The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-08


southwest. thaws with its warm
breath, exhilarating with new life anil
NAL as well as vegetable creation.
might mention that the death rate in
Seattle is only seven in one thousand
per annum. which is less than one
third Of that of the northern cities or
the Union.
The sewer system of Seattle has been
constructed at great expense. Two
tunnels have been completed within a
year, costing respectively 100000 and
$4,000. The total length of sewers in
use Is thirty-three miles-vitrified pipe
sewers twenty-seven miles and brick
sewers six miles--costing the city near
ly a half million dollars.
Seattle has about 750 miles of plated
streets, of which 112 miles are i'm
proved. The streets are from GO to 120
feet wide, and avenues from so to lao
feet; brick. macadam, asphalt and fir
plank are used for pavements. Like in
Tacoma, thirty miles of fir Dlanking
from three to five inches in thickness
and often 80 and even $50 feet long. are
laid, covering the entire surface of the
street. and extending mp the steepest
grades, which are sometimes one foot
in four to the summit OF the ridge.
These plank streets are novel sight
to tourists. The planks cost, delivered.
81 per 1000 feet. The cost Of planking
and permanent payements amounts to
$20O.000 .a.
Seattle's School System.
A sure index Of the character and
substantialabiiity of any community Is
the reputation of its schools and col
leges. Seattle has a system of public.
schools equalled by few cities in the
union and second to none In points OF
efficiency. completeness of equipmet
la, Of inn
is not only attested by competent
tourist visitors from all parts OF our
country, but also by experts. who ac-
credit to the work of the Seattle schools
the highest standard of excellence. 1t
is u matter OF record that at the Co.
lumbar exposition Seattle ranked
third in the United States with respect
to her public school exhibit. No better
guarantee can be given of the solid
educational advantages afforded the
children of Seattle than the fact that
the best eastern colleges admit gradu-
ates of It's high school without exami-
nation. While temporary guest or
Professor Edwin Twitmeyer now prin-
cipal of the Seattle high schools, who.
by the way, Is brother OF Principal
George w. Twitmeyer, of the Honesdale
graded schools, we were courteously
escorted by him through the various
school buildings, museums. labora-
tories and given particularly valuable
information which a reading pubic
may accept as reliable He says:
Seattle, as you are aware. has some
of the finest school buildings In the
United States, and corps OF teach-
ers ranking high above the average IN
point Of scholastic requirements and
successful experience in their profess
sion. Our four high school" buildings
are probably the largest and finest
structures north of San Francisco. and
are capable OF accommodating 2,OOO
children. There are sixteen fine school
buildings in all, of modern styles or
architecture and arrangement, well
lighted, heated and ventilated ana IMr-
total number of teachers employed Is
144. The census shows 5000 children
Of school age"
The city owns school property valued
at nearly three e-Quarters OF a million dol
lars, including five brick and twelve
frame buildings, containing one nun
dred and thirty-six commodious
rooms. In 1892 some $5S,O0O was ex-
pended for new grounds and $4,000 for
new buildings and extensions. l
should say the common schools here are
under the direction of board of edu-
cation, connected in no wise with the
city government. The present board
are men Of progressive ideas and good
Judgment. In controlling Its educational
affairs. Only the best and most ap-
proved methods Of instruction. prac-
ticed and endorsed by the leading edu-
Gators of the country, are In vogue In
Seattle. Speaking OF the educational
advantages Of Washington, Prof. Twit-
meyer says In substance: Though
young state. 1t has a vigorous system OF
common schools throughout. There
are very few states that have as good.
The total school revenue was about
SO. O00, coo last year and the value of the
school property far exceeds S4,OOO.OO0.
Washington's School Fund.
"To secure a permanent school fund,
the sixteenth and thirty-sixth sections
OF every township in the state, are by
law dedicated to public schoois--in all
some two million acres of land; even
If sold at a nominal low price 1t will
put the schools on a substantial basis
A careful estimate has placed the fund
with future accumulatiOns at $30,00O,-
900 to $35, 900, 900; probably the largest
school fund In the United States"
Prof. Twitmyer further says: There
is a common impression among those
unacquainted with us in the West. that
education Is neglected and children
grow UP much as did the children Of
the first inhabitants of the land. Such
an impression Is grossly unjust and er-
roneous. The vast majority of our
present population came from the old
er settled eastern states and brought
with them their college training and
eastern culture. They have lost none
of this and 1t Is not their purpose that
their children shall grow up with in
ferior advantages or training to that
which they themselves enjoyed. Con-
sequently they have established schools
and churches and they demand as good
a class Of instruction. both secular and
religious as any section in the East re-
ceives." The professor said that teach
ers Of every grade received from one
third to one-half higher salaries in Sc
attic than those paid in the East
Teachers in the Scranton and Homes
dale graded schools receiving say forty
dollars per month would command at
Seattle sixty and perhaps seventy dol
lars. This broad, generous and pro-
gressive spirit Is characteristic of this
people. We would gladly entertain our
readers with further sayings of this en-
time and space would permit.
Worthy Benevolent Institutions.
Apart from the public schools of the
city, are a number OF educational and
benevolent institutions worthy Of spe-
cial mention. Chief among them is the
University of Washington, and the
leading school Of higher learning in the
state. The first building was erected
in 1882 on site of ten acres in the CEN
ter of the city of sss:tle. Possession
was taken of its preir.it structure Sept.
3, 1895. The present location is re-
markably beautiful. on a tract COM
prising $50 acres between Lakes WASH
ington and Union. with the water 'front.'
age on both lakes and surrounded with
natural forest trees ad the snow
crowned mountains in all directions
truly an ideal sight for q great insti-
tuition Of learning. The building which
is of French architecture. covers 10000
square feet and Is furnished with the
best know facilities for heating and