Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-08-08

burg BIolhers, &I0Q, Q00t Benham &
Gritith, wholesale erocers, SAC, 600;
Pacific Hotel $4,000; Windsor, SIS, 600;
Hyde block, $4,000; Washington block,
SOS, eco; Crescent, $50, COO; Cannon block,
$780, 900; Moore block, $50 900; First
National Bank block, $25, 600, Wolvefton
block. $40, 900; frankfurt block, 1926
OOe; Tult hlock, $4,000; Grand Hotel,
$40, 600.
PROBABLY CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE.
SAN Francisco, Aug. 6.-The loss by
the Spokane Falls FIRE is estimate at
$1,000, 900 by the Coast Regieto, an in
surance journal published in this city.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY.
Spokane Falls was one of the most 70
marksbie towns in tue west for the
rnpidity and for tho substantial character
Of its growth. 1t has only been on the
map ten years, and mp to the time the
Northern Pacific railroad reached it, in
1884, was merely frontier town of no
special account. Its location, however,
in the natural centre of rich agricul.
| tUral territory as big as state, and con-
Venient TO the COsur d'Alene mining dis.
trict, made its growth rapid as soon az
the railroad reached it. The water power
of the falls of the Spokane river upon the
banks adjacent TO which the town was
built Aggregate over 30 QUO horse power,
and this insured the DEVELOPMENT of
enormous manufacturing interests in the
young city as fast as the growth of the
surrounding country created demand
for manufactured products.
In January, 1883, the town had 1000
inhabitants, and at the beginning of this
year its population was said to be Is, 600
with reasonable certainty that ii would
be 20, 900 by 1890
The principal business section Of the
city was south Of the river, where the
ground rose gradually for three quarters
OF mile to line of bluffs. Along the
river were -four, wooden, and other mills,
employing many hundreds of hands.
Great sums of money had been spent in
public improvements by the city. Last
year alone there were eight miles of
streets graded at cost of 300 900, IL
miles OF sidewalks laid for $50 600, and
$l4,000 expended on sidewalks and
drains. Tho town had complete water
works system and was spending $3.50 600
10 extend it. The assessed valuation was
VOsuvAt aoOt MuACh WINS bAlu u Db hUOut
One-third Of tho actual value. The RS
ceiptB OF the Northern Pacific railroad at
Spokane Falls were $500, QUO a month,
ons-tenth OF the whola traffic receipts of
the Inns. The post-Offi,e receipts for the
year, mp to June Both, 1858, were @15, 7s5,
an increase of G6 per cent over the pre-.
yious year.
Besides pubiic improvements, there
were in Spokane Falls tive miles OF horse
Eeilroad in operation, with motor line,
q cable line and an electric hue in course
of construction. The electric light plant
was said to be the largest west OF the
Rocky Mountains. Power for most Of
these enterprises, rs we'll as for the mills,
came from the falls. Railroads were
stretching out into the country in every
direction from Spokane Falls and it was
certain to be great railroad centre
within five years,
Besides the retail business, there was o
large wholesale trade rowing mp. Alto
geiher there were last ycar 500 separate
business establishments in the city, with
transactions aggregsting over $40 600, 600.
There were 10 hotels and eight banks,
two daily and nine weekly newspapers,
two religions colleges, and score Of
churches. Two million dollars were ex-
pended in building last year, and con-
tracts for 81 600 900 more had been made
ut the beginning OF this year.