The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-31
SEATTLE AFTER THE FIRE.
what Distinguished English Traveller
Saw in the Pacific Northwest.

What Distinguished English Traveller
Saw in the Pacific Northwest.
From "a Run Round the World" by Samuel J.
Fipkin, f. r. q. s.
We were soon at Seattle, thriving town on the
coast OF Washington territory, the most north
efn oil the states on the Pacific slope. Here was
sight indeed! All the business quarter OF the
town, stretching for half mile along the shore,
ana away back quarter of a mile, where it
merged into private residences, rising up into
the background of hills and wooded slopes, was
huge camp; hundreds of tents and canvas
shantles were standing wooden platforms
over cellars and great holes in the earth full Of
water and debris; long planks stretched out
from them to the level ground for the approach
OF customers; these were the shops and stores
hastiIy rugged up as soon as the fire ceased 10
Durn. In the first week of last June, about s
O'Clock in the afternoon, a fire broke out in one
OF the timber buildings, and before anything
could be done to stop it the whole business
quarter was in flames. At IL Mt night all was
over. The suburbs were alive with people, who
eamped out on the greensward, and retired by
the hght OF the stars; they rose early. for at 6
next morning they were clearing away the ruins,
giving orders Tor rebuilding, and generally ak
Ing the best OF the fearful calamity. AS | walked
through the huge open-air work mop, the sounds
OF thousands OF hammers, saws, piledrivers,
ana other artisans tools, nearly deafened me-
cheerful self-controi which enabled sufferers to
tell you OF ali the stirring scenes crowded into
those HVe hours OF burning, as though there
was nothing very remarkable in il To
grumble about. The true American never crum.
Dles; John Bull loves this lesurey luxury, but
MS Alnsinan has the advantage here i'll seeing
tnat prompt action removes very often the
cause, which is better than whining over the
caiamltous effect. Three thousand artisans
were at work rebuilding. and hundreds more
were wanted. New crections were progressing
IN the most unorthodOx fashion; having run
out OF bricklayers, they proceeded with the roof.
ana put II on timber supports and lined in the
sides with canvas. l guess in a few DAYS the
Dicks would come along and the men to Law
them. In other cases the reverse was the nro-
cess. All the brckwork was done but no wood
work was ready. The most grotesoue effects
were the result, as can well be imagined Car
penters and briekIavers were being paid IS to So
per day; Not hundred miles Off there was a
precisely similar scene. Spokane Falls a lovely
city Oh 2uOOO people, was half i'll ruins and nm
dergolng the same resuctation. What a lard of
Goshen for the artisani Even be ore the time ~
the nres they were paying as the usual prire for
such laoor as much as 81 per day for eight hours'
Work. sixteen shillings a day in a land whera
best beef and mutton are al Cd and I'd per round.
and vegetables and fruit still cheaper are NOT
bad wages. if the house rent and clothing are a
little higher than in England
Inc TACT is, Washington territory is lust now
no
ture OF the Industries OF agricuiture. Inmha-
and mining that there is work for cvery man
except the mere clerk, and chances for every
man VINO has "a level head, steady habits and
perseverance. If he has little money so rnT,nb
the better; but do not let him invest II mill he
has worked III the place as journeyman for nj
least six months, and made himself acouain;ed
with the people, the place and the locality. Too
often the mistake is made of hurried visit ana
quick investment. You need to s.stand
around" a little, take the measure of the CON
nor ,,t-s,-
ture. Throughout the whole OF the states ehe-e
Is the belief that Washington territory is tbe
place OF tGe future. A leading New York stock
broker said to me: 81 am going ont thpra ot
once, and shall plant every spare dolIar in
real estate, come back and wait" An Anstra
Ian gold miner, ranchcr and CAPITALIST of very
large means, is on this ship. He knows every
spot OF the Western world, and tells me he is 90
ing back 20 Austria in, sell out all his jntarasts
there ana go upto Washington territory and nut
IN lust ali he can get together" Even the San
Francisco people are turning their attention
from south California, and the oranges lannon's
and raislns, to Washington territory, its lumber
gold and coal. Fancy "A town i've wears Cit'
with 5000 population, three wears ago bqvir2,
only 500. Land III the Gown ana close yicirlity
has ne up IN the same proportion. Evervbody
- making money fast, ana property Chances
hands Mt increasing profits from dav To dsv
This IL no place outside the pale OF 81 vi izeti01
These towns have more comforts than an En
gtlsh city. No dirty gas, unsanitarv wells.
no old world customs and Inconvenience EIao
trcity III street and in car, ana in every homo
served ont ke gas, and charged for ACCORDING
to consumption; the teIeD one in every cot+or,a'
SO that the excuse for g0ssiping visits ia Con-
and the busy mother may exchange her or,
with her friend and lose on ~ the time of The
trlk ana have 10 take no journey The trade
man does not call for orders, neither dons tho
customer make expeditions ~ the shoy, All -
slmplhed; time Is stretched, and human afTorT
saved or economised ny being set Tree for ~ -
purposes than the quite needless one, nj f+cL
ing, carrying ana JOlrneying, where distance IA
pracuea"y aoohshed by the ubiquitous tele-
phone.
seattle is peculiarly well adapted. by nat,-o,
position Tor becoming a great naval as well IS
export station. Easy of access from the PaCie@
with deep water always along the "a hole 81 ~,
sea 'front.', sheltered by The opposite iSro1, i.'
ships 81 any sic can berth az its wharves arriyn
when they Will Behind the town lies 81 ysst
deep lake capable OF holding the fleets ~ ali
nations, 1t shores aft riding splendid -ftcs for
iron WotAs, 81 p-oulldIng yards, and other great
comneTClHt industries. The enterprisruy Ras
semer, or his agents. have already secI7rad .
magnificent site On which 10 establish wo-Es fc-
the man Iiacture OF steel, and the United states
authoIlucs are turning thelr attention 10 tha
place os q suitable SPOT for great Pacific naval
atom. Everything b. sQeass for Seatt q e,,n-;
Gus future, While Tacoma, its more s9U,hariy
rival, can Only boast equal natura. ADVANTAGE
on one pOlut-c!imats. SouIewh hat older i, 5os
more settled pcarauCe; its streets are Vol
t3lu Hut- ana q 2 railway Center L must aiyysvs
b. Of much imPortan But there are uoiv
shadows in its Jav. wI.!t q Will alUavs ro,lit,g
against Il as seaport.
Seattle and Tacoma are taking the rise" ort
OF Portland, the capital OF the next state sou-b-
Oreron-a city which has had its chances. and
some people "a is day. situated on the Column
biA river, navigation 10 the sea, distance az
more than lef miles, acts prejudicialy as COW
pared with ports right on the sea shore. vhe-a
vessels can berth ana unload without los II
time or delay Of tides ami bars. l. j. ther.fn,.
not matter OF surprise that Portland is ~
s'anAs'il, while IS new ne.ghbOrs north, the
cenieTs rs vast territories OF the best soil Tor
agriculture, ana fun also OF large tracts ciqar1.
* " ~ E'ii : .Fer 'eal' copper and cOal, are
stT!dlns forward al a marvellous pace.