The Forrest City times., 1899-08-18
From Tacoma to Seattle.

Ht fVtnoNiS Oi tfiC @Ns A. otu ttsCss guests left the City of Tacoma, Wn., on the afternoon of the 12th day of July. via .i.e Northern Pacific Railway for Seattle --thirty miles still further north. This distance was entirely through low-lying. or river bottom. lands. particularly fer uIe and largely given up to the raising of hops and fruits. As ths cities are ap preached the businesss of market garden ing seems to be the predonlinating feat ure. Occasional glimI.ses Of the sound are obtained. but the view Of all views Is that of Mt. Rainer-for as the more north crn city is neared, the traveller begins to >chool himself to forget to call the noun. lain Mount Tacoma" and makes him sell accustomed to the true and geograph 'cal name of Rainier. This grand old mountain which happens to be located about sixty miles northeast of Tacoma. appears to be not more than twenty miles distant, although the traveller is several miles north of that city.
 Eastern people are ofttimes deceived by the clear and transparent atmosphere of the lar West and undertake to walk to cer- ain objects which appear near by, only 0 find that the trip is inexpedient and the distance very deceptive.
 At 6 o'clock tue train rolled into the ustiing City of Seattle. where the peo- ole were out in force 10 bid generous welcome, their regimental band discours- ng lively airs as the excursiOnists alighted. The members of the Washington State Press Association, then in session at Seat. tie. together with a large reception com- mittee Of pIQminent citiyens. were ready to receive aud escort the visitors to hotels and restaurants, where the evening meal was partakep of, and then the hustlIng Nesterners marshaled the tourists aboard street cars leading to the lake, where steamers were provided for the multitude. which was doubled by the citizens who happened to lIe favored by the Opportuni. to accompany the excursion down Lake Washington. the beautiful body Of water lying just back of the city, and corning its eastern boundary.
 ON LA6E wAsHtNGroN.
 This lake is twenty miles in length and averages about three in width. From it the city obtains it's present water supply, pllt at the same tiWe Is at present con- 'iructing d line leading from a mountain akr, forty lpiies away, as this lake is rap.
 
 settlement of people about its shores is the suburbs of the city. The depth of the ake, like that ot the Sound, is prOblemati. al. and we might say, immaterial. as 1t Is deep enough for all practical purposes -so deep. im fact. that when unfOrtu. mates have been drowned in its icy depths. no body has ever been known to rise igain tO its surface.
 The lake runs north and south, parallel with the city. and at a point near its cen. Ire is separated drom Lake Union, a lesser body of water, ly ing within the city limits. by strip of lOw-lying land only one. fourth of mile in width. Across this strip the Government canal is to be con- structed, and from Lake Union to Salmon Bay-an arM of Puget SUund-is but a distance of one mile, through which a small shaam runs from the lake to the sound. Through this the route to the canal is also surveyed and condemned, he county having expended more than sa00. QUE ul this work tD assist the general Sovernnlsah im it's proposed improvement. together with the construction of two Ucks, in Order that any vessel winch floats nay have safe entrance to one Of the most .xiensive and adequate fresh water har- bors in any country.
 After having viewed the wonders of the park at the lake end Of the line-includ- ing elk. deer, peacocks, black swan. black bear, coyotes, sea lions. etc., the five lake steaaaers got away st about 3 o'clock and yet before dark--the twilight lingering hete till one may read newspaper at 9 o'clock in the e9ening-and after picking up another boat load of charming MadrO- na. the trip was under way for Madison Park, fnAr miles away-all on the same shore and each reached by an indepcn. dent car line. Stopping well GH shore, a ,ignal was given and-whish s-skyward .prang sky rocket after rocket. in a steady stream of light. and these were followed Dy other fireworks, and. wita the gaily lighted steamers. and tsae new moon hang. ing well in range, with the artificial dis play, made a scene l0ng to be reme mbered
 EXCEPTION AT MADISON PARK,
 Approaching the shore another splendid scele ppeared-there were thousands O gaiIy dressed people under the electric light in attendance upon a band concert, where the regimental band regularly give. concerts free 10 the public during Sunday afternUuirs and one or two evenings of the week. Vhe band is said n have no SUI perior on the Pacific coast-it is called Wagner's Band. after it's leader. Il was near the close of the concert and a f. ter one of Seattle's sweet soprano singers mad favored the multitude with popular solo, the general crowd slowly returned to the city. while the editors and invited guests repaired to a large pavilion gaily nghted with coored lights and decorated Nith palms and ferns, and here the ex teient basd discoursed more music tn. Mayor. who lonks like Mark Twain. px ended a hearty Western wrlcoia+, whcl sa, responded lo by Past President Me Gabe and President Henry, and then amid more music all enjoyed a spread of sand wiches, cake, lemonade. etc.. until near midnight, when all returned to the city.
 ELECTRICAL. DIsPLAr.
 The return was signalized by a brilliant display of electrical decorations, the two prlHNpa business streets being festOOned with stringers of incandescent lights for ,'x or eight blocks. and several store fronts also having special and unique dis p'ass. nn prominent square the word " elc0me" flared out in brillisnt letters: on anots.er side IN E.. A., appeared IAR. Iaaa