The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-12


more than lao in attendance
His contract with this powerful company
has virtually given Mr. Hill the key 70 the
commerce OF The Orient He has realized
this long ago. ard has been constantly fol-
lowing up his advantage Not a single
steamer OF the japanese lire has gone out
OF Seattle that did not leave tons OF mer-
chanGise on the dock behind her ready for
The lex; vessel Extra vessels have been
chartered ard stiff the mass OF American
freight has been greater than the Japa nese
steamers could handle This has nor been
without lis effect and even row the Japa-
nese company is thinking % taking some Of
the new steamers which were buiit for its
line 10 England and putting them upon the
American run. This fact alone has been
worth volumes OF advertising 20 this city
giving the japanese the impression that
Seattle is a great shipping port
Acquisition of New Facilities.
This impression has also become axed in
the mind Of President Hill. and he has
gagged his plans accordingly. Realizing
that the docking. warehouse and Wharfage
facilities Of the Great Northern were total
" inadequate to handle its growing com
merce. ne set about the acquisition of new
terminal facilities His purpose resulted in
acquiring the property near the entrance TO
Smith cove
Briefly, Mr. Hits plans in connection
with the new terminal may be said TO en-
brace three leading features. TIE first OF
these is ship canal and dock which VII
afford ample room for several large ocean
steamers. with railroad trackage alongside
The second is ample warehouse provision
for the storage of incoming and outgoing
freight. where cars can De directly loaded
ard unioaded. TIE third is great wheat
elevator. such as the Great Northern al
ready has at Duluth
Long ago Mr.. Hi became convinced. and
n sod = Saff h, De-
gencer. that the key 10 me problem OF max
ing Seattle "A wheat shipping port lay in
the matter Of transportation, and that one
OF the chief factors in the question Of trans
portatlon and rates was in the matter Of
shipping wheat in bulk. without the ex-
pense of sacking it. With this in mind. he
devised system of elevators 10 be CON
structed throughout the Western wheat
belt tapped by the Great Northern. and in
connection with that system a great grain
elevator here at Seattle, where big ocean
going vessels could load.
This, in brief, is a key 10 what the Great
Northern is now doing al Smith cove. The
work $ being pressed with all the vigor
which Judge Burke predicted when he laid
the matter before the city council. The
big building on the north side of the slip
Is rapidly approaching completion. Built
upon substantial foundation of piiing
its frame has already been finished ana
the roof is now being put on. Part Of both
its stories has been foored and on every
part OF 1t there is now large force of
laborers at work. The spur track which
approaches the first floor on the north side
from the main line Of the Great Northern
has been completed. So has the track which
rises by sharp grade to the second floor
of the building. The stone foundation OF
the elevator has been practically compet-
ed, and stone is now being laid for the
MIA pt
Three Spur Tracks.
Meanwhile the work on the south build,
ing, that is. the building on the south side
OF the slip. has not been neglected. The
pilng for this has all been driven and the
frame work of the first floor is now being
put n place. There Will be three spur
tracks approaching this building. One of
these is already nearly constructed, and
the piling is being driven for the other two.
This building will be devoted to the storage
OF freight. incoming and outgoing.
Four pile drivers have been constantly at
work. pounding away on 10000 piles. Many
of these piles are sixty feet in length
Already S,00o piles have been driven down,
and II is expected the others will be driven
by next week. AS soon as this is done
three of the pile drivers will be released.
the fourth being retained for incidental
work.
The entire scene around the new plant IS
very embodiment Of busy industry. Me-
chancs of all kinds are at work and there
is heard. above, below. the sound OF ham,
mer blow on blow" Rarges of stone lie
close at hand. Cords Of brush remind one
OF the palmy days when the tide flats We're
being filed in south Of King street Gangs
Of workmen on the roof. on the floors. out
on the spur tracks. in fact. everywhere.
One of the prettiest views OF the new
plant Is from the high bluff overlooking
I'll -,
scenic beauty and commercial suggestive
ness. Along the sides Of the bluff the bril-
liant colors of autumn foliage defy the skill
of the artist. Far beyond the cove. rim
ming the distant horizon are the peaks Of
the Olympics Nearer al hand the busy
steamers piow the waters Of the bay.
Closer in under the bluff the observer sees