, 1889-08-01
A REMARKABLE. SHOWING.
The Wonderful Growth and Improve
ments Made at the Neighboring
Town of Medical Lake.

A few months ago Medical Lake was
what we might term full-fedged coun-
try village, with streets winding Ill and
out among the rocks like COW paths,
trees and stumps sticking up here and
there like so many stumbling blocks
awaiting the chance to wreck the vehicle
of some unwary traveller. But presto
the change neat and handsome cot
tages have sprung up in all directions,
their gable ends peeping out here and
there among the massive pine trees,
while large and substantial brick blocks
are towering upward on the streets in
the business center where u few months
ago herds of cattle were pasturing.
Hashagan and Dwyer's brick block is
nearing completion and will be credit
To the town. Other brick blocks are TO
be built shortly, one by, Or. Green and
A Congregational church, costing
$500, has been built. A Catholic
church has just been finished and they
have also bought block of ground ON
which TO build parochial school. Al
piece of ground has been bought by the
ing a fine church. Miles of streets have
been graded and wide sidewalks laid
their entire length, giving the pedestrian
a chance of reaching town without wad-
ing knee deep in mud and dust. No ex-
pense has been spared in putting these
streets in perfect order; $1,000 has been
spent grading Lake street $500 on
LeSebre street, $9115 on Broad street,
and they are not through yet. This
does not include $500 spent by Major
Hallett out of his own private funds in
grading Stanley street and continuing
the grading on Lake street and laying
three-fourths of mile of sidewalk:
in Hallett's first addition. Altogether
Major Hallett has spent over SIT, 600 and
opened four miles of streets in this ad-
dition alone. Decomposed granite, an
excellent macadam for the streets, is
being used very extensively and when
beaten down makes one of the finest
roadbeds in the country.
The insane asylum, situated ON the
bluffs on the western side of the lake
and where IA magnificent view is obtained
is rapidly nearing completion under the
immediate supervision of Mr.. Board
man, architectural superintendent. The
building when completed will be four
high. The brick used are made on tho
ground and come the nearest to Phila.
delphia brick in color ever saw. The
foundation wall is very massive and Is
1900 feet long. Mr.. G. NJ. Mcdonald,
the contractor, has fifty men employed
ana expects TO have the building ready
for the inmates by fall. Situated as it Is
on u prominent eminence, it will be
a grand and imposing structure that can
be seen for miles around, while below
and around the shores of the lake is
heavy pine forest which is being taken
advantage of by camping parties, their
white tents showing through the trees
by the dozen, not only Spokanites, but
others from the surrounding country.
Medical Lake has fine agricultural and
fruit growing farms tributary to 1t. On
the bluffs bordering the lake are some
thrifty young orchards of six years
growth, the plumb, apple and pear trees
groaning beneath the weight of fine we'll
developed fruit, while the Lawton black
berry bushes are a perfect picture, load
ed down with their large, yet black and
luscious berries. Fruit culture in this
part of the country has proven to be u
profitable undertaking and II won't be
long when we will be rivals
of Walla Walla, Snake Riv-
er and Yakima valleys, raising
as fine fruit at our own doors.
AS n protection against fire the town
council have contracted for a first-class
Silsby fire engine and hose cart with
hose sufficient to reach from either lake
to the center of town and ere long q
reservoir will be built as an unlimited
supply Of pure fresh water can be OBJ
tained from Crystal lake. No town OF
its size in the country has made such
wonderful growth in the last six months
or made as many improvements, and
with the sweet music discoursed by the
young brass band, under the leadership
of J. Fl. st. Lawrence, the noted blind
musician, Medical lake will become an
attractive and popular summer resort
A. D. y.