The Dickinson press., 1890-07-12
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Spokane Falls, the Metropolis Of
Eastern Washington.
SPOKANE FALLS, ASH,


As promised last week l will try
and give the Press readers a descrip-
ton Of this city. 1t claims IL popula-
ton of 9 5000, is the county seat of
Spokane county. The main business
portion of the city is located on the
south side of the Spokane river. The
water power here far sWrpasscs that
of Minneapolis or amy other water
power of the Northwest. the falls i'll
the space of half Il mile fall $50 feet
and over this constantly rushes a
large volume of water with a power
almost %incalculable. The power is
being utilized for many manufacture
ing industries. 1t is used by two
large Touring mills, several planning
mills, sash and door factories and
saw mills. 1t runs the electric light
plant, the water works, the electric
cars, the cable railway, and in fact
almost every thing is run by the
water power, even to the elevators
in buildings, and there seems to be
no end to it's uses. Yet there is still
thousands of horse power going to
waste and the industries alone that
could use the power would build
quite a city. The great fire. which
IA few months ago swept the business
portion of the city from the face of
the earth, while it caused a great
deal of suffering and heavy loss, did
not stop the enterprising citizens i'll
their efforts to build a city. The old
wooden structures that burned are
being replaced by fine business blocks
of from three to eleven stories and
new Spokane Falls will he better and
more substantial than before the fire.
At the present time there are seventy
five new business blocks going up,
among them one of the finest opera
houses in the Northwest. to cost,
when completed, over Il quarter of a
million dollars. The Northern Ia
citic has lust commenced the erection
of a handsome passenger depot and
the ground is broken for a large eX-
position building. The residence
portion of the city is keeping pace
with the business portion in the
building line and the city government
is lending assistance to the growth
and enterprise Of the people by eX-
tending the electric light and water
system to all parts. The street rail
way companies are also taking a hand
in the building of the city by extend
tending and putting in new lines.
Thousands of men L at work grad
ing down the streets, leveling hills
and blasting rocks for the purpose of
opening new streets OF building, and
taking all things into consideration
the city presents q very prosperous
appearance and is destined to always
he the leading city of eastern Wash
ington. Its resources are numerous.
1t has the water power, agriculture
and u rich mining district to back it.
Business property is high, selling
from $500 to $1,000 front foot and
choice residence lots are worth from
1000 to $4,000; yet good lots Il be
bought for $500, a couple of miles out.
These are reached by car lines. l
would not advise any of my friends
who are doing we'll in North Dakota
to leave, expecting to pick up a
fortune here; yet there are many
former residents of Dickinson here
and most of them are doing well. j,
L. Ninton is running a large dry
goods store and still retains III. j
Sutton as clerk. The latter has also
made some good real estate invest
ments which Melted him a large
profit. NJ. p. Gillen has all he Car
do draying and is making money. He
will be remembered by many of the
railroad boys as a former Missouri
division engineer. d. o. Sweet and
Z. j. Tamblin are earning goof
; wages at the carpenter trade. Jas
w. Beckett is a prosperous real estate
. dealer and can size up a rock pile
many of the lots are solid rock-witl
3 any of the dealers. lie is doing q
profitable business. A. S. Carey is
working in the Northern Pacific
! shops and l understand is also &
l real estate owner. John Barnes, one
5 of the first settlers at Dickinson, is
I located sixty miles from here in the
: Colville valley; but he has beer
teaming in Spokane Falls and is vel
: pleased with this country, though he
still likes Dickinson. Ben. Walton
I is running a cigar stand and has no
I changed from the Ben. of former
days. 5.
l NEW ENGLAND CITY NEWS.
= Mrs. w. H. Fisher has been ill TO