The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-08-02

the nne<e municipal husza,nxs In the
state Fine residences and business blocks
are numerous The city enjoys TIE eene-
III Of free rafi delivery. the service hav-
ing been established four years ago The
postal receipts show a gratifying Increase
the revenue Of the iast fiscal year being
about sIa.5A The Office is the general
distributing point for most OF the minor
cfaces throughout the county The mu-
ntc1pal government - economically adj
ninisfered and taxes are lower than in
any the city OF equal OF greater size n
the state.
schools and social I.ffe.
zoe schools have long been reccg-
Mzed In whatcosn county as the
Foundation Of good citizenship and for no
other purpose are taxes so cheerfuIly paid
as for their maintenancs. There are sew
enfy-ryo districts tn the counts employ
ing les teachers and having an aggregate
enrolment OF over 4ea pupils. OF whom
about i.7n9 ara enrolled IN the New What
com and Fatrhaven districts. The nun-
Der OF children \ youths In the county
OF school age is over S,0ea There are
eighty school buildings. having an ag-
Eregate seating capacity of 5.l3s- ard the
estimated value of all school property IS
approximately $50. ea. The amount paid
teachers annually u about s4a.9a In
the Whatcom city schools twenty-seven
teachers are employed and in the Fair
haven school eleven, and the graduates
OF the high schools Of both towns are adj
mitted TO the freshman class OF the state
University without examination. outrank-
ing any schools In the state in this re-
OF Seattle. Tacoma and Spokane
New Whateom has six large
schooi buildings, four OF them being
fine modern structures srlendidly EQUIP
ped. n Fairhaven has two comnodious
and handsome buildings equally well pro-
sided with modern conyeniencaa. In sew
erai of the larger country districts also
excellent graded schools are maintained
And In addition TO the admirable eduea-
tional facilities afforded by the public
school system the county viii soon enjoy
the advantage OF having the only state
normal school In Western Washington
The building, which IL a hand
some four-story brick and stone
structure in the Italian renSis-
sance style of architecture. is now being
erected at a cost OF $500 II occupies an
elevated site on Sehome hill In New What
com and commands a lovely view OF the
city and harbor. The next annual meet
ing of the State Teachers Association
viii be held there. and a year from this
fall the school viii begin its work, as
Stunning. OF course, hat the next legisla-
ture will make the necessary appropria-
ton for equipment and maintenance.
The social life of the Bay cities and the
country has fuly kept pace with their
development in other respects The peo-
pie are noted for their hospitality. and
their latchstrings are ever out TO strang-
ers In search of homes. investments or
recreation. There is no lack of churches.
representing nearly all phases OF
modern religious beliefs, and the various
fraternal organizations have hourlshing
lodges in all the larger towns Music and
art are ~assiduousiy cultivated, and the
amenities and graces OF the best social
life abound on every hand. In Fairhaven
the Commercial Club is one of the lead
ing organizations Of the kind In the
Northwest. and there Is probably no club
on the Pacific coast more elegantly or
substantially furnished. II is active In
every work calculated to promote the
welfare OF the town or county, and COM
bInes social and commercial features in a
most charming manner Other organsza-
lions of a purely business character which
have done and are doing much to advance
the interests of the county by promoting
settlement and development and the es-
adjustment OF new enterprises are the
Whatcom Board OF Trade and the Coan-