The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-24
THIS NAN A MUNCHAUSEN.
WILD AND STARTLING TALES ABOUT
THINGS IN SEATTLE.
Coal Sells for SS-Pennfes Tn
known, and Prices Are Usually
Knocked on at the Quarter.

A man who gives his name as Samuel
g. westhouse and who claims 10 be L resi-
dent Of Seattle has been giving Eastern
people what sporting men would call a
''hu.' Many wild and extrayagant state
n1ents have been scattered broadcast by
seattle's enemies for sinister purposes and
by underhand methods: but OF them all
that ernana'ing from Westhouse easily
bears away the palm for wildness and ak
travagaace.
Mr.. Westhouse claims that he lives In
Seattle, but diligent inquiry here has fail
ed to disclose his identity. His name does
not appear in any Of the directories. and
the postotfice shows no record OF such a
name. 1t is passing strange that a man
who lives in such luxury should thus es-
cape all notice. According to his own
statements Mr.. Westhouse must be a
thigh roller" He says his wife pays IS
a yard for her dresses In Seattle, and that
he wears neckties that cost 50 apiece. and
dress shirts that cost So apiece, while the
butter for his table costs him 81 pound
although 1t Is only oleomargarine after all.
But Mr.. Westhouse Is now planning to
has struck an Eastern market where
he may obtain his purple and
fine linen and still live of the
fat OF the land, but at much lower prices.
Commercial men will be surprised to learn
that that market is Rochester. n. Y. In
that vast metropolis Mr.. Westhouse is go
ing to purchase his supplies and have
them shipped. or bring them himself. to
Seattle.
The plain truth Is that what Mr.. West
house does not know about Seattle would
fill the new library at Washington. IT.
an interview published in the Union and
Advertiser, he says that silk which sells
for 81 yard in Rochester costs So in Sc
attic; neckties that so for Is cents N
Rochester fetch 81 in Seattle: Rochester
men pay 81 for a dress shirt, while Seattle
dudes pay IS for very poor shirt. Ditch
diggers In Seattle he says get 81 a day.
but then he bids the good people of Roch-
ester take into consideration that the
home of the common laborer who works on
a ditch in Seattle costs him $50 a month
rent. and his coal costs him S a ton.
Transfers. he says. live vastly better:
they get IS day.
Pennies, Mr.. WeSthouse says, are UNI
known in Seattle. This statement goes
well with the one above to the effect that
he has never been around the Seattle post
office. Perhaps such wealthy man as
Mr.. Westhouse appears to be might be
excused for ignoring the penny; but he
carries his reckless extravaganza still fur
Their. He says there is absolutely no such
a thing as nickel in Seattle, the silver
scent piece being the only one that will
pass. Even then. he adds, prices are
usually knocked off at the quarter. His
description OF a well-equipped Klondiker's
outfit Is on par with some OF his other
statements. In order that no injustice may
be done him. whoever he is, his interview
with the Union and Advertiser Is here
quoted:
the purchase of dogs for the klondike.
although have gathered up quite num-
Der Of them. It has been twelve years
urally anxious 10 return and see what was
going on here.
From living go long in the country OF
high prices. | had come to have an ex-
allied idea Of every article OF commerce.
My stay in your city opened my eyes,
can tell YOU I hadn't been here more than
a day before I conceived the idea OF buy
ing UP some things 10 take back with me-
You can conceive my surprise at the bar
ITO start with YOU must know that Sc
attic is the base OF supplies Of the Klon-
dixie, and that it is city growing more
rapidly. l believe. than any other city or
the West. There are many more families
there now than there are single houses to
accommodate. AS often as houses are
built, they are rapidly taken up. and ap-
pications are in for each one before 1t is
ready for occupancy.
engaged has control Of about thirty acres
Of land cut up into building lots, and
houses are springing up with startling
The prices OF all. commodities are very
silk for her gown that costs but 81 per
away UP IN the air. Neckties that cost 81
each up at Seattle can he purchased in
Your city for - cents. Dress shirts for
which you fellows think you Gre being ex-
travagant when YOU pay 81 cost us Sc, and
they are poor ores az that.
"Of course. there are advantages that
90 along with these very high prices The
man working on n ditch up in Seattle gets
three or four dollars day. and he may
not work more than seven hours then. He
has 10 pay so 4 month for the rent OF 81
common house. though. and his coal. II he
Is lucky enough to set Il. costs him $ per
ton.
THE worst article of the whole lot how
ever. is the butter. II has the most beat
tiful color possible, but just as soon as you
taste Il You see the deception. / VIII tell
Won how they make Il, The commonest
kind 81 common oleornargarine IS taken.
and IL IS thoroughly coloresi with carrot
juice. masking il a bright yellow. AT the
grocer's Va have 10 pay a dollar pound
for this concoctioD.
There IS n great dea~th Of horses In Sa-
attic. In fact, they are as scarce as the
proverbiai hens teeth. .Ableb bodied men
who can drive teams are wanted up there.
and they earn good wages. \ man can get
s. day with his team the year round.
We are not anxious for professional
men In Seattle. Real estate sharks are
with us by the score and they are all do
ing we'll We have plenty OF them. though.
clans with us. and that IS nearly enough.
The great opening IN Seattle ia for car
penterS and BeineTs and masons. There Is
plenty Of work for them. We want men
who are willing 10 work
The general idea Is that the climate IL
Seattle Ia 50 cold that p person Is running
risks in going there. That IS not the case.
Tho average temuerature in win
ter IS about = degrees. ard
in the summer about - degrees.
Tho best part 81 f. all IS that there are no
sudden changes. Sometimes We get chilly
land h~eeEss. but these are counterbal-
arced by tine warm trade winds that ara
waited over 10 US from the ocean
Among as pennies arc unknown
copper cert IS a great rarity. The STA =
est coin we know Is 5-c@ut piece. Xosl
notice did not say nickel There = TO
such coin recognized NJ Seattle The sill
Yer scent p{ece IS the only one that IS
knocked of az the quarter. Among rs you
gra-raFff .-ras7 -r~YrfIztN