The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-04

OF foresight is ridiculous. This s'reslgns mas
never yet been displayed by the cary settlers OF
any town unless under the auspices OF town.
founding specuIators, as, for exalrsole, Tacoma
was founded. Therefore diseIaimso having
hand In stirring up any feeling. TSs old sesIier
and the newcomer should not DO ssstagonistic-
their interests are common and 10Th should
unite in advancing the prosperity os the city.
Notwithstanding, Judge McGilvsA's personal
remarks were a natural outcome OF unmarried
criticisms. His first letter conveyeIthe impress
sion OF bitter opposition to any proposed bonle-
ward and park system. His last lettsr, however,
places him on record as a friend AID advocate,
for he writes, II believe the citysleeds addi-
tional parks and boulevards within the city
limits" but under the sanction of the proper
city authorities
The judge does not, however, beseve IN any
boulevard system originating WITT real estate
agents. and ne states that I have notdenied that
it has SO originated
This lack of confidence in real estate
dealers Is natural when one recalls the SWIM
ohng, wildcat operators of the booe1 times. IL
must be borne in mind, however fsla, Tor the
past two years the law of the survival OF the
nitess has been in operation, nigSt ana DAY,
wedding out the land SHARK and Leaving men OF
Character and influence in the busiIsssa
neither real estate men have originated the
scheme or not can not say, but l. Claim that
no class OF business men are battes equipped
inaugurate the move.
The judge repeats the charge thata'the city 10
cursed beyond computation by wildcat addi-
tions deny this emphatically fEom q com
parative point of view. It Is more cursed by
the checker-board laying out OF strezts and lots
In this city OF hills and ravines, uttscly regard.
less OF typographical difficulties, eatailing the
curse OF ruinous and unnecessssy expense
in grading, etc., beyond computs5on, which
no plating of ''twelye-lot blocks with lots
eoxi20 anu streets eighty feet wiGs and alleys
twenty feet wde," can in any way counteract
or excuse. The wider the streets an5 alleys the
greater the expense and consequent misery.
This Is the reason our city Is so efficient In
good driVeways, and herein is the Sncalculable
benefit promised BY the park commissioners
system OF boulevards, which is no oaore or less
than apprising our citizens that 1t X possible to
completely cross and environ the c;<y with 40
miles OF magnificent roads without grades,
through the most romantic and beautiful dis
tricts OF our city, forming a systeI5 OF drives
which no city in the Union can approach.
Could the park commissioners haze engaged
In work more commeudable?
L believe sincerely that there is no one
enterprise, even the advent & another
transcontinental railroad, that would more
enrich this city than a boulevard sys-
tenn, calmly, deliberately and 4iisereetly'
inaugurated. AS in Chicago and elsewhere the
boulevard system dou bled and quadsIpIed prop
erty valuations and as all the park cities report
that boulevards and parks pay for themselves,
So, L believe, will DO Seattle's experience
lsincerely think, also. that Judge McGilvra's
property will be greatly enhanced in Falue, even
more than the diagonal avenue he opened up
from Elliott bay TO Lake Washington and the
subsidy ne granted to a street railwas. enhanced
the value Of his 400 acres Both thea acts were
purely private and not solely pubsio bensiac-
tons.
believe that unless the system oil parks and
bouleyards is a direct advantage to avery prop
erty owner and citizen, not only in ts5e heart OF
the city but along the line, it shoul4 not be in
augurated. Not one property-ownef, however
small, should be permitted to suffer.
should like to see a free and open discussion
OF this subject through the papers. There
are others much better informed tnan who
should give their views T. X. FLEMING.