The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-14
THE NEW ELEVATOR.
Opening of the First Seattle
Grain Warehouse.
SPEECHES BY THE VISITORS.
The Sale OF Yesler's Wharf Concluded
Mr. Durham, Not the Lake Shore
= Eastern Road. Buys II.

Yesterday the first train ran over the
new terminal railway from the terminus at
Seattle to the great grain warehouse at
West Seattle. Invitations were extended
to the representative bodies OF the city and
to as many citizens as could be comfort
ably accommodated, and very generally ac-
copied. Il formed the Inauguration OF one
of the most important factors in the inter-
est of the city, and establishes Seattle as
market for the vast granaries OF the ger
minating Northwest. The first step
toward the project Is found in the an
nouncement made by the Northern Pacific
railroad that on and after January LIST,
1890, the rates for transporting wheat
from the inland to the seaboard
would be the same for Seattle as
for Tacoma. A condition was made
that adequate storage and elevator capacity
should be afforded. Early in the year the
matter began to be talked OF and the Seat
tie Terminal Railway and Elevator Com
pany was formed. There we're twelve
stockholders, of whom Colonel /. Ewing,
B. +. Sbaubut, John Leary and Jacob
Furth were most active. 1t took several
weeks to make the preliminary arrange
ments, but by May the project was in such
shape that application was made 70 the
city council for franchise for the railway
to the city boundary. The promoters
offered as part Of their side of the con-
tract to guarantee that the railway would
be finished in ninety days. The time
expires tomorrow, August 15 and
the work is completed. Mean
time arrangements have been made
with interior producers to ship to this
point, and just before the starting of the
first train Mr.. Jacob Earth, treasurer of
the company, received dispatch from Mr..
Austin, who is the manager OF the eleva-
tor, announcing that the first train of wheat
had started for Seattle as shipping point.
About O'Clock yesterday n great crowd
assembled at the depot where the First reg
iment band was assembled. Colonel Ew-
ing, president of the company; Hon. John
Leary, vice president; b. +. Shaubut, man.
ager, and r. III. Stretch, the constructing
engineer. received the guests. The Cham
Der of Commerce was extensively repre-
scented. Mr.. Leary, the president, was ac-
companied by Mr.. ]. w. Dodge. the secre-
tary, and Mr.. e. f. Whittier, the treasurer.
The city council was present in a body
headed by Mayor White, and among the
representatives OF important interests were
United States Judge Hanford. ex-Judge
Thomas Burke; the pioneers were headed
by ex-Judge Orange Jacobs and Mr.. L. B.
Andrews, and almost every prominent
man of the city had boarded the train
when the order was given to start. As the
train moved out deafening cheers were
given by the great mass on the dock The
journey was made without hitch, and
although the locomotive moved slowly as a
matter of precaution, the train offour cars,
in charge of Conductor kavanagh, reached
the warehouse in seven minutes. Fully
500 people stood on the floor of the granary
but they seemed only handful in the i'm
mense building.
The elevator, which will be 100 feet high
from the first floor, is not completed, but
the storage warehouse is finished and
ready for business. It is q tws-story
structure, erected upon 800 huge, staunch
piles, and the outside measurement is 600
feet The warehouse is $50 feet long and
120 feet wide, inside measurement. The
first story is as smooth as a dancing hall,
and is divided into long corridors or bays
BY massive pillars fourteen feet high. The
effect of these magnificent corridors, so
symmetrically formed, is exceedingly fine.
The second story is divided into three
bays. the two on the west side being twelve
feet high, and one on the east nineteen
feet high. Along the length of the latter is
continuation of spur of the railroad,
which ascends by gentle incliLe from the
main line, and will bear cars of wheat op-
posite openings in the wall, through which
vessels will be loaded. About 1000, 900 feet
of lumber has been used in the structure,
and it has a capacity of 1000. 900 bushels,
Tie bin capacity is 10000 bushels
The shipping gangways are within eighty
feet OF depth OF thirty feet of water, and
ships will be loaded by means OF endless
bands, which will load the bags as fast as
they can be handled by means of auto
matte dump cars. The ship end of the
chutes will rest on floating docks, and two
TO four ships can be loaded at one time.
To the west of the warehouse is the
power-house 1t is solid building.
founded on basement walls of stone eight
feet thick and concerted three feet down.
The upper walls are OF brick and the roof
is of corrugated iron. Two immense boil
ers will afford the necessary power
The railway at present is a single track,
but the piles are being driven for the Sec
ond. The line is about three ana half
miles long; towards the west end of the
road it sweeps around the shore and con-
tinues on to West Seattle. Two branches
divert soon after passing the drawbridge
across the Duwamish river, one running
the full length of the lower warehouse out
side and the other ascending to the upper
story, where long line of cars can be un-
loaded under cover. Yards are being con-
structed LOO feet long by IS feet wide.
but this, as well as the warehouse, will
be filed IN with solid earth, SO, 900 feet be-
ing required for the latter purpose alone.
After the warehouse had been inspected
the company were invited toa cold lunch
con, to which hearty response vas made.
the guests at the same time enjoying the
superb view of Seattle as seen across the
harbor.
With little formality, but lusty good
will. Colonel Ewing was called upon TO
make a speech. He declared he could not
make q speech, but he succeeded in his
brusque. hearty way in arousing great en-
thusiasm.
You see for yourselves" he said, what
preparations have SO far been made to
make Seattle a wheat-exporting market.
The first train started on its way
laden with wheat today. -Four
days from now Seattle will be-
gin her new career and take her place
among the great grain ports of the world.
tCheersl Without taking any credit to
myself for whatever share / may have had
in the enterprise with You. am delighted
at the prospect it opens out I am only a
newcomer but / have caught some
OF the enthusiasm which has
made Seattle the great city
OF the Northwest. All we do adds 10 her