The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-01
WELCOMING A GUEST.
Distinguished Editor Enter
tanned at Dinner.
MIR. sLEicHER ON SEATTLE.
He Tells How the Few Great Cities
Were Made-Mr. c. T. Conover's
Hospitality.

Mr.. John A. sleicher. OF New York city, editor
and joint owner OF Frank LesIie's Illustrated
Weekly, was entertained ct . dinner last night
by Mr.. c. 7. Conover, who was formerly on the
Troy, n. Y, Times with Mr.. Sleicher. There
were present of the newspaper men OF the city
and those formerly connected with the press:
Senator w. r. Forrest, Hon. Fred ]. Grant, Mr..
Samuel L Crawford, Mr. Samuel P. Butler, Mr..
Charles d. South, Mr.. Erastus Brainerd, Mr.. T.
c. Cowan, M Lucius Bigelow, Mr.. ]. B. Nelson,
Mr.. Hammond Lamont, Mr.. Lee Fairchild and
Mr.. Frank Peltret.
The menu was unusually fine and everything
was exceilently served. When the coffee came
in Mr.. Conover called upon Mr.. Lamont TO pro-
pose the health Of the guest of the evening
Mr. Lamont spoke of his first acquaintance
with Mr.. Sleicher. when the latter was IN the
full tide OF his first great success as manager OF
the Albany Evasing Journal "Mr. Sleicher had
taken that paper" said Mr.. Lamont "when its
circulation hsd run down to 1,5o0 or so, had re-
haoiIitated it. brought it back to its old emf
nenee and made IL q power not only in New
York state, but In the nation" Mr.. Sleieher
was always ready to give beginner start and
TO stand by him If he did well.
In reply, Mr.. Sleicher said that few could ap-
preciate the pleasure one found while far away
from home in meeting warm-hearted and hospi-
table friends: and he referred 10 the newspaper
work OF Mr. Lamont, in Albany, and OF Mr.. Con-
over. when associated with the speaker on the
local staff Of the Troy, NY, Times Mr.. slecher
added that In his trip across the United States
he had observed that each largo city made its
special claim to attract and deserve public at
tention.
"At Duluth" said he, "I found the people
claiming the distinction of location on the
'unsalted seas Here in Seattle you have the
real seas at Your door, and they are salted. At
West Superior they boassed of their whalebaek
steamship interests, but / learned from Mr..
Conoyer that the, whalebsck manufacture
ing industry is about to be
tablished in this vicinity. Minneapolis and St
Paul divided their time in disputing over the
name that should be given the proposed con-
solidated city and in critieising Census Superin-
tendent Porter and his figures ST. Paul claimed
to be the possessor of great jobbing houses and
Minneapolis claimed supremacy a. q manufac-
turing center. Here in Seattle / find the job
bing houses and large and diversified manufac-
turing interests combined. SO that in my
journey from New York, while / found each
progressive city claiming special attractive
feature, IL remained for me to and consoiida-
ton or combination OF all these attractions In
one place, and that at Seattle.
81 am no boomer, and do not believe in boom
Ing cities, newspapers or anything else; but
desire to speak the truth as see II regarding
Seattle. Bear In mind that there are very few
large cities in the United States, and when
boomer tells you that his city is TO be second
Chicago or New York, remember that Chicagos
and New Works are scarce. According to the
latest census figures there are only about $50
cities OF over $500 population in the United
ton of 100000 and upwards, and only one Of
these, San Francisco, Is on the Pacific coast.
There are but twelve cities Of from 100000 10
100000 population, and none OF these are on the
Pacific slope. There are but twenty three cities
OF from $4,000 to 100000 population, and three OF
these, presume, although the census does not
show this fact, namely, Seattle, Portland aud
Oakland are on this Coast. There are but fifty
three cities in this country with population Of
from 1900 to $1,000. So You see that great cities
are exceedingly scarce and the chances are all
against the predictions of boomers.
There are two things that go to make up great
cities: First, natural advantages, such as near
ness TO a good hsrbor, tributary agricultural
region, an abundance of raw material with con-
veniences for manufacturing the same into
marketable products and accessible markets for
the finished products; second, there are what
may be called the artificial aids and these are
such abundant railroad facilities; an active,
aggressive, enterprising populatio.; cheap and
rapid transit, and quite as essential as anything
else, vigorous, alert and honest press.
''seattle 10 favored far beyond most places by
nature; IL has magnificent haroor, sufficient
to shelter the navies Of the world; IL has the
finest and largest extent of timber in sight any
where in the United states, an abundance of
coal and iron, fine tributary agricultural
markabe discoveries OF gold ana silver mines
have been made within forty miles of your city.
sess. One OF the greatest of these is
your splendid harbor. Observe this fact,
that every one of the fourteen great cities
in the United states, and in fact every great
business city in the world 10 located on river,
great lake or the ocean. London is on the
Thames not far from the sea, Liverpool on the
Mersey, ST. Petersburg on an arm OF the sea,
New York and Boston on the Atlantic, Chicago
on the great lake and San Francisco and Seattle
on the Pacific.
"As to your artificial aids, you are also well
supplied. You have press that docs not I'M
duly magnify little things, that 10 conscientious,
STRAIGHTFORWARD and has therefore won public
confidence on the Atlantic rs well as the Pacific
coast You have q community of remarkable
citizens. A people who within few hours
after fire has desolated their city can come
together and declare that the fire was blessing
In Disguise; that Ii opened the way for rebuild
ing on a grsnder and more perfect scale, 10 peo-
pie that deserves and must achieve success.
"A community that agrees, when great rail-
road undertakes to slight ana belittle it, to
build an independent railroad connection, and
thus forces the recognition OF its deservings, Is
not 10 be trified with. There 10, therefore every
evidence of n settled and permanent growth
for Seattle, and / firmly believe that You
are TO have an extraordinary development
in the near future. / only trust that on some
other occasion not far distant may be able to
visit you again and verify the prediction have
made.
at 10 a special pleasure for me TO have met
soma of the leading members of the journalistic
profession, one that has done so much for your
city and one that promises 10 do stun more.
Seattle can DO proud OF its press. The reputa-
ton of its newspapers is envied even on the At
lantie coast"
Hearty applause followed Mr. sleichsr's words
Then Mr.. Crawford was called upon aud gave
some "reminiscences OF newspaper work in the
old DAYS. Senator Forrest related several
amusing incidents Of his year editor OF the
White Pine Mining Nslrs, in Nevada, aud Mr..
Brainerd touched upon the careers of the diplo-
matists and political leaders who had pre-
ceded Mr. Slsicher on the Albany Journal
For the newspaper man in politics Mr. Fred @.
Grant spoke briefly and wittily, ard after him
Mr. Bigelow told how under Mr. sleieher's
MANAGEMENT the Albany Journal had been one
OF the few papers which newspaper men wanted
TO read
After the toast to the health OF the host, Mr..
Couover, the evening closed with q neat speech
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