The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-08
Inn the Wonderland
OF North America.
Twenty-sixth Letter of Northwestern Travel.
Further Facts Concerning Seattle.
Written for The Tribune.

Written for The Tribune.
In the race for commercial suprem-
lcy between Tacoma and Seattle, each
city has some strong points and adj
vantages over the other. Good natured
rivalry, of the kind which promotes inn
prOvements, is nowhere better illustrat-
ed than among the citizens of these two
cities. The people speak OF the great
fire in 1889 as blessing in disguise, Tor
inside of four years the city had been
rebuilt with finer structures and wider
streets and avenues, all on q more sub
stantial basis than before. The archi-
tectural beauty OF the new brick Dusi-
ness blocks Is truly wonderful; 1t is SAID
as each handsome structure. one after
another was erected. each seemed to
surpass its predecessor. the block rang
ing in value from 100000 to 100000.
Seattle is certainly, from any point
of view. on sound or on land, a beaut-
full city--a city OF much promise ana
II no further disaster befalls 1t, and no
check to its besiness prosperity ~ en-
countered. there Is no reason why IL
should not grow into even greater
prominence until II wields the largest
influence in our new northwest. IL
would hardly be wise for traveller TO
make comparisons between these TWO
noble and enterprising cities in the race
for Improvement, or champion one at
the expense OF the other. Both are
splendid illustrations OF energy and en-
'terprise, which ever emanate from
Puritan New England stock. Both are
filed with men and women or renne-
ment and superior Intelligence, ana the
visitor quickly discovers that each en-
Enthusiastically believes.e in his own city
and thinks his the bettIr as place Ior
business ana for homes s,aced by royal
hospitality.
SeattIs's Majestic Heights.
Almost every large city has some one
location designed by nature to draw
to itself the culture. wealth ana taste
that seek expression in the form OF
beautiful homes. Portland has It's
mount Tabor" Tacom has its 'boule-
yard:" Scranton has its "Sanderson
Iiill:" Honesdale. its Central Park
and Fifth Avenue" and Seattle has Its
majestic heights" which for this pur-
no. q are ideal. From the harbor. the
view overlooking Puget Sound ON the
one side, and Lakes washington ana
Union on the other, with Mount Ia
coma (pardon me, | mean. In Seattle,
Mount Raimer) in the foreground
standing alone in Its unparalleled gran
deur, unhidden by any foothills to take
away its dignity, and rising 1914 feet
above yOu while to the north, near the
Canadian border, Is Mount Baker, r1s-
ing 1O,S5O feet high. and showing per-
petuai snow lire of over one mile verti-
cally- is a sight to stir the soul or eV-
cry beholder, whether an American or
foreigner. ,o,,
These slopes and SUBMITS are intelli.
gently plated and laid out in lots ana
tracts and building sites. periectiy
adapted to the wants of those who can
lfford to crafty taste for elegant anu
picturesque homes.
Two Beautiful Lakes.
The situation of Seattle is such that
Il possesses all the essentials to heaith
as well as the advantages or beauty.
The rising summit Of the ridge attains
a height of four hundred feet above
sound and then descends to the TWO
lakes, Union and Washington. whicn
form Its eastern limit. These lakes
are marvels of beauty, bodies OF fresh
water unsurpassed In any city on this
continent. Lake Washington is twen-
ty miles long with an average width
et.two and u half miles, anu II covers
an area of nearly forty square miles,
or to be exact, 24,Ss6 acres. OF whicn
20 600 acres have a depth OF twenty-five
feet of water. The depth of the lake
10 very great and sounding of six hun
dred feet have been made, and In some
places, bottom has not been round. IL
Is hemmed in by hills covered with
giant forest trees. The water supply
OF Seattle IL drawn from this lake, ana
of this supply will speak later.
Northward Is Lake Union. another
body Of fresh water also fed from hid
den springs and the eternal SHOWS OF
the Cascades. 1t covers about two sec
tions of land. which connected with
Lake Washington. by means OF a small
canal Of a few hundred yards in length
which is now being enlarged by the
United States government into a ship
canal, thus connecting the salt waters
Of Puget Sound with the fresh water
of the above lakes OF this gigantic
enterprise will also speak later.
superb Natural Advantages.
The city IL therefore naturally drained
and the character Of the soil, which is a
sandy loam, makes 1t ready alb