The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-06
GENERAL CHANGES IN THE CITY.


Business Center Moved-Improveme
In the Streets.
The most notable change is the removal
northward OF the business center of the
city. In old times Commercial street was
rs much one Of the main thoroughfares as
Front street. and the best hotels and bust
ness houses extended also down South Sec
ond and along Washington, Main and
Jackson streets, for all of these streets
were planked, luxury which unfailingly
attracted business. The life of the city
circulated from the then Occidental square
in all directions, but the bulk of it went
southward. Madison street was practically
the northern limit of the business district,
South Third street was about as far as it
extended on the east, climb to Second
street being considered such a handicap
that the Western Union telegraph Office
had 70 be removed from the present site of
the Harrisburg building to the Yesler
building, on Yesler avenue, because it was
too farup town.
The broad. open space of Pioneer place
did not exist for the west line of Front
street ran straight on southwark TO Yesler
avenue, instead of turning to Join Com
mercial street. Thus what was then
known as Occidental square was simply
formed by the junction of Yesler avenue,
Front ~and James streets, without any
widening out such as has been effected by
the condemnation of property for the
triangle. The center of this junction
point was occupied by a large turntable
for the Front street cable road, directly at
the point of the old Occidental hotel.
Past this point the main streams OF traffic
flowed in all directions. and blockade ex-
tending far down South Second or Com
mercial street. and up Yesler avenue or
Front street, was a frequent occurrence.
In fact, it was found necessary to station
policeman here TO divide and direct the
lines Of teams which met and hranched
out from here. In front of the Occidental
hotel was Eight Of stone steps leading to
the entrance Of the Puget Sound National
bank, and this was a fayorite vantage
ground for speakers at popular assemblies.
Across Front street, in front of the Yesler-
Leary building, the sidewalk rose about
four feet above the street, and st its
edge was wooden bench which became a
favorite perch for the loafers. so that it
acquired the bye-name of 'the loafers'
bench" The congregation of the idle and
mischlevous at this point became such a
nuisacce that the bench was at last torn
down. and the police so industriously kept
the loafers moving on that they had to
seek other abiding-plaees.
IL was not simply in the character of its
buildings. but in its width and the STYLE OF
its paving that Front street was then far
from being the stately thoroughfare IL is
now. II Was eighteen feet narrower and
had narrower sidewalks. Ii was plankej
for considerable distance il is true I'm,
the planking was old and had worn into
holes in many places. The sidewalk on
the west side was mostly stone between
Yesler avenue and Columbia street, but or
the east side il was of wood
and very rickety. Yet Front street
was by far the best stree
in the city. Second street WIS by ne
means equal to il, though IL was planked
Is far north as Columbia street and one
side was planked from that point 10 Pike
street. The sidewalks were wooden affairs
well worn and so full of ascents and de
scents that the pedestrian had to watch