The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-20

Seattle will witness in 1875 revival Of
the building industry that can only be
compared with that Of the three years
succeeding the fire. An apparently well
Informed rumor OF intended improve
ments on Western avenue led 10 a state
ment by ". T. Wickware. OF the Com
mercial Company. that the COM
pany Of which he is member and To-
cal agent. would. early in the spring Of
1888 begin the erection OF a splendid
building for wholesale purposes that Will
occupy the entire block bounded by
Marion and Madison streets ana West
ern avenue and Post street.
AT a meeting OF the company stock
holders held in May of the present year.
it was decided to proceed at onee with a
structure that would compare favorably
in style and method Of construction. with
the imposing stone edifice now nearing
completion. which stands as ]. NJ Col
mans testimonial of confidence to Seat
tie as a business town. The San Fran
cisco and Seattle stockholders were unan-
imous in their opinion that there was no
other course left open for them, and the
very limited return from rentals on prop
erty assessed al $50 coin the neighbor-
hood OF $1,000 to sl.200 per annum-was
considered so inadequate that measures
to convert the valuable real estate into a
paying investment were adopted. The
time of beginning was allowed TO pass,
however, and at meeting subsequent
10 that Of May it was decided to post
pone for a year the construction. Mr..
wickware said yesterday that had the
building gone up during the present year
tenants for every square inch of it could
have been readily secured. In fact, Mr..
Colman has stated that he could have
filed a building double the capacity of
that which will be offered in the block
that a few weeks Will see completed. ana
this fact determined the Commercial
Company to delay operations only till
spring.
Post street, that runs at the rear Of
the present frame buildings, VIII be in
creased in width twenty feet. as the
wooden structures encroaches that much
upon the thoroushfare. Up to the pres
emit there have been no conferences with
an architect. but during the winter the
plans will be fully prepared. Mr.. Wick
ware says that the exterior has not been
determined. but that the floor plans viii
be very similar TO those of the Colman
building, and that the same method of
construction-that known as "slow burn
ing'-will be employed. Stone may be
used, but brick for warehouse work is
an attractive alternative, and this may
be used The market price OF the two
materials will greatly influence a choice.
II is stated that Mr.. Colman obtained the
stone for his building from the quarry
at Tenino. where it had been taken out
in anticipation of its use in the state
capitol. As the state house work was
put off the stone lay at the quarry, and
a tempting offer was made to Mr.. Colman
for its purchase. If another such OPP
portunity is offered next year stone will
undoubtedly be used in the Commercial
Company's building.
A range of two such solid blocks north
of Columbia street viii add greatly to the
appearance of the street and will in
crease real estate values for everything
within a dozen squares OF the improve
ments.
Directly above the property Of the Com
mercial Company, John Noyes. of Butte,
will erect a six-story building. fronting on
First avenue and running down TO Post
street, and raise the Rainier-Grand hotel
building two stories more. making OF 1t a
sx-stOry building that will agreeably break
the sky line along First avenue.
Another rumor OF important improve
ments that gained considerable ground
during the past few days was 10 the ef-
feet that Cyrus Walker would soon COM
mence the erection OF a substantial build
ing at Second avenue and Madison street.
directly north Of the Burke building There
have been many inquiries made of NJ s.
Drew. the financial agent for Mr. Walker.
as 70 the probability OF the building going
up In the near future. to ali OF which Mr..
Drew has said that Mr.. Walker had not
signihed his intentions in relation to the
building. Yesterday Il was said that the
work had commenced and color vas lent
10 the story when A gang OF workmen were
discovered tearing the high blllboards
down. Mr.. Drew. however, set speculation
rest by saving rha+ rba hFyFhoa r1r No.