The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-24
CITY or sSoHoMIsH.
Its Progress During the First Quarter
Of 1891.
SxoHoNIsH, April Ia.


Of 1891.
SxoHoxIsH, April IA.
Many complain Of hard times. and for the
transient man, or for one whose affairs
are not well established, times are not as
lively here as they we're year or two ago.
But all established here seem TO have
plenty of money. Property increases in
value, business is increased with it. build
be made, and despite some drawbacks, the
phenomenal growth, development and
prosperity with which Snohomish has
her, and probably will continue for the
whole Of the year 1891
REAL ESTATE.
The Port Gardner real estate excitement
has had quite an influence over Snohom-
ish affairs during the past few months.
This boom has multiplied manifold the
selling price Of all property west of Sno-
homish City. Many farms that two years
ago could have been bought for 5000 each
cannot now be secured for from five TO
ten times that sum. Great quantities of
farm lands, unimproved in many in
stances. have been bonded, and many
sales have taken place at prices ranging
from $tuV 10 S-uU per acre.
There seems to be tendency to develop
in each county around Puget sound .
strong seaport town. Thus in Thurston
county is Olympia. in Pierce county is
Tacoma, in King county is Seattle. in
Skagit county is Anacorfes and in What
com county are the twin cities Of Fair
haven and Whatcom. Thus far Snohom-
ish county has proved an exception
~f
development has been, not at
Snohomish river some fifteen miles, at:
Snohomish City, Should Snohomish
county now fall into line with the rest and
develop strong commercial and manu-
featuring seaport town at Port Gardner,
men wish to know what its effect would be
on Snohomish City. Would il help, him
der or affect the growth of this place.
The general conclusion is that il would
affect the growth here profoundly as TO
the nature aud character of business done
here but that il would not lessen the
population or amount of business here.
On the whole il would probably increase
the population and help, rather than him
der the general growth and development
of this n on.
Some l. ea of the improvements going
on in Snoaomish county can be realized
from the fact that during one month OF
last winter more business was done IN
the auditors Office OF this county than
during the nrst fifteen years after the first
organization of the county.
Real estate IN town has been active ali
winter and many town lots sold, and
great numbers of new buildings are going
up on these new tracts Just pat on the
market Business property Is also in
creaSing in value. One tract OF only If
teen feet on Front street just sold for
$500.
some years ago, Charles Scotney. hard
working. poor man. came 10 Snohomish.
He had then large family of small
children TO support and but little more
than his bare hands TO do II with. He
went TO work digging ship knees. contract
work, etc. Soon for $loo, then considered
a big price, he bought a Front street lot,
built him home raised and educated his
children in good shape, and well supported
his family by his labor. He acquired
other valuable property. Last winter he
sold 10 j. Often & CO., merchants here,
this Front street home lot for $1,000 cash.
He reserved all his buildings and I'M
provements, and moved everything
movable away onto other land near by.
This shows what hard work and the
growth of the country can DO for even
poor working man with large family.
BUILDING IxrEovENESrs.
As many valuable business houses and
residences viii be erected here in 1891 as
during any preceding year. Many are
now under way; many are contemplated,
most Of which VIII he built, and everything
indicates the steady growth aud improve
nent of the place. Not 10 go into details
only A couple of cases viii be referred 10.
The lot purchased by ]. Often & Co. is Is
feet long BY 90 feet wide. They viii pat up
a brick. two or three stories and a base
ment. covering the lot. But while they
have Us feet frontage on Front street.
their depth is only sixty feet. They are
very anxious TO secure part Of the lot IN
rear Of their property: bat although they
offer . high price, the owner declines 10
sell. In hopes OF finally erfecslng such an
arrangement, they viii delay commencing
10 bald few months longer Their
huilding will cost over So, oo9.
Mr.. Andrew Hageriy Is nos spending
some 81 so renting and improving the Ola
store building formerly owned by Black
man BROTHERS He also intends 10 put up
a S. op0 business block on Front street.
where the short bridge crosses The gnHa.
orHxx MATTERS.
Perhaps. during the pas, few years,
more saw mills and shingle mills than
we're needed have been built. Ii might
have been better 10 have fever mills and
more reserve capital 20 run them with, 70