adj
vantageousIy constructed and which
~ the same time would possess so
many attractions In the matter OF
scenery and surroundings.
The time viii come. when, unless tlle
proper steps are now taken, the people
Of Seattle will greatly dsplore the lack
OF drives around the city. II Is conse-
quently important that some action
should he taken now while the city Is
IN It's infancy and when Ii Is possible
to secure routes which years hence
will be covered with buildings or OF
such a value as to make their aequisi-
ton for public purposes out of The
question. At the present time, when
the greater part of the property along
tho proposed boulevard Is unimproyed,
the right of way could be secured at
very low figures II not for nothing.
Property owners adjacent thereto
could easily see the benefits which
would accrue to them through the
building Of the roadway aud there
could therefore BIO but little difficulty
experienced IN obtaining grants along
the entire route.
Now Is the time to act. The matter
which awakened such an interest
when first brought 10 the attention Of
the public has for some reason been
allowed TO drop. but II should receive
attention again and renewed and
more earnest effort should be made to
carry out the original plans before il
y too late. Time win show a drive
way TO be sn almost absolute necessity
70 the city, and ii II is constructed.
coming generations will ever be graft
fled thatthose who lived here when the
city was small and had the foresight TO
provide for the future aud secure. for
those who were to follow. privileges
for enjoyment such as can be obtained
only when y city Is young and before
the people therein have spread ont
ana utilized the land within It's limits.