The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-01
THE CITY OF BLAINE.
Building Improvements Reach the
Sum of 100000.
From 500 to $500 Population in a
Year-Six Miles New Street
The wharves.
BLAINE. Wash. Dec. Il. 800

BLAINE, Wash, Dec. II, 1890.
The city of Blaine is located in the very
northwest corner of the state of Washing
ton. on the international boundary line
between Whatcom county, Wash. e. S.
A, and British Columbia, Canada, the
line being between Blaine, Wash, and
Blaine, B. C. The town now numbers
among its industries four sawmilIs. two
shingle mills and one of the finest brick
manufactures in the state.
Since 1858 white people have been about
the shores of the harbor where now stands
the city of Blaine. First came the strag-
Cling trapper, explorer or trader. then the
boundary commission, which located the
international boundary between Canada
and the United States and brought in quite
4 number of white men, some OF whom
have remained in this locality ever since.
and then came the actual settlers who
came to make homes Some OF these. as
early as 1870, began TO see the possibilities
in store for Blaine, though that name for
it was not known until fifteen years later.
Among the latter class may be mentioned
the Gains, the kingsleys, Bobletts, Hughes
and others.
Blaine was plated in 1855 by the Cain
brothers and has continued to grow eyer
since until the present year, when it has
suddenly leaped ahead until it is said 70
have made as much improvement in the
past year, IN proportion TO the population il
had the LIST of January, as any other place
on this Northwest coast.
OF course, there must be a foundation
for all this progress The concrete base
for the foundation Is the fact that we are
surrounded by an excellent country and
fisheries and resources of various kinds
but upon this was built foundation az re-
putation by raising a heavy bonus for
railroad. The lands now owned hv the
Great Northern here in Blaine. and raised
as bonus for the road, could have hea,,
sold last spring for not less than $500 ooo
Building improvements alone In blaine
for 1880 viii reach in value the sun, 80
10000. AMONG The buildings CONSTRUCTED
may be mentioned the HoIiinshead MOL
which cost $500; the Lindsey MOI
lbrick), $4,000; the Cornish block s1s 600.
Cam block. S1i 600; Rutledge block 80 o.n1,
Gillespie block, 5000, and Barnes 3 av,,s.s
block (brick), $1,000, besides. many othe-
large frame buildings costing from 3, esso
to 5000; also three churches. two of hr;el,
and large brick school buiIdiny eos,;,,,
from $4,000 to $4,000 e
Ia addition to the ordinary building i'm
provements may be mentioned tvvr -.
wharyes built by ID. s. Miller and he
hmgsley Company. az a cost of sas e.so
The city also built six miles of streets and
twelve miles of sidewalks. at 4 eos, - -
$1,000. The electric light company mt =
one OF the hnest systems on the Coass a.
cost OF $4,000. A hne water-works Svsts, :
Is nearing completion.
January l, 1880, Blaine had population
% oV, January |, ls9l, that number viii
oe treoled- One year ago the postal bps;-
10 u Diane Was about $50 per month.
10" y y not less than $50 per month.
oleAl 1hlhgs have been done in Blaine
turing the past twelve months. but the
coming twelve months promise As great
u g1sa.er. we have the promise in the
-sA8 i11uls OF an electric motor line, tel