The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-16
HOME FROM THE EAST.
Mr.. DauIton Tells or street Paving In
Chicago-Business Outlook Good.

Il
Chfca9o-BusineSs Outlook Good.
Seattle is BY 10 means the only city IN
the United States an present engaged in
putting down new street paving. and the
operations now being conducted in Chi
cago. St Paul and other places were re-
Gently made subjects OF close observation
~ Alderman r. ~ Daulton. Of this cit".
who has just returned from the East He
said yesterday Of the result OF his investi-
cations:
I'm Chicago had more time to investi-
gate the methods used In paving the
streets than.at any OF the other places
visited The cedar blocks which have been
such striking chara cteristic OF the streets
there are generally being torn UP and re-
placed by vitrided brick and stone blocks.
The downtown thoroughfares are all be-
ing dug up and worked over. Stone blocks
about a foot long by six inches wide and
nearly the same thickness are given the
preference on the streets where traffic Is
heavy The rock used is so hard that II
will last for an indefinite time. and al
though & Is the same material as is used
on Market street in san Francisco. which
IS sad 10 be about the toughest thorough
fare in the United States. the different
method used IN LAYING IL will give a smooth
and undoubtedly durable surface, although
the cost is enormous. On the West Side.
in the same city. vitrified brick are i'm use
entirely the cedar blocks being put down
only in the strictly residence portion of the
city.
I'm 81. Paul asphaltum IS the favorite
material. Even on the streets along which
the heaviest draying is done the bitumi-
nous rock Is replacing both brick and
woodwork. the most Of the brick being the
common material put down several years
ago. which is not nearly substantial
vitriied brick. Stone blocks similar 10
those used in Chicago are also being set IN
along some OF the streets most heavily
travelled
New York and Boston are not doing
much IN the paving line, but their streets
are rapidly growing handsome. In the
metropolis, in particular the overhead
wires are doomed Electric. telephone and
all other wires used for the transmission
Of electric currents aN being rapidly hid
den from view under the sidewalks or
placed underground In conduits specially
buiit for their accommodation
The unusual building activity in New
York is also astonishing. Many people OF
moro than fifteen years residence there
told me that they had never seen so much
building going as at the present time.
Elegant brick stone and marble struc-
lures from four TO eight stories in height
are being demolished to be replaced by sky
scrapinE cdihces towering up twelve or fif-
teen stories. In fact. the contractors hold
such sway that for long distances Broad
way Is literally blocked as a result Of their
pressed activity.
From my contact with prominent bust
ness men there. and also quoting many
Western merchants whom | happened to
meet while East, I would say that hard
times in that section OF the country are
past. Money is easy, interest is low, and
capitalists are seeking investments. They
are turning TO the West and particularly
10 the Northwest. for suitable placing OF
their money. our large exports Of coal and
the heavy shipments OF lumber. shingles
and fruit into the Eastern markets have
told them that We are here, that we have
great possibilities. and that we are not so
far away bat we can successfully enter
our products into competition with the best
outputs Of their own and other regions.
Although there is consid rab'e arpr hen
sion among business men on account Of the
heavy daily shipments Of gold to Europe,
there Is no more talk OF panics. on ac-
count OF the reduction Of the tariff an i'm
mt1se amount Of foreign goods are being
placed on the American market and gnl0
is given FOR Ii TO preserve the balance OF
trade. or course. our manufacturers can
not compete with English pauper labor in
manufacturing textiles. and IL viii take
revision IN the tariff laws to set things
right again.
II was surprised TO find so many Western
business men making heavy purchases in
the East Like myself they were buying
directly from the manufacturers. and lay
tDs In an extra heavy supply in anticipa-
tfon OF the increased volume Of custom
This fan Se2ttle's time for a return Of
prosperity has como. \ remarkable differ
e7cc In the street activity can be noticed
in even the short period which have been
absent 7 am proud az the place. and GER
tairIv think that its manifest destiny is TO
become f3lIy as great a city as any Of
F those I have Just visited"