The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-24

IN a very backward state The reason
10 oabvsosss. Sh.ps carrying grain 10
Europe bring back pig iron as ballast
cheaper than 10 can BE- manufactures
here. Yet within fifty miles OF Lake
Washington he sgTse OF the best Bes-
sesxse- iron dersssfs IN the world. ard
there Is rot a state in the Union that
has richer coal mines than Washington.
The government commission appointed
IN 1880 TO establish steel gun Factories
reported that except To- nsga cost d
fuel. Puget sound offered d more IA
vyrasie location for the plant than any
pEsce In the United States.
Thus, while the benefit 10 the
Sound country will be Immense, the
national importance Of the ship canal
must not be under rest inated- An en-
orrsous trade froyn Australia. Japan.
China, India and South America is
sweeping this way and should be cap
tured BY the United States instead OF
Canada. Our neighbo-s TO the north
are sparing no expense TO make per
feet their fransconfinental railway Ia
calIties. and wiz soon be prepared 10
contest with our ocean trade. A fresh
water harbor which shall be at the
same time cheap and easy coaAIlg
station would tempt hundreds OF YES
sels to Puget sound, even IL IL were out
Of the way. which. as a matter or fact,
1t is not. The distance from Laverpoof
20 Shanghai. via Puget sound, Is 5000
miles: frssm Liverpool TO Shanghai is
1l.750. Japan, Australia and Oceaniea
tie much nearer to the Pacific coast
The city of Seattle Is naturally much
eiate-i over the prospect, and expects
TO BECOME the Liverpool OF America
within the next twenty years. Seattle
is the largest city I'm the state; next TO
Portland IL is the largest In The North
west. It Is built on the eastern shore
OF the sound, About half way between
the upper end and the straits OF San
Juan de Fuca, which lead into the Pa
cific. The first settlement was made
In 1852. but until ten years ago 1t was
a struggling village. surrounded by i'm
penetrabie forests and with stretches
of deep woods between its neighbor-
hoods The first incidents in its his
tory which drew the attention of out
sFders TO the growing town was the
great fire OF 1889. when on June
afternoon, sixty-five acres, comprising
the entire business quarter. were
swept away. The loss was over $l4,-
000, 900. Rebuilding commenced next
day on a much larger scale and today
the business streets are lined with seven
and eight story modern structures of
brick and stone.
At the time of the fire the population
was $4,000. A conservative estimate
places the present population at S.
600. The city has Eastern communica-
ton by four transcontinenfal lines, and
is the terminus of the Great Northern
and the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern.
The Burlington & Missouri Is push
ing rapidly toward Seattle, and has al
ready reached a Junction with the
Northern Pacific at Billings. Mont. 1t
is the headquarters Of over 100 freight,
towing and passenger steamers. in-
Guiding several lines TO San Francisco.
Alaska and British Columbia, besides
many local hines. 1t has the state uni
versity, the land Office. custom house.
the local inspector of hulls and boilers,
the weather bureau. signal service and
geological survey. The town is built
on a series OF steep hills, which rise,
amphitheatre-l from the shores OF
Elliott bay. A more beautiful location
could not be imagined, but ii has GER
tain disadvantages. The most serious
one is the lack OF level building ground
adjacent to deep water Wharfage
There Is literally not room for the rail-
roads to enter the city. The harbor is
too deep for good ANCHORAGE, vessels
having 10 tie up to governn. buoys
or at private wharves.
The need OF the canal Is immediate.
and every effort is being made TO hast
en- its completion, The last congress
appropriated So, 1000 as starter, with
a prrnise OF much larger sums. This
first appropriation can not be expend-
cd until the right OF way has been Sc
cured free OF cost 10 the government
and this condition Seattle has engaged
to fulfill. Preliminary surveys are now
being made. and the purchase of the
right Of way Will undoubtedly follow
without delay or difficulty