Omaha daily bee., 1890-03-19
PUGET SOUNDS METROPOLIS
Tacoma and Seattle Neck and Neck
in the Race.
REALTY CRAZE AT ITS HEIGHT.
Characteristics OF the Two Cities
The Establishment of Manu-
factorics-Tbc Condition
of Success.
TACOMA and Seattle.

1
\ population Of $4,000. In 1850 Tacoma had
but 1000 and Seattle only about 5000. SO
| late as 1884 IL was doubtful whether the
| Northern Pacific road would climb the Cas-
| cadc mountains, and tunnel ever be com
pleted through the summit Since that time
| the road has established its terminus at Ia
| coma, tho wharfage has increased from 700
| feet to five miles. and the taxable property
| of Pierre county from nalf a million to
| 500, 200 600. Twenty-Five years ago William
| Il. Ogden, the first president of the North
| ern Pacific road, said that if the company
| fixed its terminus on Puget Sound, 1T wou Id
| become the largest city on the Pacific coast.
| Whether that place is to be Tacoma or Seat
| tie appears doubtful now; both cities, which
| arc only some thirty miles apart, present
! claims equally strong to that distinction.
| The name Tacoma was first known
| through Theodore Winthrop's book "Tne
| Horse and the Saddle" which appeared in
1862. Winthrop went to Panama for Aspin-
| wall in 1852, and i'll 1853 visited Puget Sound
on his return. He gave an account of his
voyage in canoe with Indians through
Puget Sound, and of his romantic and excit-
ing rldeover the Cascade mountains. He gave
the name of Tacoma to the great mountain
peak hitherto known as Rainier, and the
word is supposed to have been an attempt
at Imitation of one spoken by his Yakima
friends. The name was taken from his book
by the founders of the place. Winthrop was
killed early In the war at Big Bethel, Va,
and his book was printed Immediately after
his death. The name of the mountain dis
tinguishes the inhabitants of Tacoma and
Seattle, who respectively call it "Tacoman
and Rainier" as earnestly as If their we'll
being depended on The distinction.
Tacoma strikes one gong up TO it from the
railroad station much as Kansas City i'm.
pressed the visitor twenty years ago. The
road climbs along up the side of a lofty bluff,
and when the level of the principal street is
reached seyen or eight other streets are
found running parallel with it along the hill,
with rise of seventy tive feet in each block.
This gradient is only on the streets running
up the hill ; the parallel streets, unlike those
of Kansas City, are nearly level from end to
end AS the crest of the hill is neared the
view becomes more expansive, of sound and
hill and mountain. Mount Tocama fifty
miles away rises loftiiy above the surround
ing heights, and on clear day at sunrise
seems to stand iust beyond the waters of
the sound. Some of the streets around the
hill. and notably Tacoma avenue about mid
way in the height are building up hand
somely. There are many beautiful homes
and lawns, and there are fine school-build-
ings, churches, business blocks and theaters.
Where are now streets cut through the mill
ascending, are neatly graded thoroughfares
nearly level running along the hill, there
was four years ago only a steep and wild
ascent filled with standing timber. with logs
lying about. On all the first five streets
along the hill residences and business blocks
are everywhere mingled, many of the latter
of brick and three and four stories in height.
The streets are all run at right angles and
are wide, like those of Omaha, Tacoma has
only just'discarded horse cars, and is substi-
tuting electric cars. The city is with all its
activity. hustle and thrift a very quiet, law
abiding place. There is no more evi-
dence of inebrlety and lawlessness here,
than one sees in Omaha; the saloons
are quiet places and gambling is carried on
inconspieuously The churches are numer-
Gus. large and neat, and are we'll attended;
Rev. Mr.. Copeland, lately Of Omaha, in COM
mon with all the religious pastors, has his
house well-hlled with well-dressed. inteli-
gent and alert congregation. The people
are mostly new comers from the eastern and
middle states, who think first of all of their
business, school, church and social relations.
Tho establishment of the terminus of the
expenditure by tho company of
81, OcO. 900 or 5000 600 on terminal improve
ments, shops and Offices, Is leading more and
more to largo permanent Investments OF
private capital, as ia the locks and ware
houses along the city front for seagoing
vessels: In the monster saw mills located
along the shore for several miles; IN the great
smelling works now nearly completed, at an
expense of nearly $50000O, and in many
other manu- factories and shops that are GER
tainly going up. A magnificent structure will
be built the coming season for the
display of the industries and resources of the
commonwealth. From its lofty towers the
sound Commencement bay, Mount Tacoma,
the Cascades and the Olympic mountains
will be seen. The main building will be
2S0x300 feet, and two stories in height.
There will be botanical gardens constructed
of iron and glass filled with blossoms and
foliage, the most magnificent to be found in
the northwest, especially the flora of Puget
sound, with sea aud fresh water plants, and
submarine vegetation, the tanks being orna
mented with shells and rocks. collection
of wild animals and birds native to the re-
gon of indigenous plants and native woods,
and of the various minerals found in Wash
lngton will also be on exhibition.
Seattle ls q remarkable place. IL differs
from Tacoma much as Kansas City differs
from Omaha. Its streets are narrow, they
are more or less curved; they intersect one
another with little regularity; but down
town they exhibit life activity and magni-
tude of business nothing short of surprising.
BY tho great fire of last June, the whole bus
mess portion OF the city, over mile IN length
aud from quarter TO half a mile
IN width, comprising 120 acres along the
shore of the sound, was swept away. The
view of that portion today recalls that Chi
cago after the great fire. Everywhere over
the burned district three, five and even seven
story buildings of brick, stone and iron are
going up, constructed in the most durable
and ornamental manner, and the founda-
tions of hundreds Of others are being laid.
On several down town blocks, business Is
still being carried on in the canvas tents
which were hastily improvised after the
fire. The lower story OF many of the grow
ing structures is already utilized, while
workmen are adding stories above and in-
ishing off the roofs. The surprising thing IS
the great number of real estate firms, whose
signs everywhere meet the eye, along with
those of the cheap restaurant and the Chln~
ese laundryman, The city is growing i'm
mensely beyond its recent limits. There are
already three lines of cable cars in operation
and one of electric cars, which penetrate
over the hills in every direction 10 the coun-
try two or three miles Along all these lines
surprising rate. One cable road runs
along on the top Of the bluff to the
north. The view Mt every point is charming
several hundred feet below the waters of
the sound skirted on either side with forest
crowned hills, and alive with the business OF
its docks and vessels; in the distance the
Olympian mountains rising to a height of
over one mile; while along the road going up
and down hill necessarily is a succession of
the most lovely sites for houses and grounds.
The cable road running back TO the lakes is
even more attractive Going out on one limo
the lake is seen far below and the cars rush |
down the long grade as II to land one IN the
waters that gllmmer among the dense growth
E,fht naanN Nhn lla