The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-01
GUY G. PHrNNEY.
A Career That shows How Energy and
Judgment Prosper In Seattle.

a Career That shows How Energy mnd
Judgment Prosper In Seattle.
Mr.. Guy c. Phinney Is one OF Seattle's
foremost citizens and his remarkable husi-
ness success il the direct result OF his
unbounded faith in Seattle and it, pros
poets. Dir. Phinney came 60 Seattle i'm
ISsi-esght years ago-in a condition
which he now humorously describes as
broke. IL was time for action and Mr..
Phinney was not slow 10 act. lie
Immediately went into the real estate and
insurance business, ut first on q small
scale; but rapidly enlarging from the time
he became known, until today he is a
living encyclopedias OF information about
Seattle and q vefitahle king among the
dealers in real estate.
Mr.. Phinney has Invested several million
dollars OF money in Seattle for foreigners
and has been the promoter OF many OF the
principal industries and improvements OF
the city. His first largc deal was
the purchase OF the tract OF land
in Seattle known as Burkess
second addition, on jackson street This
property he purchased for So, 800. As
illustrative Of Mr.. Phinney's foresight and
sagacity in making investments. Ii Is said
that this s., 80 purchase In now worth at
least $1,000. His next undertaking was
the building OF the Phinney mill AZ Lake
Washington, ami following that the con.
siruction OF four large double houses on
Ninth and Jefferson streets, costing SII 900.
About this tins Mr.. Phinney went ont
into what was then the woods at Jefferson
and Eleventh. streets and built a $4,000
house which ne calls the Carleton cottage =
IL was bold step to take but Mr. Phinney
could see what most OF the spectators
could not, that IL was on that hill and IN
those woods that the future fine residence
portion of the city was going. and his pre-
diction has already bas realized.
The Dire OF June burned building OF
Mr.. Phinneg = ~ the corner Of Front and
seneca streets, and while the smoke was
still hanging over the cits he had force Of
men az work shoveling redhot Goals out "a
put In the foundation for four-sGary brick
buiidlng which was the first building com
plefed after the FIRE. and which IA known
A. the Phinney block. This building coat
$4,000 ard ID A5xll9 In sire. At the same
time he was building the Carleton block on,
Front street, between Columbia ard
Marion. a. cost OF $4,000 Not content
with these improvements, he started n
4i75u10 brick building ct the corner OF
James and second streets. which il now
nearly completed and Is known as the
Butler block. IL i trimmed with stone
ard granite, and Ia designed 10 be the finest
Office block in the Northwest
Woodland PARK. containing 40 acres q
also ono Of Mr.. PhinneY's properties. He
has already expended SO 900 III IMPROVING
the paaee. and II now a.Eine up places for
q fine ball or country residence in the
park. A 99galiou tank complste sys-
TEN Of water works. a boathoase aud hotel
are already pat In. and Mr. Painnev in.
tends to stop improving the place only
when il IS pevfecs. TAe gate 70 he park 4
OF granite, ana i the finest thing "a thu
kind tn toe country. Mr.. Phfnney has
also Just baift a church at Green lake
which be proposes to donate TO the Epssco-
pAliAns soon.
The nuhject Of this sketch was one al the
proEnssers Of the Washington Is4pgnvs.
nseat Company, which built the canal b..
tween Lakes Washington asd Union, ard
he owns besides q mile and and : aaarser ~
shore Land between Smiths cove and gsl.
mon bAy. ard over 100 lots In aud around
Seattle.
Mr. Phfnney holds a General Siehn,o
mathematical scholarship from tbs ainuang
81 Bishop college. which he reees red u Elle
an under graduate. lie was educated et
Philips Exeter acaaesny.. lit New Hanag,.
sAsre and Aeaizis college, Montreal. lie
IA supposed % +. wessh Al sse08a and has
an income Of ~ go month, which viii 70
increased In q lev months to twice thar
amount.
With al bis varions business schemes
ard enterprises. be has rot entirely Tor.
saksn the easy or pleasant size al life. lie
i "a expert shot and greas lover os tie
bnat. snsi his case OF hnntlng parapheraa.
la i equipped Hiah every modern arm and
aceuutfeMens-
re nos rs9iees sAa4 eaa1. hat rek q aaetsla az
AEnen G14gA SqrGn NJ oxea