The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-07

> Total 1890. .~x72,2O0 =
1a1a17111a0a1a1a1aAaS
Among the various business activities Of
Seattle that most impress the average
visitor IS the work OF construction in all
its various lines. Taken "a il totally,
this work Is little short Of stupendous.
Ballard 10 iairly lined with Ill manner Of
nescen, craft, getting ready for the Yu-
kon. and with every conceivable kind q
dock and wharf extension. The recon
struction Of the streets throughout the
main business part Of the city has already
been written up fully in the Pos,-Intelli-
gencer- No contrast can possibly afford
more convincing proof Of the city's deyel-
opment during the last two years than
the old and the new condition OF the
streets IN the district bounced by Pike
street Yes.er way, Fourth avenue and
the water front
But an eminent writer On municipalities
has said that city Is made up Of its
homes. and II is 70 these that the thought
fui sojourner In Seattle looks with the
deepest interest. AS he looks through the
various districts OF the city. or takes 4
run along the several car lines. he cannot
fail to be impressed with the number Of
new homes now springing into existence.
Even the permanent resident In Seattle
may be surprised 10 learn that the build
ings undertaken In this city since the year
ISIS set In foot Up in value more than a
quarter OF a million dollars. This Is al
the more remarkable, because when Seat
tie was rebuilt after the big IRE 1t was re-
built In generous proportions. many Of the
houses erected. hotels, office buildings,
etc. being planned for . city more than
twice its size.
This amount OF building means not mere
~ a permanent addition 20 the homes and
business buildings OF the city. II means
right here In Seattle among workingmen
and dealers in native products Every
bit % the material for all these new struc-
lures comes right from the e.ty's own
doors. Every stroke OF work done on
them. OF ,rowel, or pick. or saw. or plane.
or hammer, is struck by the hand OF a
Seattle laborer or mechanic. This means
more employment for labor, and q, better
pay than could be had when times were
duh. Even the plans are drawn by Seat
tie architects and the contracts are under
taken by Seattle firms.
IL addition 20 the building that has re-
Gently been done ard Is now going on
within the city limits. must be taken into
consideration that which Is done il neigh
boring localities. virtually tributary 10 this
city. Much CT the railway construction
on lines running into this city Is done with
Seattle as a basis. and laborers are almost
daily sent out from this city or these
roads. All labor on the big government
contracts at the Puget sound naval sta
ton Is contracted for and supplied from
Seattle. as Is OF course that for clearing
and grading the site for the military pos.
al Magnolia bluf. The big Snoqualmse
Falls Power Company is getting all its
labor and supplies from this city.
The truth is that. while the war excite
ment Is raging and while thousands ars
getting ready fer the summer rush 10 the
klondike. Seattle is steadily undergoing
an Industrial and building development
which many cs iss own citizens have been
actually too busy 20 notice.
During the first four months Of the pres
ent year there has been expended for build
Egs in Seattle more than a quarter o.
million dollars. The totals shown by the
official records are AS follows: Fer Janu-
AIRY. sS5. 100: February. slls.1se: March. s3e.-
sss; April. s25.o40; May. up 10 yesterday.
81 rs: total 10 date. ST71,sp
There Is not so much variation among
the several months as might appear from
the face OF the figures The total for
February was made larger by one or two
unusually large permits. Otherwise there
IS a general uniformity which speaks well
fer The general property and business in
terests Of the city. A marked feature
OF the records Is the great number OF
minor improvements. such as small build
ings. alterations. moves and repairs. which
snow that the revival OF business Is gen
eral. extending 10 all parts OF the city and
10 all classes OF its population
TIE record % building permits for The
month OF April shows the following totals:
Moves and repairs ....-......-.- s. 300
slEe-StGry .-.-~.-.-.- ..s...-..-.. 40 S4-s
One and one-han story 5.se
INc-siory ....-..-- -........-.... .,si9