The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-16
FRONT STREET HILL
How the Proposed Regarding
Affects Property Owners.



go7H SIDES or THE STREET.
-
0~,.re - nasrdtnss Demanding Com-
-.-..-- -. ur.~, - be
Steusty Rssisesd-
The conflict over the regarding OF Front
street between Pike and blanchard
reached the point Of resistance on Friday
last when temporary injunction was
obtained in Judge Idchfenberg's court BY
property-owncr restraining the city from
prosecuting the work. argument upon
which Will be heard on Friday next
Front street between Pike and biancnard
was graded home time ago. and since then
many fine bindings have been erected on
the west side, notable among which are the
stores owned By ]. r. Jones (producing
rental Of II $50 montb) and the building
owned By Rose (rented 1t NOD m0ntne
The east side ID occupied BY private dwell
ingS, many of which have been standing
for years On the brow Of vhatwes formerly
part Of the steep hillside declining
towsrd the shore but are now. through the
Rrading, pefched aiCft on the edge OF
high bank. some thirty Test above the side
walk.
II y proposed 70 make further cut from
Pike 70 Blanchard, that at the deepest
point viii bring the street level seventeen
feet below the present sidewalk.
The principal advocates Of the regarding
ere people It the north end who desire
moro Isvsl road between the business part
Of the city and North Seattle. These are
only generally cOncerned IN making the
thoroughfare easier to travel; those who
favor It actively are property owners at the
beginning q the grade q eacn emo ana
thoee on the west side whose property -
unimpfovsd. but whose land VIII Dc put
more nearly on level with the Sidewalk
instead OF being, ~ now, considerably be-
low il
Those who oppose It most determinediy
arc property-owners on the east side.
Their case was stated BY DR.. Q. q. Root
before the city council ct two meetings In
August The doctor lives In an old-fash-
toned house on the east corner OF Front
and Lenora-a street which 10 80 impracti-
cable for purposes OF traffic that It ter
inmates on Front in flight OF steps. He
has lived there for nine years, buying his
house at time when ne had 70 Chamber
down An uncleared hillside and throw
planks from place to place during the win
ter IN order to reach street His prop
erty has considerably advanced In value.
but the doctor thinks II IL high enough up
for . dwelling now. II the regarding is
completed ho calculates that his house will
stand aixty-three fest above the sidewalk.
II am told, said he, 'that It will benefit
my property. 1t can only do % II cut
down the entire hill this side and build
retaining wall sixty fest high, and thick
enough to keep Second street from falling
upon me.
II believe e II nothing but scheme Of .
few owners Of unimproved property on the
west side, backed up ct their instigation BY
= few storekeepers, who are still living in
the delusive hope that this Is TO be the
business part Of Seattle. When the city
lay In ashes these people jumped to the
conclusion that trade would bo driven
northward. II was, for time. Buildings
were rented ct enormous profits, and . sort
81 effort Was put forth by erecting stores to
attract and retain business. But - the
new buildings went up on the water front
the tide Of traffic began 70 ebb, and the
consequences Is . number Of empty stores
and dwellings.
"6oms owners may b recompensed for
damage done, but l am convinced, a.
every body else must b who understands
the conditions. that this il to b . residence
part Of town for many years to come, and
It IL an Elusive hope that leads few peo-
pie to believe that the hill, with q reduced
grade, can be made mercantile point"
1T Ii said, doctor, that the only road for
teams to North Seattle is by this street;
that the grade adds 10 cost of hauling and
thus imposes . tax on the people of that
district"
THAT Il not so; West street IL almost
level and runs directly from the Wholesale
quarter OF the city to the north end"
How much DO you suppose the grading
will costf"
do not know. I understand it has
been estimated at from $24,OO0 to $4,000,
but the damage to property will be enor-
nous. II the people OF the city are will
ing to pay me $1,000 for my property /
shall, OF course, have no objection to the
change"
Where property mas been improved on
the west side It viii be necessary to erect
another story under each building, and the
expense there Will also be very great
III. ROOF represents one sioe OIL the street.
Inc west sloo 10 answered !or oy MRS. Rose,
wne OF tne owner Oh uiaAovue notei. The
ouioinR iaces rons street. ana Is . sub
stanuai punding' It's rear portion receding
downward IN conformity with the steep
ana almost precipitous grade running
oow .n, " 'nc wa.sI I nons