The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-01
THE CITY OF WHATCOM.
Consolidated Towns Contain Over
5000 People.
Ten Miles of New streets-sub-Port of
Entry-New Factories-Expendi-
ture of % 900, 900.
wHArcox, WASH, Dec. q, 1890.

WHATcoM, WASH, Dec. q, 1890.
The city of Whatcom, county seat of
Whatcom county, located ON the north end
of Bellingham bay, has made wonderful
and substantial growth during the year
1880. The new and old towns Of Whatcom
have grown together, and the consolidated
cities contain over 5000 people according
to the United States census taken last
June During the past six months the
population has probably been increased to
10000. Not less than $50 buildings have
been erected here since last January, sew
eral of the business houses being brick and
stone. Among the more substantial brick
and stone structures are the new court
house, costing $75, 900; two brick school
houses, $4,000; the Lighthouse stone
block, $4,000; the Jones brick
block, $4,000; the DeMattos block,
$4,000; the Carter & Mcclellan block,
$1,000; the Cornwall brick block, SIS, 600,
and the Roth stone building, now in
course of construction. Perhaps hundred
creditable frame business houses have
been erected during the same period. An
imposing frame schoolhouse, costing S15,-
900, has also been built in New Whatcom.
The accessibility of hne stone quarries,
the cost of building material TO the mini
mum. The G street wharf and ware
house, costing So, 900, has just been COM
pleted, and the railroad companies have
made vast improvements in their wharyes
and warehouses. The Cornwall sawmill,
with a daily capacity of 10000 feet, is
ready for operation, and half dozen
smaller mills and wooden factories have
81 a -
$4,000.
At least ten miles of streets have been
graded and planked, and plank roads lead
ing from the city into the country north
and east have also been built, at total
cost Of about $4,000.
The water-works, supplying the city
from Lake Whatcom, have been in sue
cessfui operation only few months, and
were built at cost of 500, 600. Lake What
com, being only three miles distant and
81 feet above the city, affords the grand
est water supply on the PACING coast
During the year about 100 miles of rail-
road have been built in this county, giving
this city important commercial adyan-
tages. The Great Northern railroad (Fair-
haven & Southern) has been completed
south to connection with the Seattle. Lake
Shore & Eastern, running to Seattle, and
northwest TO New Westminster. The
Cornwall road has been built from What
com to the Canadian PACING on the Fraser
river, connecting in the Nooksack valley
with the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern
At least $4,000 have been expended
in railroad building on Bellingham bav
since the dawn of 1890. Navigation and
commerce have kept pace with general i'm
and trade by land and sea has increased
tenfold over lsS9. Steamers arrive and de-
part from and TO all Sound and sea ports
almost every hour Of the day, and railroad
trans have superseded the OK team and
pack horse on the overland routes.
In order to facilitate commerce by rail
and sea, the government found 1t necessary
10 establish SUPPORT of entry here re-
Gently, ct which vessels now enter and
clear daily. Whatcom Is the distributing
office for all mail routes in the Bellineham
bay country, and the great increase in the
volume Of mail matter coming here testi-
tes 70 the progress Of Whatcom county.
Ii Is confidently expected that free mail de
livery will be ordered for this city at an
early date.
The electric light plant and gas works
recently built aud now in operation are
equal to any on the Coast, and many of
the conveniences and advantages usually
conAned 20 the large cities are enjovei
here. An electric street ear line is now
building and will soon be in operation. and
another company is seeking a franchise
for an opposition line. Whatcom has eight
banks and four daily papers, al of them
doing a good business
A careful estimate shows that during
lsso nearly 5000, 900 have been expended
in private and public enterprises in the
city of Whafcom.
The city of Whatcom, located ON the
famous harbor of Bellingham bay. Is
nearer TO the ocean than any other Sound