The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-17
Chamber of Commerce Landlord
Wants More Money.
THAT BODY TO DISCUSS IT.
May he That an Effort VIII he Made
20 Reorganixe-rhe Erection Of n
building Is Not Beyond the
Range of POssibility-Chamb
Believes That Ii Has q Grievance
Against Mr.. Colb.ns-What He Said.

The present demand for offices and
business quarters Of all kinds VIII De
made the special order of business OF .he
Seattle Chambe: of Commerce at SIS
meeting next Wednesday, and as the en-
croachments OF business are in conac.
with the placid life OF Seattles repre-
sentative commercial organization. the
meeting promises to be one OF unusual
interest. There is a pronounced feeling
among a certain element OF the chamber
that there is a grievance TO be adjusted,
and this grievance is laid At the door OF
the chambers present landlord John Col
Inns. The conditions that caused Mr. Col
Inns 10 serve notice upon his tenants that
raise in rent or a vacation OF the prem
ises would be desirable on March l are
those that the chamber has striven most
actively 10 bring about, and II seems al
most paradoxicai TO protest against the
effects of the good times that result in an
upward tendency in rent rolls Still the
case Is one In point wherein the cham
bers own exchequer is affected. ana
while IL cannot contemplate a considerable
raise in rent and great restriction in the
space Il occupies. it must necessarily give
up its present comfortable and commo-
dioEs quarters with some measure OF
regret.
A year and half ago the Seattle Cham
Der or Commerce occupied very pleasant
rooms in the Seattle National Bank build
ing at Yesier way and Occidental avenue
The claim is made that the surroundings
We're quite comfortable as those in the
htlii tl7.zr
to the chamber. and IL is said that the
proposition came from Mr. Collins himself
that the chamber move into his new
building at James street and Second ave-
nue..
The very alluring argument was used.
IL is said, that the move In itself would
inspire greater interest in the doings
or the chamber. and that. in addition To
possibly increased membership. the
chamber would be located much nearer 20
the trade and general business centers 1t
was commended. il is said, that the new
location would be adjacent to several lines
Of street railroad. that presumably led 20
the residences OF various members.
Finally. after several meetings and much
discussion pro and con, the chamber de-
cided to move into Mr.. Collins building
Mr. Collins declined to give q lease for
the premises. but IL is said. stated nat
There would not be any trouble about
that" The Chamber OF Commerce with
less discretion than IL usually shows in
matters OF business. set up its lares and
penateS AT Second avenue and James
street. and continued In It's work OF con-
trfhufing to the prosperity OF the COM
muntty which is now the cause or its UNI
doing.
The present quarters Of the Chamber or
Commerce have been specially fitted for
It's occupancy. and much money has been
spent In arranging the mineral display
building partitions and generally arrang-
ing the big empty room for its uses.
Once has Mr.. Collins jokingly raised the
rent, ana In the same feeling OF popularity
has the chamber met the demand Now
Mr.. Collins. IL Is stated. wants all OF the
Second avenue frontage and enough an
the James street SIDE 10 arrange there
large office rooms. Besides this. he
wants just twice as much money for what
is left as he originally got for the entire
space that he lured the chamber away
from the Seattle Nationa! Bank building
with. and IL is at this that the chamber
protests.
There viii be some original propositions
made 1T next Wednesdays meeting when.
II is hoped there will De a large turn
cut Of members. one scheme that viii
be offered will be sn entire reorganization
Of the chamber upon bigger and better
lines: its possible requirement OF its own
property and eventual building of A place
that viii not only contemplate It's own
uses. bu- be 4 building fer general bust
ness purposes for which there il such a
demand