The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-21

cry year. Some are very good: The fr-
terror ones are being constantly improved:
while all tend 10 the settling I'D and hs--
ter'nent OF the sections through which
they severaliy run
The County Finances.
TIE general revenue system OF TIE =ss.s
- seen II It's largest workings and results
IN Ming county. which collects and pays
over one-Eif,h Of the state taxes The tax
levy Tor state purposes for 1877 in King
county was 400 mills: fer county pur-
poses. Nj mills: total. Il mills on the
Collar. The assessed valuation o. all the
property. real and personal in King county
for the year lN.. expressed in round rS-
ures. was $4,000 - over $s7eIaoel IN
real property. near.y s.. 5so.sD IN personal
property-and the total taxes 10 De COL
lected thereon sum I'D over Soaea
hing eoultys current expense warrants
issue! for salary bills work-blrs and SUD-
p!y-oills monthly, are now paid IN cash,
4 basis never before achieved since state
hood. All current warrants. Il interest,"
bearing. now run at rate Of per cent
the rate having been recently reduced 10
this figure from ! per cent
There IS back or outstanding warrant
debt due from the county fund OF about
SI"o. bearing interest at an average rate
or per cent. To secure the gradual ex-
islature provided iiquda,ion-fund ariS-
ing from the collection % delinquent coun-
~ taxes for the year 1896 and prior years.
The warrants still out IN Tits fund have
been called for payment up 10 April. 1897.
The road and bridge fund has an outstand-
ing Understanding warrant debt OF aoou.
S1s"o. 1t has been called for payment 20
August, 1886, King county has a bonded
debt OF SSI3o5o. incurred IN iSse for the re-
funding OF existing floating debts and for
the building OF the court house in Seattle.
These bonds mature IN twenty years, and
carry per cent. interest. making a yearly
interest charge Of sia.o51 The county IS
in a healthier financial condition than for
years past.
The County Buildings.
The county court house is a handsome
massive structure. we'll built and fairly
we'll equipped There has been recently
great augmentation OF work in all branches
or the county spondng N
tone 10 the revival felt through this sec
ton in al matters Of business. King coun-
" OWNS and supports a well-regulated
county farm. wherein are located the poor
house. county hospital and other county
buildings. Pauperism is prevented or con-
siderably alieviated by fund under con-
troll and direction Of the county commits
sloners
The religious denominations have not
failed TO do their good part for the general
welfare OF the community, Many churches
both Catholic and Protestant. flourish in
the towns and through the county: several
hospitals. sectar.an schools. parochiai
schools ard converts exist.
1t Is absolutely impossible 10 describe
King county and associate /, from its main
city and seaport. Seattle. or 10 give any
general adequate sketch OF the county
apart from lis contiguous and tributary
territory or its wonderful ally and hand
maiden. commerce. That city however IS
made the subject Of a separate article.
Attractions to Tourists.
To the pleasure tourist II should be said
that the scenery of King county and Puget
sound is unsurpassed for natural beauty
the world over, and that its climate is en-
ioyable the year around: 10 the nomadic
sportsman. that its woods and prairies.
marshes and waters abound in wild game,
both furred and feathered and its streams.
lakes and ocean teen with edible fishes.
and its ocean with oysters crabs, crawfsh
and CLAIMS; TO the naturalist. that its
fauna and fora, reptilia ard p!scatorIal
life are diverse and very interesting; to
the geoogist that its rocks and sands and
earth strata are various and worthy OF the
profoundest study: to the nnguist Or anti
Quarian, that its aboriginal races of In
dams stu linger on and about It's shores
and would well repay investigation
King county. and this corner of our vast
country wherein 1t is situate. have only
within the last decade taken a move on
themselves" All the elements that const:-
tute material and commercial greatness
have been slowly gathering 10 a grand eli
max, and are still gathering and gather
ing-daily seen. bat rs yet imperfectly
comprehended and worked with. Puget
sound is only in the very infancy of it's
development and destiny. lneXaaustipe
natura. resources are In il or at It's thresh-
old. and within its grasp.
We are now linked by octuple bands OF
steel with the East and South; we are
now linked 10 foreign countrIes-Occiden-
tai and criental-by big steamship lines
ard sailing vessels: we are now linked 20
the world By long lines Of electric wires,
annIhilating time and distance Al this
va have slowly progressed % by constan:
eudeavor ourselves and ny the ala OF pres
Gent minds ana willing hearts and hands
and wealth outside.
So, no fear possesses our souls now that
n mighty mart is not ours here ultimately
10 have and 20 be thankful for, or that a
magnificent triumph Is not ours CONNER
cialy 10 achieve In the end. Whatever
,he reading public may think OF our hopes
and prognos'!cat tons In this article. we
beg to assure Il that the items Of infor-
nation which We have herein co.lafed lead
ing US UP 70 our forecast and have thus
woven inartistlcally into some sort OF writ
ten fabric are strictly truth and by no
means the whole Of Il. We extend a cor
dal and hearty welcome. as we'll 70 beiiev-
ers 70 douhters. TO come and see for
themselves and be convinced on the ;egti-
mOny of their OWE behoiding.
CHARLES F. WHITTLESEY.