The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-10
GEN. ALGER'S VISIT.
A Distinguished Statesman's
Views on the Outlook.
COMMERCIAL AND POLITICAL.
Prospect OF Great Development OF the
Resources of the state-Issues OF
the Next Campaign.

The periodical visits OF General Russell A.
| Alger to Puget Sound are always watched with
| interest, as they are generally followed by new
| developments of some OF the many industries
| with which the distinguished statesman, soldier
| and business man is concerned He arrived in
| Seattle on Sunday evening in his private car
| Michigan. accompanied by his wife and two
| daughters, by Mrs Leigh S. j. Hunt and son,
| and by the daughter OF Ex-Governor Baldwin,
| of Michigan. The party went at once to Yarrow,
| where the visitors will make their home for the
| time. General Alger will remain on the Sound
| for one or two weeks, returning East by way of
| California.
81 am almost as much at home in this coun-
try he remarked yesterday to a PosTINrELLr-
GENCER reporter, "as in my own state. l know
| it pretty thoroughly. / have studied its re-
| sources with commercial objects, and have
watched its growth with entirely unselfsh in
terest. Yes, know it, and 1 look forward to
| splendid future for IL. made a visit out here
few years ago with General Logan. We went
out in the woods and both took hand at cut
ting down one of those big trees which excite
the wonder of Eastern people You know
/ am pretty expert woodsman myself,
and although my muscles were not
quite as good as they might have
been, the saving was there remember that
woodsman who seemed TO think was sort of
cut down tree. went" added General Aiger,
with a smile of pleased recollection, which
seemed to indicate that he didn't let the woods
man get much ahead of him when il came to
telling trees.
"All this country wants." he continued, sis
transportation. The Nicaragua canal viii be an
immense advantage in enabling us to reach
Eastern markets, but as new lines of railroads
are built its commerce will expand The rail-
roads have been blamed for not offering greater
facilities, but they are not to blame. The long
and short haul clause of the interstate commerce
law prevents the extension OF a low through rate
without losing the benefit of their local traffic
rates. But this will adjust itself in time. The
railroads have had to make long haul over
profitless country, but that condition is chang
ing, and besides commercial conditions gener-
ally win unite to level all this up.
1.-The almost limitless wealth of this North
west coast in lumber alone will keep you all
busy. The older states are becoming thinned
out of their wood, and attention will gradually
be directed to the advantages not only of guam
tity but of size. In Michigan and Wisconsin a
yield of 10000 feet to the acre was very rare
Here 10000 feet to the acre is common and
100000 feet almost 80. Another great merit is
that the wood is more free from defects. The
absence of frost saves the trees from the
shake so common further inland"
General Alger was asked If he felt satisfied of
posits of the state.
ooh, unquestionably So" he replied; "much
as like Washington, could not put cent
into the enterprises have gone into if were
not sure of return All that has been thoroughly
tested. We had here Mr.. Gordon, of Gordon,
Strobel d Co., the great furnace builders of
Philadelphia, and he has made the most COM
plete tests. As you know, vital question was
the adaptability of the coal for making coke
We have been treasured beyond all experimental
stages on that subject. 1t did not need much
investigation to learn that there is plenty of
beautiful limestone; and to the iron, all that
previous reports have told seems to be true. The
tests and assays have been most carefully made,
and at great cost, and they show that the pres
ence of phosphorus is hardly appreciable. That
is the great drawback to the Michigan iron.
81 am satisfied" said General Alger, leaning
forward and speaking with impressive delibera.
ton, shat We possess one of the greatest steel
mines in the world. 1t cannot be called mine
it is a mountain of ore. And what field it
opens out for manufacture! Already west of
tho Rocky mountains are 10000 miles OF rail,
opening up markets, and many hundreds of
miles more are yet to be built before all needs
are met. But look at the Seattle market alone.
II could have the contract only for making
pipe for this Coast-sewer pipe, water pipe, all
kinds OF pipe that will be needed az your
municipalities grow-1 would have as much as
i
would enable US to pay the higher price for
labor required on account of the higher cost of
living in all new cou ntries, and we could COM
pete successfully with any source of supply
'Mr. Gordon, whom mentioned, put up the
great furnaces at Birmingham and is consid-
cred one OF the best, perhaps the best, authority
on the subject in the country, and his reports
upon coal, iron and limestone were most salts
factory. IL we have no set back, and can fore
see none, although we have searched the posi-
bilities pretty thoroughly as to waste no
money, We can produce here iron and steel at
price that will insure good market"
General Ayers attention was called to the
dispatches which connected him with Presi-
dent Harrison's cabinet.
The association of his own name with the
most exalted Office in the country not only at
the last convention when he was the choice of
large proportion OF the Republicans of Miehi-
gan, New York and many other of the northern
tier OF states, but in the future, makes any
ailusion to politics in his presence delicate
matter.
General Alger answered the questions mt
however, with perfect frankness and entire
freedom from the affectation of being custodian
of state secrets.
Il have no reason to believe that President
Harrison has thought of me in connection with
a cabinet portfolio. He certainly never said
anything 10 me about II. l meet him, and we
confidence as to his cabinet appointments.
81 was asked by newspaper man RECENTLY
what / thought of Blaine's accepting the presi-
dency. desire TO say, more explicitly than l
was reported as saying, that did not believe
any man living would refuse the nomination If
it were made by great party convention and
offered to him. did not mean to convey the
idea that Blaine would be a willing candidate
feel satisfied that if Mr.. Blaine could be pre-
vailed upon to accept it, the entire Rennhliean
party would be glad to have him; and feel no
less assured that President Harrison would Join
IN an effort to have him nominated
81 am credited, have noticed, with ADVISING
that the nomination should be made by marty
leaders before the convention. Nothing was
turther from my idea. / believe II
VIII be better for the party and
Tor the country if the convention consider
calmly and earnestly before il meets. and in
open convention ratify the choice of Deliberate
judgment. do not refer to clone b,rt IN
popular sentiment. There is danger OF nornins.
tons made with the aid OF brass bands and or
gained wells The time is past when congs