The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-18
Condition of the Tract Between
the Two Lakes.
PLAT OF THE OLD TEN ACRES.
Interesting Reports ut Yesterdays Meet
Ing Of Land and Building Commits
sioners-An Unpaid Secretary.

engineer, Fred @. Plummer of Tacoma Mr..
RUNNER has surveyed and plotted the present
university site. He finds that the angles at the
corners are not exactly 90 degrees and the
distance across the tract. from northwest to
southeast, is 665 feet, or Eve more than 10 nee
essary 70 give the ten acres decided by A. A.
Denny and Judge Terry. Although Mr.. Denny is
unaware of this variation, still Mr. Piurnmer
recommends that quit claim be obtained for
this surplus strip of land
The plat made by, Mr. Piummer carries the
streets and alleys straight through the tract
The lots laid out are 3oxl20 feet There are four
tiers with eight each between Seneca and Uni
versity streets, and four tiers with twelve each
between University and Union. making twenty
lots in all The first tier lies between the alley
east OF Third and Fourth streets; then
come two tiers between Fourth and Fifth; and
one tier between Fifth and the alley east
This tract comprising the old site is TO be APP
praised and advertised for sale The board can
sell II In bulk or use the plat and sell il in lots,
as seems TO the best advantage to the state. The
plat which is referred to the attorney general for
approval viii not be filed unless the board de-
cdes that the sale of the land By lots is the bet
ter plan.
Since there Is no more work TO be done by the
engineer just at present, he was directed to dis
charge all the men employed in the surveys, or
rather his previous discharge of them under
direction OF Major Hayden and Mr.. Leavenworth
was approved
THE NEW SITE.
Mr.. Plummer also submitted the following in
teresting report In regard to the new Site
The new site of 100 acres as selected by the
board lies between Lakes Union and Washing
ton, and has frontage OF about 1.40O feet on
Lake Union, and of about $500 feet on Lake
Washtngton.f "a backbone or divide from seventy
70 eighty feet high runs north and south through
the middle OF the tract, and the land slopes with
gentle undulations east and west to the
lake front There is in all about twenty acres
OF good farm Land which very materially adds TO
Its value.
The Seattle, Lake Shore q Eastern railroad
cuts the tract into two unequal portions, which
are very unlike in their characteristics. During
the building OF the university the proximity OF
the railroad is decided advantage, but upon
the completion OF the same its location through
the tract 10 not desired As the railroad claims
i can learn. would suggest that their rights be
lawfully examined by competent attorneys, that
the rights of the universits are not lost
There is, however, SUFFICIENT room in the
southern portion of the tract, entirely free from
the railroad, which, when improved, will be all
that would De desired for such en- institution
ii the railroad could not be removed from the
premises 1t could be 30 improved as TO be
slightly.
There are several points in the railroad grade
where switches &c Gould be put in Tor the con- on
progress OF the improvements. The new site is
convenient OF access from the city and suffi-
GENTLY elevated to be capable of thorough drain
sites for grouping the various halls
and cottages. Its natural approach is
from the south and il is likely that
the city OF Seattle with the grounds. suitable
entrance should therefore be provided on the
rb possbS be nsed me for en
poses q strip of timber 900 or 800 feet should be
left surrounding the boundaries OF the tract,
not including the lake front.
Views of both lakes and mountains can never
De cut on by adjoining owners The soil on the
tract 10 OF fair quality, the land mostly
gravelly clay, and fnclining in some places to a
sandy loan. IL win no doubt be improved by
the ordinary agricultural processes and brought
to the best condition for supporting ornamental
fair growth of usual upland timber of fir, cedar,
maple, alder, willow, salval, Oregon grape,
brake, etc; in fact 1t is a typical Sound upland
country. A few small swamps lie in the lower
lands and discharge or drain into the lakes
naturally. There is also found upon the land
in limited quantities yew, dogwood, wild plum,
honeysuckle but they are all of stunted growth
and too poor to be worth saving.
The location OF the buildings should be with
reference TO the contour of the land, and as to
distant views of water and mountain
scenery; and the buildings must harmonize with
the character OF the land upon which they are
placed. A tract of natural forest should be left
adjoining the science buildings for geological
and botanical purposes. A gulch should be left
In its natural condition for the location of fern
cries, etc. The gradual slopes and levels should
be grassed, and they win afford the best oppor-
tunities for the highest class OF Landscape gar
dening. The perspective of the buildings should
be taken into careful consideration in reference
TO the laying out of the land. The botanical and
other gardens should be located so as 10 in
clude the best of the swamp land, together with
variety OF natural soils for the propagation of
the various fora
The recreation grounds should include base
ball grounds, tennis grounds, archery field, rife
range, musical pavilion, Kidding paddock, bath
ing house, boathouse and wharf.
The university complete will doubtless in
clude twenty or more buildings which should
be properly grouped so as to be easy of access
well lighted and heated. and at the same time
command the best possible position and view.
The main hall, library, museum and astronom-
ieal observatory, together with q power house,
must be isolated from other buildings and FIRE.
proof.
A complete water system is indispensable for
convenience of sanitary regulations and fire
protection. Supply must be perpetual aud the
water must be pure and good. The reservoir
must be located al a sufficient elevation that a
stream can be thrown over the highest building
without the aid of other power The drainage
must not be into the same lake from which the
water supply IS drawn.
An artesian well might be successful, but ex-
periments in this country have been rare, and
would not advise the expenditure of over 81 900
on Il trial | would rather advise the sinking of
good well 10 the depth Of twenty feet below the
level OF Lake Washington, and have no doubt
that sufficient supply could be found at that
depth; however. should layer of hard pan be
struck at a short distance below the surface il
might be necessary TO tunnel from the lake 20
the well and then I'll up the tunnel with sand
and small gravel and other materials which
will aid the filtration OF the water. such a sys-
TEN would undoubtedly be successful, and
would not require TO be renewed.
The buildings should be connected with brick
tunneing for the conducting OF power, and At
the same time sford a valuable means for ven
t.latlon by suction through the stack at the
power house A complete telephone ana call
bell system should always be in working order
The fire hydraDt system, with INDEPENDENT
pumps for the purpose of keeping individual
tanks filled In the various buildings, should be
provided for.
Ihsve enumerated these various points for the
purpose OF showing that, although the main
building viii be the first sud possibly the only
Institution OF learning 10 be Immediately built,
IL 10 necessary and very important that IL should
be located with reference to all the future i'm
pTovemcnts that may oe demanded BY the grow
ing institution, and while errors in this will al
Ways be regretted. they canno. be remedied.
The manual training department must adjoin
t1p power-houss. The observatory must be eie-
vSfed aud isolated as much as possible: the
osheT buildings can be located more for con
yeDieDce-
The necessary preparation for the grounds in
clude the clearing and burning of the growth
OF timber and roots. the saving OF the upper soil
when the same Is to be graded the draining
where necessary, the eariching and deepening
OF the soil where planting is TO be done, and
the saving OF all materials useful for
building or constructing The walks and drives
IL Will be matter of economy TO immediately
improve small portion of the better land and
plant therein for trsnsplsnting the shade trees
that VIII De needed IN the near future.
A considerable portion OF the timber now
standing Is good for eordwood and should be
saved; there is slso considerable good lumber
and plling upon the railroad tract which should
be saved.
would strongly urge the ACCESSIBILITY OF do
inG ali this work by days labor under your i'm
mediate direction, as I consider that by this