The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-05
IMPROVING IT'S PROPERTY.
Puget Mill Company Begins Work
on an Important Enterprise.
MAKING ROOM FOR CITY HOMES
Large and Valuable Tract Overlook.
Ing Lake Washington to He
Cleared and Graded-Work ON
Elaborate Plans Prepared Years
In the Future Greatness Of seattle

Faith in the future OF Seattle and
belief that the prosperity which this city
has enjoyed for more than a year past Is
merely the beginning Of great era OF
growth and development, has led the
Puget Mil Company 10 undertake an ex-
tensive and costly improvement OF its
property situated on the slope of the hill
facing Lake Washington. F1fry acres.
comprising part of an eighty-acre tract
lake, is 10 be reclaimed and made into
beautiful tract suitable for urban
homes. Work has already begun on the
Improvement. For the past week a large
force Of men has been engaged in the
task OF clearing of the land, grading the
first streets and dwelling the rough places.
On that part of the tract lying north Of
Madison street. system OF boulevards
and driyeways. which IN time will be
paved with macadam and planted in shade
trees. has been laid out with regard to the
topography of the ground and without
reference TO the streets OF the city that
have been plated in the vicinity. with the
proviso that at marginal points the drive
ways will be drawn SO as 10 make con-
nection with the city streets. That idea
viii ultimately be carried 10 the further
most extent of the companys property
touching the lake. If the present plans are
carried out, the whole idea being TO make
this portion of the city most desirable for
fine residences.
The tract Is most admirably situated.
Its location will be called 10 mind when il
Is remembered that there the great sham
battle which was feature or the Fourth
OF July celebration last year was fought.
Beyond the tract are found many hand
some homes of Seattle people. with large.
we'll improved grounds around them, all
facing Lake Washington and commanding
a view OF the magnificent scenery around
and beyond the lake.
Nearly ten years ago the engineers en-
ployed by Pope & Talbot, chief owners
of the Puget Min Company. visited the
company's property In Seattle and made
surveys of the tract OF nearly 400 acres
owned by them, extending from the brow
OF the last hill on Madison street, being
the northeast quarter or section Is. 10
Union bay. In section Il. Within year
elaborate plans for the Improvement Of
the property were drawn UP by the engin-
GERS for the company and approved by
the firm In San Francisco. Nothing was
done at the time, however, in the way or
carrying forward the work OF identifying
the tract, excepting that the land was
cleared of trees and underbrush.
Since then the enterprise has been al
lowed to slumber. awaiting the opportun-
ity which was presented when Seattle
stepped forth from among all the Pacific
coast cities into such prosperity and
growth of commerce and trade as set al
the country talking about ner. When the
vanguard of the gold seekers fiocked 10
Seattle in the summer of 1897, the atten-
ton of Messrs. Pope & Talbot was at once
attracted to their Seattle interests as IL
never was before. officials OF the Puget
Mil Company made visits TO this city
from time to time until IL was finally de-
cided to send John w. Ferris, the well
known San Francisco engineer, 10 Seattle
to look into the advisa ability OF resurrect-
ing the plans for the Improvement OF the
tract overlooking Lake Washington.
Mr. Ferris spent three weeks In Seattle
last November. He consulted with the
city officials, and finally returned 10 San
Francisco satisfied that this was an OPP
perfume time to begin WORK on the enter
prise.
Three weeks ago the matter was placed
In charge of City Engineer T. II. Thom-
son. who was directed TO prepare speci-
fications FOR a contract for the grading OF
the streets on the south side Of Madison
street which cuts tract OF fifty acres
nearly IN two. and to let the contract for
the same. The sum Of sloeoo was placed
az his disposal for carrying out this con-
tract. which - merely preliminary 20 the
great work which is TO follow. A graders
camp was established on the tract two
weeks ago and operations were az once
begun.
On the south side OF Madison street the
streets have been laid out in conformity
with those OF the city already plated.
This is possible on account of the contour
OF the ground. Wherever excavations are
made the earth is taken 20 the north side
OF Madison street and is deposited IN the
low places. and always with strict regard
to the system Of bouievards and drive
ways which have been laid out TO con-
form with the topography OF the tract.
All stumps are removed from excavations
and fills. 80 that the work viii be perma-
nent I'm character.
II Is planned 10 lay an Independent sys-
tenn OF water and sewerage on the streets
and driveways when The company's plans
are fully carried out II Is possible that
a lighting system Will be established. and
that the company will build a number OF
costly dwellings on the tract.
wAGNER'S BAND. MADISON PARK.