Douglas Island news., 1898-12-07
BEST TOWN IN ALASKA.
What Douglas City is Doing in the Building Line. Not a
 Boom Town.
ALL SUBSTANTIAL BUILDINGS

The history of most of the cities and towns in Alaska, as in every new and undeveloped country, has been one of continued uncertainty as to the ulti- mate outcome. We find very apt it. Iustration of this in the see-saw of the relative positions of fSkaguay and Dyea- First one is up and the other IS down, or vice versa. There are many reasons for this, but perhaps the most potent IS that a city to stand and grow and thrive must have a foundation of re- sources that is permanent and lasting. The fact that these conditions prevail in so few young cities is a prime reason for a lack of confidence in the stability of them.
 Douglas City stands as a notable ex- ception to the rule applied, having for its financial support an enterprise that is no longer an experiment or venture, but a paying gold mine, the annual output of which is only limited by the number of men and stamps employed
 It is not the purpose of this article to enlarge on the greatness or grandeur or magnitude of the Treadwen or oth- CT mines, located an Douglas Island, but we simply wish to call the atten- ton of our readers to the certainty of the fact that Douglas city in not des- tined to meet, in its career, any of the rcverses or backsets that have been and are being so fatal to the average Alaskan town. Douglas City has neV- CT had a boom, in fact it has never yet quite come up to its opportunities and even now scarcity of dwelling houses keeps away many would-be residents
 And this brings US to the subject III hand.
 A reporter for the News started out the other afternoon to.look up the new buildings in the city that had just been completed or were in course of con struction and in very few minutes returned with the following very re- markable list, which, we are told IS very far from a complete one yet IS still a grand index of the spirit of thrifty growth that pervades our city: Congregational church building, nearing completion. J. A. Boyn- ton, contractor. Cost t.......- 3,9Oo
 A. Hunter, buildings between Front and Second streets occu- pied by D. McKay's meat market Dr. Harrison's dental parlors and the News office. Just completed Cost t............. 2,5OO
 Beihl & Shaker, New Brewery on 3rd street, just begun. Mur- ray & Hoyt, contractors. To cost ................ 1000
 Mrs. Chas. Martin, four room cottage on Second street, nearing completion. Cost. 1000
 Pat Malin, dwelling on Sec ond street. Murray & Hoyt con- | tractors. Cost t............... 9OO
 Chas. Hoofer, three fine cot tages on 4th S r streets. c. N. Boyes, contractor. To cost. 1000
 F.M. James, cottage on Third street just begun. Cost ....... 25O
 Frank Back, just completed fine large residence, corner 4th & E streets. Cost st.............. 2,OOO
 Frank Back, two cottages on E street. Murray & Hoyt con- tractors. Cost. ................ l15OO Also a dwelling on Third street. 85O
 J.H. Raymond, five room cot tage on k street. Cost. ......,.. 75o
 PHI. Fox, addition to cottage on Third street. Cost ......... l5O
 F. M. James, addition to cot tage on Third street. Cost. l5O
 Chas. Bevans, cottage on Front
 street. Chas. Fenster, builder. 800
 Martin Oleson, three cabins on Front street. Cost ,,........ 300
 Frank Kane, business house on
 Front street. Steve Falkner,
 builder. Cost. t............... oOO
 John Egan, brewery building
 on Front street, just completed Cost ............, 1000
 When we remember that the above does not include the very extensive improvements at Treadwell, of which we will speak later, we have reason to congratulate the citizens of Douglas.
 Another Citizen.