The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-01

stories; the Gordon hardware building.
six stories; the Washington block. six
stories; the Union block, four stories: the
oah ranclsco store, four stories comprising
one oiock north to Columbia street, with
new stone building of Mr.. Yesler on the
sue OF tue old Yesler-Leary building. next
70 the Boyd building, under course Of con-
struction. The next block north is COW
elco with the Colman building: the next
oiock with solid row of four and t.vc-
story buildings. and thence on up street
VIII occasional structures. prominent
amongst which is the seven-story Gilmore
pudding, larger than the Palace hotel in
can Francisco. On the other side of the
street Is the Pioneer building mentioned
before; the Fremont, four stories; the
scheuerman, three stories; the Suli-
van block, four stories; the Gott-
stein. three stories In the next
block is solid row of three-story build
ings; then the four-story Frye building,
and many others. On Commercial street,
peiow Occidental square, Front street is
riyailed IN appearance by splendid rows of
buildings, beginning with the stone
olympic and Yesler and nve-story Terry
Denny buildings. On South Second street
there are many magnificent buildings,
prominent among which are the seven
story Seattle National bank and the six
story Jesse w. George buildings. Then
comes the Occidental block, covering an
entire triangular square. On Second street,
parallel with Front, is a number of mag
ni.cent buildings, chief of which are the
Butler. six stories, the Harrisburg, solid
stone, six stories; the Washington
territory Investment Company, three
stories: and for the succeeding two blocks
solid run of four and nve-story buildings
Next Is the Inc Burke block--six stories
and number of other smaller buildings
On the cast side of the street is the four
story Boston block. On Third street is
the iive-story Seattle block, and Just be-
low it is the foundation for the six-story
stone and brick building of Dexter Hor-
ton. Elsewhere throughout the city are
buildings notably beautiful and tasteful.
Details are monotonous, as they involve
long description Of structures that together
form very creditabIe and costly display
OF the enterprise and public spirit of the
people of Seattle.
The business portion of the city is COM
pact, orderly and city-like. To those who
remember the dirty, disordered streets,
and the poor character of most of its
bnilding two years since, the transforma-
ton is marvellous. Then there was aston
ishing activity upon the streets, and Front
street and Commercial street were choked
with the rush of people and traffic. There
were few Line buildings, alternating with
wooden structures of the cheapest, and,
often, dirtiest kind. The ensemble was
unique and anything but pleasing. Store
windows were only occasionally attractive,
and sidewalks and streets were not always
cleanly. Streets were crooked, and at
Occidental square there was an awkward
turn that seriously impeded traffic.
Now the main streets are widened
and, as far as possible, Strengthened, Jut-
ting corners have been cut away, and
many things have been done to improve
the city in its general appearance and to
allow traffic an uninterrupted course
through all streets and to obviate the for
mer inconvenient arrangement. No SEM
biance of the shanty-town character of the
old Seattle remains. The great Ire, which
consumed in few hours $i5000, 900 worth
of property, demolished alike wretched
buildings and crooked streets. and made
possible the building of the Seattle of to-
day-a city of beauty and symmetry.
One effect of the fire was TO divert busi-
ness for time from Front and CONNER
cial to Second street, which, except in a
small portion, had Heretofore been occu-
pied almost exclusively by residences. 1t
was year or more before Front street was
open again to general business, and mean
while the character of Second and Third
streets as business thoroughfares had been
established. Pike street, at right angles
with Front. nine blocks north of Occi-
dental square. was also included in the
business circle. The re-opening of Front
street has not appreciahly diminished the
activity on any of these streets, but on the
contrary they are respectable rivals for
business almost exclusively enjoyed before
the ire by merchants of Front street.