The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-07
BELLINGHAM BAYS fU1URE.
No Reason to Look Ahead With Any
Feeling Of Uncsrtainty.

Feeling Of Uncsrtaihty.
Whatcom. Jan. 5.-Srecial.--tTh Reveslle,
the leading paper Of the city and county.
contains . very pertinent and sensible
editorial upon the Post-Inteliigencer re-
view IN It's whatcom correspondence OF
Mayor Blacks address TO the new council
Tuesday night. The editorial is an ex-
ceiient summary Of "the credit side Of
New Whatcom as a municipality ami 1t Is
accordingly quoted as follows:
The Post-Intelligencer's New whatcom
correspondent gets back at the board of
trade for Its censure on late article on
finances by publishing the address Of the
new mayor on the financial condition OF
the city. which IL significant. as the
trade. the body which took exceptions to
similar matter. The statement was not
nattertng. but was made as matter OF
business. The city has suffered from
heavy defalcation. from the extravaganza
OF some Of Its officials. from some unwar-
ranted improvements. from loose business
methods. from the failure of the banks In
the general crash OF 1898: but there Is an
other side to the picture. The city. on
the credit side. has the best water sys-
fem of any place on the coast, the arteries
pulsate wherever there Is a dwelling and
with such force that no fire has yet, In
four years. reached beyond the building In
which 1t originated. Instead OF costing
N.s5o. coo. like the Tacoma system, II has
cost. approximately. soc. 600 The fires OF
Seattle and Tacoma. which almost wiped
them out OF existence. are evidences that
by the expenditure OF cents we have ac-
eompIished more In protecting our city
than have these places by the expenditure
of dollars. and In this system We have
= property which yields q revenue. We
have sewer system as perfect. so far as
1t goes. as that OF any city in Washing
ton at a cost OF $780, We have miles
OF streets al level as rolling rink. and
es smooth as wood can be laid. Our
streets are connected with the great
arteries OF the country, and the trade of
the merchants Is greater this season. hra
depressed time, than ever before. We
have city hall which is SIS solid, II not
as beautiful. as the Parthenon, and which
will suffice for the business OF city of
10000 people. We have fire halls. and
other buildings which have cost money.
We have expended large sums In iitiga-
tson which was unavoidable. but which
will never occur again. Altogether we
have a very good credit side TO the ledger.
and without a careful scrutiny Into the
affairs OF Seattle we are not prepared
10 admit that our financial condition Is
any worse than that of our beautiful
sister city. The Reveslle has nevsr hest
tated 10 publish the cold facts regarding
city or county finances, or the mortgage
- f.r Ttsz Hat.
statements OF others regarding the same,
bar In the duh tine II is well enough to
lock to the credit side OF the ledger as
well "a the debt side. and not 10 imagine
that our history runs backward instead
OF forward The mayor, In his message.
shows that ne has been taking a look
at the past and has confidence in the
future. and now that We are satisfied that
we have injured our credit. let Us not
dwell upon it. bat Let US compromise. pas
our taxes. and restore II. ard we hope our
nesgaeorsng cities VIII do equally as
we'll
Ar IFS is true, As matter OF fact
none OF the smaller cities Of the state
can boast OF greater advantages. ncae
have q ua1ye beAIshEui ami beautiful icca-
ton. better facEisttes fer rail or water
transportation. or greater eon;sihatory
resources. Whascam caanty is rich Ia
coal rica an timber ard rich In lands
adapted to agricultural. horticultural.
stock and dairy interests. Ia point of
area II fs larger than Rhode Island and
Holland eoasiAsa5,s has more land suit
able fer agriculture and Gairying than
any ether county bordering on Puget
sound; has an ahandance OF the best
steam aud domestic coal On the Coast
and the tnsst forests OF mr. aud cedar
timber, TIE greatest number OK sk.ng;e
snius and az Point Roberts he greatest
saim5a fisheries Ia TIE state. The popH-
iAsiea has increased from ssi in 1870 20
ss.sss by the census Of ISso. and wha.ecm
ami ra!rhasea have groSn N the same
time from ntsie eah4a hauiefs fn the
edge OF the wilderness 10 ane young
cities with o combined poeuistsSn %
ahoat 70 aae. and the fsaeSf modern I'm
pruvsmemts IN the lire % graded ami
rlanssd streets. electric ligAfs. sewers
aaa water works. churches. schools asi
puagsc husiasnss New whAtccrs has
sairsy-swo miles os graded streets. ssfseea
srsssas os sewers and . saies6sI water
system owns4 by ssss city. che supply
s0ssssnS frosn Lake wkztenrs, which Is
.srsea zaales icng. over 80 feet above tide
water ard Ssssy two ard Sze-hsg satses
distant fsons the c.ty ball. IL has SIX
grated ward schooss. vsfv bali eosssag
about ssssa . esurk asz&r eesslay
Sssaa - s<sexsl BIC lasassr aaa sA.Egss