The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-22
THE GREAT SEATTLE.
1t Bids Fair to Be One of Amer
ica's Largest Cities.
OPINION or a BOSTON MAN.
Evidences of Prosperity on All Sides
Good schools, and Church Spires
Loom Everywhere.
Seattle Letter in Boston Post.

of states across our northern border. from
the Atlantic to the Pacific, is con3plete, and
already il is in order 10 revise the phrase
so often used. From Maine to Oregon"
and 10 speak of our eastern and western
limits as from MAINE TO Washington"
The great Northwest which has heretofore
been understood to include the states in
the upper Mississippi valley, has by the
admission of Montana, Washington and
Idaho into the Union, like the course of
empire. moved westward once more. When
the constitution of the United States was
adopted the great Northwest comprised
what afterwards became the states of Ohio.
Indiana and Michigan. Later the great
Northwest moved on, and came to include
the states of Wisconsin, Iowa and Mime
sofa. These now give place to Montana,
Idaho and Washington, and who shall say
that our great Northwest will not in future
years be the term to describe the states of
Alaska and Sitka.
The history of these three new states is
naturally at the present time a matter OF
unusual interest. and happily the latest
volume of Mr.. Hubert III. Bancroft's his
tory of the Pacific state series is devoted to
their later history. In his previously pub
lished history of the Northwest coast their
annals were brought down TO the end Of
the fur company regime, in 1916, at which
time the disputed question of boundary be-
tween the possessions of Great Britain and
those of the United States was finally
settled; and the entire northwest corner of
our country south of the line thus estab-
lished was called Oregon. Subsequently
Washington was set off from Oregon; still
later Idaho was set off from Washington,
and later still the greater part of Montana
from Idaho. For several years after 1876
the history of Washington was that of
slow and difficult settlement and growth.
The story of Washington today, and
especially of the western portion of the
state, is one of wonder and monumental
progress. Seattle, where am now stop
ping for a few days, is the Queen City of
the Northwest. / will make no exceptions
to anyeother. 1t is city of surprises.
Less than forty years ago the present site
of the city was unoccupied save by few
hardy pioneers who located here in 1852.
In 1880 the population was but 1858, today
it is the leading city of the state and by
the United States census Tin June) con-
taind As, 1858 souls. The largest increase in
population has been made since
1855, which was then 1858 = in
the following three years it had
gained 10000 more, in 50 it had increased
TO y 600, while now it is making rapid
strides toward $4,000. This is very re-
markable showing for rapid growth. but |
assure you 1t Is no mushroom growth. On
the contrary, it is one of the best and most
substantial built cities in America today.
Like other cities, it has had its ups and
downs, but its greatest check was most
terrible calamity, which RACED the city
from one end to the other. 1t was but little
over one year ago that the great fire oc-
Cured, destroying business property COW
ering an area of sixty-four acres, and de-
stroyed property valued at over SIG, 0O0, 600.
The PosT-INTELLIG ENCER in telling the
story of the calamity the morning after the
ire aptly said that though Seattle had re-
ceived terrible blow it would not be a
fatal one. Seattle today is monument of
the enterprise and activity of its citizens.
Every man in Seattle has faith in his city,
and will if necessary, back his convictions
with his last dollar. | was fortunate in
securing the services of Mr.. l. Hill Case,
the president of the Washington Invest
ment & Security Trust Company. who
kindly showed me the city, and from whom
secured few facts that will give some idea
of the commercial Importance of the city.
Geographically, the city Is located most
advantageously on Puget sound. has har-
Dor unsurpassed, with six miles of water
front, while stupendous operations are
preparing miles of wharfage, and
spent to render unexcelled advantages and
security to its shipping. The fine build
ings erected and in course of construction
in the business portion. is evidence of the
great prosperity existing here, some of
them quite massive. Among the prom
inent ones | will mention those of Kit
finger Il Terry, Dexter Horton e. Co.,
Manhattan. Harrisburg, Occidental,
Union. Butler. Boston, California, Sulli-
van, Frye and Gottstein. The Denny and
Rainier hotels are substantial buildings
while. in addition to these, are several
modern hotel structures, including the
Arlington, New England, Grand and
others. Some of the residential suburbs
are quite fine, and those lying near Lake
Washington are becoming very popular,
for, besides the lake attraction, good views
OF the mountains are obtained. The moral
tone here is of the best, and churches are
plenty, while the public school buildings
and course of instruction rank high, and
would be credit TO much larger cities.
There are four dailies and several weekly
and monthly publications. The PosT-IN-
TELIdGENcER is the leading daily.
There are fifteen banks doing business
here, having combined capital of 1900
600, which is an increase of over S4000.000
in capital since 1887. | will give few
plain facts: Number of buildings erected
last year was 3.465; property assessment
testimated) $780, SIS, 10000. Real estate
transactions in 1889 were over $15,0Oo,000
Estimated transactions in 1890, SIS, COO
COO The street car system is very thor
Ough. electric and cable lines sixty-nine
miles in operation and under construc-
ton, radlating in every direction. Manu-
featuring Is vet III its infancy, though
special inducements are offered manufact-
urers by the citizens through its Chamber
OF Commerce to locate here. The tributary
country furnishes the raw material for
scores OF manufacturing enterprises. The
mountains surrounding the city are filed
with precious metals. while coal and iron
of superior quality are found in album
dance. The chief manufacturing industry
ut present Is lumber, the output of 1879
reaching 10 .09o, 900 feet. The coal output
Of 1850 was over million tons, while 40
100000 brick, 25 600 cases of salmon and an
iron industry value OF over three-auarters
OF million dollars help swell the total
The wholesale trade of Seattle exclusive
of lumber, reached nearly 100000 But
TO the investor and retail merchant as
well as TO the wholesaler and manufacture
er. Is this city one filed with golden oppor-
tunities. Thoroughly metropolitan, the
city is now so far in advance that it will
never be outranked by any city in this part
of the country.
Mr.. Case. the president of the Washing
ton Investment Company a concern deal
ing exclusively in mortgage loans tells me
that he usually got per cent interest for
his Eastern clients, and the security Is al
together safe. But TO know Seattle and
know il we'll. visit il on your vacation.
The route 10 here is one full of interest.
and travel Is made pleasant by travelling
via the Northern Pacihc which runs
fa.NfS 9. i