News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-09-19
and at times tt.
w a Shing ton.

i l. In'efie IS state of washington.
constant HoUGHToN, WASH,
got or Sept. 3, 'S9.
wGbIToR News AND CITIZEN We
are still living at our house on Lake
Washington. l think it is too good a
place to leave. The view on the lake
is fne-like views on old Champlain.
Four miles southwest of us we can see
the wooded slope of the peninsula of
Seattle. 1t is three miles from
the other side of the lake to
Puget Sound. The city has grown
from 1000 to $4,000 during the past
year, rate of growth hardly excelled
in America for towns of the same size.
l was in town June Z, the next morn
ing after the great fire, which wiped
out all the business portion of the
place. 1t was desolation itself. |
hope never to see the like again. At
the present date the city is rising
from her ashes, with remodeled
streets Great Improvements are
seen. The new Seattle will be the
pride of Puget Sound. The immigra-
ton this year from the East has been
immense similar to the California
immigration of the past. The coun-
try is fast filling up. Now is the time
to get government land in the Puget
Sound country. Next year it will be
too late. Most of the money is to be
made in the rise of land. There are a
great many chances for the grocery
business in new communities. Also,
the boarding house and restaurant
business is having a bonanza. Seattle
people live largely at restaurants, l
should judge. There are more of
them than you would find in any town
East of four times the size, and they
are all crowded. Rents are very high
in town-higher for instance than in
Philadelphia. When block of tene-
ment houses is built, they are all
rent e beforehand same with business
blocks for stores and offices. There
are over hundred business houses in
tents on one street, including all kinds
of business. There are retail grocer
les doing a business of a thousand
dollars day, very little of it credit.
The climate is one great attraction.
People from the prairie states seem to
feel it, as they are coming fast; but
the New England states and British
provinces are largely represented. l
will say there is chance for work.
Mechanics are in demand, especially
Laborers are doing well,
Sl.50 per day and board; carpenters
get $3.50, masons $3.50.
On the first of October we vote on
the new constitution, which has been
completed, also electing State officers.
1t is an exciting year in politics. The
state is likely to send a Republican
delegation TO Congress. though it will
require hard work to accomplish it,
the other party being we'll organized.
am willing to answer questions.
Could give encouraging facts if were
10 write the history of my neighbors.
All of them who have been here sew
sral years are in comfortable circum-
stances. Not a single poor family
among them, even without regard to
he late rise i'll the value OF land.
Dur little burgh is steadily improving.
over twenty dwelling-houses have
,een put up the past year, besides
NO stores, two hotels, bank and
! large lumber-miIl employing
hirty hands. We have no boom
s yet. We will be contented
With the growth we are having. Some
.ood improvements have been made
pom our church, the audience room
eing remodeled with paint and pa
er, and a new Bailey reflector of six
amps put in. Last year we bought
N Estey organ. There is fine OPEN
ng right here for a general country |
store, for dry goods store, for a |
physician, a land surveyor, and a
A meat market and
would do we'll. We have
to pay the Seattle doctors from $40 to
SIS visit and expenses when we
have occasion for them. The hop
picking season is about to commence.
Immense plumbers of native Indians
are coming from the North for that
From So TO SO day can
be made picking hops. A good many
Of our young people take turn at it.
l am much pleased to hear about my
old friends through the News AND
CITIZEN. 1t is a welcome visitor.
D. III. BICKNELL.