The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-23
THE CITY OF SPOKANE
The Prosperous Metropolis Of
Eastern Washington.
VISITED BY A PioNgER
What Charles Prosch saw During the
Recent Convention OF the WASH
ington fress Association.

IL - slgnihcant TACT that the Oldest
towns and cities in this state are today
the most obscure, the least known and
the least important. Walla MalIa. Una
tilla, Colville and other localities east of
the Cascades were old towns thirty years
ago; west Of the mountains were Vancou-
yer on the Columbia. THmwater, Olympia
and Steilacoom on the Sound, all of which
were established from five 20 twenty years
prior to $50. Little was then known of
the country east Of the mountains beyond
radius of fifty miles from the towns
named; il was q terra iHcogaitG TO all the
outside world
In 1859 and 1860 several parties of hardy
miners from California, who had been at
tracted here by the Fraser river gold dis
covery, started from Puget sound to ex-
plore the country east of the mountains
for gold. One of these parties, numbering
eighty-two men, made Seattle their start
ing point All went we'll until they
reached the summit. A few miles beyond
this barrier they encountered large bands
OF hostile Indians. who intercepted them
and forbade their farther progress in
what they claimed to be their country.
threatening with massacre all who per-
sisted IL either remaining there, as some
OF the party wished TO do. or attempting to
prosecute the search for precious metals.
The party returned TO the Sound, as did
Others intercepted in like manner.
Not until some ten years later were
others found courageous enough to ven-
ture to locate in the forbidden region.
Those who did so were thought by their
friends to take their lives in their hands,
with strong probability of falling victims
to the inhospitable savages. Others fol.
lowed from time to time, in parties of two
and three together. emboldened by the re.
ports OF bodies of government surveyors.
Dayton, Goldendale and one or two other
little towns now rarely heard of, sprang
into existence. Thus the settlements in
that section graw, slowly, almost imper-
ceptibly, until the Northern Pacific rail-
road was completed in 1884, when news
reached us of the large influx of emigrants
and. the rapid development of Eastern
Washington.
Except a very few, who visited that SEQ
ton soon after the completion of the road.
none could realize the extent of the change
there taking place. People who had lived
on the shores of the Sound for thirty
years, and who only knew Eastern WASH
ington as a region inhabited exclusively
ny hostile Indians were slow 20 believe
that 1t was fast becoming n populous and
wealthy empire. The writer shared in the
general lncreduiity, deeming it impossible
Tor any locality 10 emerge so quickly from
obScurIty to "A degree or prominence usually
attained only after long years of weary
waiting and under the most favorable cir
cumstances
Four years ago i was one of the men,
bers of the Washington Press Association.
VINO were so fortunate as 10 be the guests
OF the city of Spokane. Accompanied By
car load of journalists [ arrived at that
city at a late hour of the night, while en-
Joylng refreshing sleep. On awaking
and looking ont of the window, soon after
daylight, sight was revealed TO my gaze
for which l was totally unprepared. In
stead OF the crude, hastiu and imperfectly
buht town so common in new countries
here was q city with scores of large and
substantial brick and stone business
houses institutions OF learning, churches
and hospitals. street railways electric
light works, grist mills. lumber mills. etc.
etc. surrounded by hundreds of handsome
dwellings,. many of which would be re-
garded as ornaments in any city on the
Coast. And all this was accomplished in
the short space of seven or eight years
When remembered that this city then so
fair TO look upon, contained only 200 peo-
pie IN 1850, and was comparatively un-
known three or four years before |
visited 1t in 1855 it excited nv
special wonder and admiration. felt
very much as Rip Van Wrinkle may bs
supposed TO have felt when he awoke
from his twenty years sleep and found
busting and populus city occupying the
hamlet In which lie had hts home. The
hamlet in which | first located on Puget
sound thirty years before, was yet only u
hamlet, as were several others of equal
promise when first plated. and this will
account for my surprise at the wonderful
growth of Spokane, with a population OF
1900 in 1855.
In less than one year after the visit men,
toned this remarkable city was DESTROYED
by terrible fire, only the dwellings be-
yond its reach escaping the devouring ele-
ment. In the short period intervening it
has been rebuilt, but on a larger scale than
before. Not only have most of the brick
and stone structures been enlarged by the
addition of from one TO three stories, but
there are many more of them; indeed, [
think there are now more buildings of
that class in Spokane than in Seattle. In
lieu OF the SIX or seven miles of street
railways four years ago, there are at pres
ent thirty-iive miles of electric and cable
roads. reaching out to attractive suburbs
in sill directions. Zen public schools. in
which are enrolled 5000 pupils are en-
braced within the rapidly expanding city
limits. The electric lights OF Spokane are
now and always vii! be better than those
of Seattle or Tacoma for the reason that
the machinery there derives its power
from the water of the falls instead of
steam, as here There is no Pickering OF
the light, no diminutIOn or increase, but
one steady glow from the moment IL IS
turned on until il is turned of.
Of railroad facilities Spokane has
goodly share-the Northern Pacific. Union
Pacific and Great Northern all passing
through the city, and transporting to and
from their respective depots within its
limits large lists of passengers and freight.
Some idea of the latter may be formed
from the fact that last year the jobbing
trade OF Spokane amounted to 1900, go.
The city contains many beautiful stores,
all Of which have the appearance Of doing
prosperous trade. The business streets,
OF which there are quite number are
thrOuged with people and remind Seat
tleite of Front and Second streets in this
city. Spokane now claims a population
OF 81, go, or double that Of four years ago.
No doubt the increase was accelerated and
largely auamented by the ire Of 1889
Larger hotels and larger theaters are
among the fruits Of the ire. The Audi
torium. the principal theater, will seat
l zoo people, and has been known TO con-
tain over 900. IL X building of com
handing appearance, and embraces with
N its walls stores, art repositories ana
meeting halls in addition 20 tie theatcr.
The Hotel Spokane Is another commo-
dious structure the builders o; which evl-
IDENTIFY had an eye Tor the future. II Will
lodge and feed comfortably and luyuri-
ously 900 people. and is kept in a style
which reflects the highest credit upon th3
management, - well as upon tif3 cts.
Polite. attentive and affabie clerks leave
nothing uudoue 70 promote the comfort