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

NJ court house or 10 any other sim lar
elevation from which good view OF
the city may be had, one would see
spread out In every direction prac-
tical object lesson OF ne new era OF pros
perty that has come TO Seattle.
The object lesson Is In the shape OF new
buildings More tsan 40 Of them have been
erected during the eleven months Of 1855.
and more than GO other houses have been
streated to substantial repairs amounting IN
many instances to remodeling or reconstruc-
ton. The total value or these improve
ments Is very nearly 81 10000, az compared
with little more than one-thlrd OF that
amount for the entire twelve months Of 1887.
To this substantial addition to the cify's
aMessable wealth must be added more than
q quarter OF a million dollars worth OF
street improvements in the way of grad
Ing. paving, pianking, sewers. and the like
by which thu value of ali property con-
cerned is enhanced in value.
AS enc looks down upon this pleasing
evidence OF prosperity. one In impressed by
two facts tina, speak well for the solid
growth OF the city. First. these material
improvements have not been confined to
any particular quarter OF the city. but are
scattered eQuitably Throughout. its length
and breadth. Second. while there have been
come solid additions TO the business section
Of the city, by far the larger part OF the
homes most of which have been built and
equipped not for speculation. but actual oc-
cupation and use.
In further confirmation and Illustration of
the c!ty's growth glance into the archi
teets' offices and he contractors desks win
show a number of new enterprises now on
foot Before the next four months have
passed Seattle will have under construction
buildings to the valuation of not less than
&1500oe. That amount speaks more elo-
Quentiy than words as an evidence OF the
city's growth. Or this amount fully so
per cent. Is represented by plans and spe-
cifcations which are now in the hands OF
prominent architects OF the city, and the
remainder are plans which have been
drawn and contractors are figuring on the
buildings. Two-thirds OF this amour; Is
represented In the construction Of blocks
and warehouses and the rest In residences.
Increased Activity.
For the last year there has been more
activity In the building world than for at
least four years previous Building il on
the increase, and the improvements project
ed are OF a kind that VIII enhance values
and make Seattle property more attractive
than ever to capitalists. both at home and
abroad.
Several reasons can be advanced for this
remarkable building growth. In the first
place, as the commercial importance OF the
city became fully realized ard more bust
ness houses became established and profess
sional men sought for openings. there was
found to be a shortage or blocks. Natur-
ally. more business hlocks. warehouses and
etore roorrs were needed. The tine had
come for . business revival. and together
with the steady business growth those
with money opened the avenues through
which the business would flew. and began
building. Those who were In business
found that !. was increasing and had to
build additions. Feeling sure OF continued
business on account Of tho healthy aspect
when they did build they erected suhstan-
tial additions.
building Their Homes.
In the second place. II has been fact
Ions known that large per cent. OF the
people Of Seattle did not own their homes
This can be reasonably accounted Cor hv the
fact that after the big fire people 'ocked
TO the city In great numbers Work was
plentiful. and Instead OF the working
classes looking forward 10 the build
Ing o; their own homes they
helped build houses for others. The
average business man was too busy With his
own commercial! interests 20 figure on
building a home. and 50 many Of
them rented. Since then they have bean
saving money for home they could cal
their own. Last year, with the rush OF
Klonikers who brought with them their
families. who were 10 live here while they
were north. houses hecaue scarce again.
Rents went MP. and with this move those
who rented thought that the onporfuvit. =
had come 70 build their homes for which
they had been saving fer several years.
This largely accounts fcr the residence
building that Is now going on.
IN ;hs baiiding that Il taking place two
conspicuous things are noticed. The aver
age person wosIid pass Them BY bat 10 The
haiiaerS they are congpteuo8~ To-day ,he
buildings t6At are being erected are ne
small contractors, Several years zso. ara
especially after ths Hre. he building - "a.
city was practically controlled Nv several
large companies. Another thing = 30 -
lowing ny ire people having HOUSES erected
for builder se make the plans ard carr,
them out rfe architects claim thaf tas
builders ara net capable - pfass-iivy- +es
dctaiis OF house ana carrying the,n e.,t
The builders ans carpentsrs claim .Ast ,hev
are perfectly competent 50 81 what fh.v
undertake ara there the matter rests
As 90 the building which has aepn ts1na Z,
speaks fer itseaf, From January q, rpa.
senher ~ this year permits 20 ne 49,.
of ss2tsA have been aiken ou: The tesa,
number issued Yves : o. ~ tSfs nu,,,t,e,
60 permits veFe tar moves ana ~e-s.~1
leaving -, permits tar new bu.lszrsS 4
prominent Srick dealer salg Yesterday .ha,
fer ,ae last nTe years he Rad aot sssn
much brick used fer repairing foundation
as there had been IRIS year. The nov,
sf'J repairs represent = large s.1s4i o. r,,~,v
spent In this manner. Perhaps -, lsr,eas,
Vas .pens fAr repairs on TIE Mutual IT.
building. amsuasins "a S-asN
Some Prominent STRUCTURE.
TIE -Scyea building a hsnsaor.. 49,.
story white Brick. has Just beer ~e-,.,a,
eli st a eos. ~ s.s a.o August Nay,,,,--t,
eusidsag near TIE cnton dspot So r~sr.s.e1
~ finished costing s2saeA A tws-st,~,
h-scs addition - the casoa@. seApt., -.
elIi.i a cost - - 90 TIE SchWabs..s,.,
ooek ~as improved costing evar Ga as
-nan SeAE,a.ia oSsn . sxs.ssesy as.cs