The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-10
THE PASSING IHRONG.

10lrs yesterday AFTERNOON. ARty arrived
from the East early in the week and are
leisurely looking the country over. with
especial regard to the lumber and logging
industry. Henry Swart. = retired lum-
herman of Marinet1s Wis. Charles H
Jones. Of Menominee. Mich. part owner
in the ST. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Com
pany: John Wells. president OF the Bird
& Wells Lumber Company. OF Menominee:
T. A Flanagan. of Marinette. and Sol
Frost. wealthy logger Of Menominee,
comprise the party.
All Of the visiting lunlbermen speak in
lavish praise of the city of Seattle and IF
Washington. Their presence here is partly
due to pleasure and partly 10 business. for
they intend 10 make several trips into the
forests Of giant frs and cedars that cover
the western slopes Of the Cascades before
they return 10 their homes n the East
1T has been six years since | last Wis
tied Seattle" said Mr.. Swar- yesterday in
conversation with a Post-Inte.igencer re-
porter. Since then the state of Wash
ington has suffered relapse, due TO over
speculation. or. in other words, boom
but following this period Of depression has
come one of growth on le-
Ultimate basis and prosperity. All
this is apparent 10 anyone who comes
here, and especially true is this Of Seattle.
which observe Is now. In the midnoon of
a wonderful era of business activity and
advancement.
The luInbermen OF the East look with
hope and confidence TO the Pacific coast
and TO the Puget sound country in partic-
ular. While il is true that the forests Of
Michigan and Wisconsin viii furnish the
mills with material for nearly quarter
of a century yet TO come. yet the end IS
In sight and naturally there Is a desire
to inquire into the possibilities and ad-
yantages possessed by this region. There
is undoubtedly a future filled with great
things in store for Washington and Sc
attic No one who knows anything of the
manifold resources Of this state will gass-
say that. You have everything here neces-
sary TO build up a great, affiuent and
progressive commonwealth The COM
merce alone of Seattle should make IL
great city. The forests of fir and of cedar
in Washington will continue TO be source
of great wealth for decades 10 come. When
the farming areas of the state are filed
with home-builders and the manufacture
ing industries of the cities are firmly es-
tablshed Washington Will be one Of the
truly great states OF the Union.
What am saying TO you is simply the
opinions that are held by Eastern men
conversant with the affairs OF this state.
The important position in relation %
Alaska held by Seattle is recognized thor
oughly in the East. In fact, Seattle is
held 10 occupy location OF more import
ance even than San Francisco. The long
commercial way enjoyed by that city Is
waning in front of. the strides that are
being made by Seattle"
Mr.. Wells, who is one of the party men,
toned in the foregoing. Is one of the
heaviest lumber operators In the coun-
try. He is president of the Bird & Wells
Lumber Companoy and vice president Of
the Girard Lumber Company, of Me-
nominee. In addition. he Is vice
president of the Lumbermen's Ma
tlonal bank, of the same city.
This is my first trip to the Pacific coast"
he said yesterday. mo. cannot say that
contemplate acquiring any properties
here. Yet I am interested and have ex-
amined some of the mills in this section
| with great pleasure. / believe that the
lumbermen of the middle West VIII de-
velop the forests of the South when those
Of Michigan and Wisconsin are exhausted.
This is not saying that there are no OPP
nortun,ties in Washington and on the Pa
c,fc coast The fir and cedar lumber pro-
duced on this Coast has an established
footing on the market. OF course your
business Is principally in foreign shipping.
/ am much impressed with the state ana
with Seattle"
Mr. Frost Is one Of the best known log
ers in Michigan and Wisconsin. He said
that he anticipated trip through some
Of the big camps in Western Washington
with considerable pleasure. Both he and
Mr.. Swart will spend several weeks IN
the Northwest
James p. Light general manager OF the
Seattle & Yukon Steamship Company, re-
turned yesterday from a business trip to
Chicago. Boston and other Eastern cities
He announced last night that his com
pany has purchased on the Atlantic coast
the steel steamship Elihu Thomson for the
lire which the company viii estaDlish be-
tween this city and Alaskan ports. The
Thomson has already started on her long
voyage from the Atlantic 10 the Pacific
coast. and Is expected TO be here IN time
to sail early in April.
Mr.. Light will take a party Of twenty
two men over the Chilkoot TRAN TO Daw-
son. They viii leave here on the City OF
Seattle February % and will purchase
their entire outfits here before starting.
within three weeks the transcontinen-
tai railroads will be running their overland
trains In sections Of three each" said Mr.,
Light last night at the Butler. ''The East
IS ahame with the Klondike excitement.
Parties are organizing hourly. you might
say. and from all heard in New York,
Boston. Chicago and other Eastern cities.
the great majority OF the gold hunters are
bound for Seattle. The fact of the mat
ter is tf1dt THIS city Will get the DNik OF
the trade resulting from the klondIke
movement. This is why we have estab-
ushed our headquarters In Seattle.
II expect to leave here with a party of
twenty-five men for Dawson on February
y. going in over the ice. Our entire party
will be QUILTED here. because after the
experience | have had in the klondike I
am convinced that everything we need can
be secured here at lower prices than any,
where. The Eastern cities. although work
ing TO draw this trade. Will have little
effect on Seattle"
The Elhu Thomson. Mr.. Light said.
will be placed on the run TO Dyea. The
Progreso viii run on the lire 10 s.. Nj
chael.
Mr. Light. with three others in his par
Is. viii push on TO Dawson over the ice
In the party will be Simon kisick. a we'll
known Alaska guide. \ fine dog team OF
eight animals will carry the parey's pro-
visions.
w Il. Kidder. OF Warsaw. y. Y. sole
NiuE passenger agent Of the Bur4io