The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-03


-=-- g gestions aimed at that
-==z5@=5---z5=-[ end and with efforts to
carry them out, and during the last year
the members of the Chamber of Com
mercs worked as ardently as II boom
was on. and many OF their public-spir.ted
efforts met with great success.
Early last January an agitation was
started in the chamber for a government
engineer headquarters 10 be established at
Seattle, the nearest ore being Portland.
Much correspondence followed and infiu-
ence was brought to bear IN Washington
CITY. with the result that at length the
secretary OF war detailed Capt. Harry
Taylor TO take charge or ell the govern
ment engineering work on the Sound with
headquarters IN this city. In connection
therewtrh a new and separate district for
river and harbor Improvements was made
by the government. with Seattle as the
confer.
The Lighthouse District.
About the same time the chamber took
up the subject OF better lighthouse service
for the coast and the entrance to the
Sound. 1t showed that the present light
house district was larger In extent than
any in the country, and asked that 1t be
divided 10 two lighthouse district, with q
Hghtshfp off Cape Flattery, where so many
wrecks have occurred during recent years
and several during the last year. The ap-
plicatton of the chamber was denied. but
81 piled representation upon representa-
ton at the department and was so earnest
and active In the matter that at length d.
vision Of the Thirteenth lighthouse district
was taken under advisement And IT is be-
Eeved that q new one Will be established
that VIII add materially to The safety Of
Puget sound shipping.
Trade with Alaska.
The chamber has never lost sight OF the
value to Seattle OF O close connection with
Alaska. But short tine ago Portland
was the basis OF supplies for the territory:
but during last year. with the enormous
increase OF mining in Alaska, Seattle came
20 the front and captured ell the Alaska
trade and VIII doubtless hold Il. To show
the interest Seattle took in this vast con-
tributory territory. Hon. J. B. Metcalfe
vice president OF the chamber. prepared a
paper on the Alaskan boundary question,
and so carefully was this drawn, and so
many new facts were presented, that the
paper when forwarded 20 Washington City
was made a state document and published
in the Congressional Record. The results
of Mr.. Metcalfs research into the subject
were important aids 10 the American
members of the boundary commission in
their recent sessions at Victoria.
On February IL a special committee was
appointed by the chamber for the special
consideration OF the extension OF seattle's
trade with Alaska, and tts activity and
wise suggestions have resulted in many
benefits 20 our far northern neighbor out
SIDE OF the scope OF closer trade relations.
The establishment OF government mail
routes 20 Circle City and other points IN
the frozen wtlds. was a direct result OF the
repres enta atoms Of this committee to the
authorities At Washington City.
The rapid development OF the gold mines
OF Alaska and the activity or gold mining
81 this state, led 70 the appointment OF
special committee for me purpose OF hav-
ing a government assay office located at
Seattle. There are excellent grounds for
hope that tho government institutions at
Seattle wiz BE- added 20 by an assay once
during the coming year. The cons!dera-
tton OF this subject led to a Seattle smetter
being sugges ted, and q committee was ap-
pointed 20 prepare figures showing the
business such a concern would do, and
Ssattle's transportation advantages. TO
submit 20 Eastern capitalists. This com
mlt1ec has not yet reported.
Helping Along Immigration.
On March J. c. l. Webb. q member OF
the chamber and president Of the Wash