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

Kent was organized as a town of the
fourth class in May, $780, then having just
about the required population. The town
limits enclose mile square. The greater
portion of this area lies in the valley, but
sufficient bluff land is taken In on the east
to give room for future tine residence sites.
At present the majority of the dwellings
and all the business houses are in the val
ley. Kent is on the Northern Pacific rail-
road, sixteen miles from Seattle and
twenty-six from Tacoma. II is in the
midst of White river valley one of the most
fertile as well as most beautiful in Wash
ington. The valley already comprises
many beautiful farms of forty TO 80 acres,
while a still larger acreage is being rapidly
cleared and brought into cultivation Kent
is the shipping point for the agricultural
productions from many miles OF this val
ley. Its proximity 10 Seattle and Tacoma
renders it a commercial point of no incon-
siderable importance. From here is sent
to Seattle and Tacoma more milk than
goes from any other single point in the
state. 1t is also one of the greatest hop
centers of Washington. Potatoes and
garden truck make up the bulk of the ship
ments.
Since its incorporation as a town the
population of Kent has more than doubled.
Its registered voters number DIS, while
many more are disfranchised by too brief
q period of residence in the state A fair
sprinkling of foreigners brings the adult
male population up to several hundred.
The enrolment Of pupils in the schools is
upwards of $50. So that il is within bounds
to say that the population is now fully
l.4o0
In the way of manufacturing industries
the town has made an excellent start.
These embrace two saw mills. one having
an output of $4,000 worth of lumber per
month. the others sales for the year
bring $12l ,e77.SO Total number of feet
cut BY the latter during 1890, 10. a64 aps:
lsth, l9s, 200; men employed, average, 90.
Both make moulding, stair and general
furnishing material Kent has furniture
factory, turning out excellent work from
the native ash, cottonwood and other va
rieties of trees. Two tin shops are doing a
fourishing local business. There are two
/ blacksmith shops, two shoemakers. two
tailors. one steam laundry and a half
dozen carpenter shops, giving employment
TO large number OF men. Cigar factory
No. I39, located here, is most siourlshinv
men, and turning out upwards Of 100. 900
cigars per month, which in quality are
excelled by none on the coast
The town is well supplied with trades
men. there being one strictly dry goods
house, three general merchandise stores.
three grocery houses, one iewelry store,
one periodical and notion store. one CANDY
and fruit store, three restaurants, four
hotels, two bakeries, two butcher shops.
one tiour, feed and commission store. two
hardware stores. two barber shops. one
newspaper and job office. one livery stable.
three drug stores, one depot for second
hand goods, two millinery and several
dressmaking parlors. one furniture house.
and s photograph gallery make I'D the
number.
In the way of public buildings Kent has
four Presbyterian, Baptist.
Methodist and Lutheran The school
building is . very tide frame structure.
costing $4,000. The corps of teachers Is
excellent. and the school is admirably or
ganized and equipped in every thing. Odd
Fellows hall and Good Templazs' hall