The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-10-31
Return From Inspection Tour Of
Northwestern Cities.
FUND or INFORMATION GAINED
Trip Was In Every Way . Com
pIet~ Suecess and Will Result In
Great Benefit In Future to seat-
tle-BctfeP Municipal Methods
Learned-Comptrofie PaSry'a aad
Councilman James Impressions.

TIE municipal investigation committee or
the city council returned yeaserdsy morn
ing from lts flying visit To the larger cities
OF the Nostha ess IN search OF practical
knowledge for use ia running the govern.
mental machinery OF Seattle. Tho trip was
strictly on business from first TO last and
every member Of the party feels satisfied
that the results sill be or great future
benstlr Ia the city
Perhaps this gresfest good Of the trip
viii be found embodied IN "A motion made
b. Comptroller Parry az banquet In sro-
karse, rejecting the opinions OF the Of
fciais Of both cities. The molten was
unanimously adopted. II caii4 for meet
ing Of a sigesias committee from eaeb OF
the city governments of all cities of the
fret class in this state with a view 10
securing needed municipal legislation This
meeting vii. hc held In Seattle, November
n and viii likely embrace committees from
Spokane. Tacoma and Seattle.
The council committee. thai left here DC
tober TO- VIE mads up Of tounctmen j.
ii. James. II. r. Rude, F. n Muldoou. II.
W. GastIernanD. l.. Diiier, City couptroi-
Ter VIII IL. Parry, City Engineer X. ii.
Thomson and mis- assistant. II. w, Scott,
and Superintendent Of Streets Frank NJ.
Little The objects Of the trip were TO Sc
cars information concerning water works,
street lighting. street maintenance. term
jfrais, power plants. street paving, sever
age and franchises. together with other
municipal subjects. The itinerary included
st, Paul. Duluth West Superior, M.nnea-
polls, Great Fails and Spokane. but owing
10 tine lost In Minnesota Great Fails had
70 be dropped out Of the LIST.
The TRIP. throughout was made under
pressure OF haste and no lime was given
20 pleasure. The party Was kept on the
move from the time OF leaving until Its re-
turn. All were we'll tired out when they
arrived in Seattle again. bat thankful 10
narrow escape from being ditehed by the
attempted wrecksDg O! the Great Northern
trHin near Odessa last Saturday evening
Comptroller Parry and Councilman james
were yesterday asked for their views Of
the trip. Comptroller Parry was found de-
cidcdly under the weather as the result OF
the severe strain Incident 20 managing the
details OF the trip for the party. Severihe-
less he gave In detail A review OF the trip
and Councilman James gave some Of his
conclusions.
Comptroller Parry Talks.
I'VE have ali been deluding ourselves
into the belief that we have great city
here. but after careful examinatic into
the methods I'm vogue In larger and greater
cities, We are forced to the conclusion that
there are a great many things yet 10 be
great city here" tbs was the summary
OF Comptroller Parry's review of his trip.
1t is my opinion that the trip will re-
suit II gssat good TO the city OF settle.
acton OF public service. and in the adop-
ton Of better methods generally
aklflg ufs the Itinerary or the party In
detail Mr.. Parry said:
we left Seattle on the Great Northern
October 10. and our "Trip 10 st, Paul was
without incident and very pleasant. On
our arrival In 81 Paul. Thursday October
IL. We were met at the Union depo, by
committee composed OF the mayor. city
clerk members OF the city council, AMI
other city officials. and take Il 20 the Ryan
hotel. Early the next morning a special
trolley car was provided for Us and We
were taken TO the beautiful parks Of the
tr.ek Fatf ~. hos rra
provided. and we were taken through the
residence portion OF the city. along Sum
init avenue. and given an opportunity Of
examining the parking meIhod Of doing
street work In the residence portion OF the
city. 1t = almost Needless to say that the
striking feature OF ms method il that ii
maintain IL after Ii rs paved. beside making
abe street more slightly for res dents. Ry
this system the city can AFFORD 10 pave
many more 81 rs residence streets than IT
could possibly do were the streets proper
Iegt Their full width.
THE reservoirs. just outside the city.
wefe visited and inspected. also The pump
ing station, where TWO 100000 gallon
pumps bad tust been Installed and were
undergoing a test. On returning - the
city the party was escorted through the
tunnels under construction uiNlcr The city
for The huTying cf all wires and pipes. A.
dinner that evening 4 largn number Of the
s.. Paul officials We present and gem
.ral discussion Of pubN improvements " as
had and taken part In by almost every
one present
THE day following wBs spent bv the
members " the party looking M their Srs-
cfsi linea ot cnun!ciisa! work. the city en-
tineer parting in The day il the engineer
Office. the superintendent OF The water do
psftmgrtt w.th thr water board the street
committeeman with the officers managing
the street work
''On the evening of }he 18th We seft At
HE Tor buluta. arriving There SUNDAY
morning. The principal 1hfecf OF the trip
10 Duluth ami Superior. or the head ~
the Great Lake a. look into ~. llies-
ton 0f transportation terminals AMI IN
proVen9eutS DuiDth = gftS # almost
the same. population Scat ,lF. 4 city
somewhat similar n IFS topography ana
wherefore presented many features of I'm
usual interest Through the courtesy OF
Capt Alec McDouSail. snv"rtog ana hu n