The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-06
THE BIG STICK GOING EAST.
Beginning It's Trip Across Country-A
Most Perfect Tree.


Most Perfect Tree.
The big stick of yellow spruce tim per
now at the Lake Shore depot is to De
started on its Eastern tour today. and viii
doubtless excite the wonder and admira.
ton of all who see it. David Soper, OF
Chicago, the owner of the big stick. has
decided upon the route he will permit 1t to
take. Numerous railroad companies vol
unteered to haul the stick over their lines
free, for the advertising it would give
them.
The big stick will 60 from Seattle to
Portland over the Northern Pacific, thence
to Omaha over the Union Pacific, thence
to Chicago over the Northwestern. thence
to New York over the Lake Shore & Michi-
gan Southern. 1t will remain on exhioi.
ton in New York City for some time,
after which it will be returned to Chicago
by way of Niagara Falls over the Michigan
Central and will be put on free exhibition
in Chicago for two years. while serving
as counter for big beer house at the
Worlds fair.
Mr.. Soper said that the log had already
cost him over 81, los and, as he contem-
plated naming it Seattle, thereby giving
the city great deal of advertising, he will
ask the Chamber of Commerce to assist
him, and will submit the following propo-
sition to that body:
will contract with you to name the big stick
of timber Seattle in letters carved into the
stick, when finished up, polished and vanished,
Il inches long and IL inches wide, gilded, and
in large white letters on the black painted cover
while in transit from Seattle to Chicago. The
stick is to be finished up and vanished in Chi
cago, and sent to New York city on exhibition
and back to Chicago. being a shipment from the
Pacific to the Atlantic of Washington's best FIR
timber.
The stick of timber is to be put on free ex-
hibit at Chicago for two years during the
Worlds fair, and Seattle to have ten feet in
length on each end of said stick OF timber for
advertising said city and King county, az the
Chamber OF Commerce may decide proper, with
letters one and one-half inches long, one-quarter
inch wide, carved into the timber, and letters
gflded in q uniform manner, with other cards OF
the railway companies carrying the timber over
the route, and Jose d Sons North Bend) card.
D. Soper viii give a good bond OF $1,000
that the above offer will be performed, and,
when done, the city of Seattle shall pay to
ID. Soper $500. II. from any reason, the timber
should not go east OF Chicago then the sum to
be paid shall be $500. Everything mentioned
otherwise to be done and the place in which
the timber finished shall be exhibited shall be
named Seattle. The stick OF timber shall re-
main at least 100 feet long when finished, aud
the name OF the place shall remain Seattle dur.
ing the Worlds fair, in q large brewing COM
pany's hall, well and nicely fitted up as a
counter, in the city of Chicago, ILL.,
In speaking Of the big stick Mr.. Jose,
who found and cut it, says that the tree
from which this log was cut was the most
perfect big tree he has ever seen during his
many years of experience as logger; that
while there are many larger trees, they are
all more or less defective and none are SO
perfect. He says this log is absolutely
without blemish or weak spot, and there
is enough timber in it to construct a
bridge 100 feet long of sufficient strength
to sustain the weight of sixty-ton loco
motive. 1t contains about $1,000 feet OF
timber and weighs $1,000 pounds.