The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-15
SEATTLE. TUESDAY,. NOR. 10


Forty-one years ago last Thursday was
laid the first foundation of Seattle. In forty
years Seattle has expanded from clump
Of log cabins, the home Of few pioneers,
into city OF 10000 persons. This rapidity
of growth of the cities of the Pacific coast
Is in striking contrast with the slow
growth of the cities of the Atlantic sea-
board during the first century after their
settlement. At the outbreak of the Revo.
luuonary war Boston had not 5000 peo-
pie. and New York. at the Inauguration
OF President Washington in 1883, had
not 10000. This was all that repre-
scented $50 years of growth to Boston and
New York. As late as 1862 the streets of
New York were lighted by lanterns sus-
pended from the windows, and a hight
house was not placed on Sandy Hook until
1853 These facts illustrate how slow as the
march of civilization in more than GEN.
tury of colonial life in the days that knew
not the application of steam to railway or
water transportation.
Pioneer life on the Pacific coast was
never subjected to the sa me severe condi-
tons Of hardship that were experienced
by the pioneers of the Atlantic seaboard,
the Middle states or even the Middle
West This was chiefly due to the mild
ness OF our climate, our winters be-
ing less severe in Seattle than they
are as far south as Washington City.
Those who came to Washington by
sea found it pleasant land, and
those who reached it after the ter
ribie march of peril and privation across
the continent were soon recuperateo and
restored to the vigor Of Astounding health.
Western Washington was q welcome land
to those who had become hypochondriac
trying to subdue the malarial re-
gions Of Indiana and Illinois. Trade
was soon had with California, which
had been quickly colonized by the
rush of gold seekers to her coast in ls4s-49
The pioneers of Western Washington. be-
cause of the nearness to the sea, were not
30 entirely dependent upon themselves. or
90 completely deprived OF all aids from
the outside world as were the pioneers
who conquered the wilderness east of the
brought hither by sea; the pioneers as .
rule were not Obliged to weave and spin
their own clothing. The most serious diff
ficulty that confronted the pioneer set
tiers along the Sound was found in the
hostility of the Indian tribes. Fortu-
nately for the early settlers the fish eating
indians of Western Washington were
neither as warlike nor as ably led as the
Sioux and other meat eating Indians of
the plains east of the Rocky mountains.
Nevertheless the Indian war of 1856 was
a very serious uprising. but with its sup.
preston the Indian troubles of the pion-
GERS were ended.
On the whole, the pioneer in the Sound
country forty years ago found himself
more agreeabiy and satisfactorily situated
than any first settlers of new country in
the whole history Of the redemption of
the North to civilization. He found
plenty of timber; the winter climate was
as mild rs that of Norfolk. Va, although
Seattle Is about the same latitude as
Quebec; he found plenty of fish and game;
the easily navigated waters of the Sound
gave him trade and communication with
the outside world, 30 that he could get
many necessaries and conveniences that
the pioneer settler of the Middle
West had to go without or supply BY
severe shifts and homely expedients. II
was a healthy country, with just hardship
enough to keep the blood stirring, and,
with all these conditions OF health. mid
winters. communication with the outside
world of California by steamer. no won
der the pioneers of the Sound country be-
came at once deeply attached to the coun-
try. To return TO the East in those days
was hard and long journey, but even to-
day. when it is bat 8 weeks Journey from
Seattle to Boston, there are few persons
who have lived year in Oregon or Wash
iurton that care as q matter OF choice to
live elsewhere.
While it Is true that the pioneer settlers
of Washington and Oregon did not have
al exceptionally hard time after they got
here, those of them that crossed the con-
tinent certainly had an exceptionally bard
time getting here. There is something ex-
~
the American pioneer that persuaded him
10 undertake that old-time fearful march
of peril and priya'ion across the continent
to the Pacific coast. The overflow of New
England into Western New York and the
Middle West; the overflow of Virgins
into Kentucky and Tennessee; OF Penn
syivania into Ohio; OF Kentucky into In
diana and Illinois. was but the natural
'usogress Of the stream OF westward immi-
grafton, but the impulse which led men 10
leave the favored spots Of the Middle West
and Southwest for the long and perilous
tourney across the continent is not so easy
Of explanation
Why did these men who first settled
Washington and Oregon enter upon this
daring march 10 the Pacific, a march SO
long ana severe that their track was
marked by the graves of their comrades
and "blazed" by the bones Of the cattle
that died on the wayf The only answer
that is satisfactory is to ssy that life in
xhs rusiarisl fertility OF the A,duls Want