The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-11-02
Pacific. whose rivals they were intended

The city grew and grew, and even
the crash u 1898 had but a temporary
effect As everywhere else. that year
brought serious banking troubles, pros
tratcd domestic aud exterior trade, and
real estate values shrunk very badly.
The recovery was FASTENED by the mos,
influential events, viz; the completion
of the Great Northern rSllroad, the
trancontinental competitor OF the
Northern Pacific. and the breaking out
OF the Klondike gold excitement. which
latter was most timely smile OF for
tune. from which Seattle has so far
profted more than any other ot the
competitive cities. BY the accession OF
the Great Northern, Seattle gained
greatly over Tacoma, 1t became the
outlet of two great systems, while the
latter remains the terminal OF only
one. 1t has also secured the benefit OF
the great government drydock and ma
val station at Port Orchard on the other
side Of Elliott bay. on which the city
lies. and OF a large governments army
post, adjoining the city. and comprising
a thousand acres, II has besides
floating drydock and .shipyard, at
which several vesselse have been built
by the United States government. 1t Is
also the seat OF the state university.
which came near being forced to close
at one time, owing 10 the failure OF the
legislature to make appropriations for
II, but It is now a floufshing institu-
tion.
Like Tacoma, Seattle has steamer
line to Japan and China, operated by
a Japanese company, in connection with
the Great Northern railroad. which
carries about the same sort of cargoes
as the Tacoma line. with the same lin
tied local benefit The other shipping
business is, however. very considerable,
and a large Puget sound and Pacific
eoastwise tleet OF sailing boats and
steamers is engaged in 1t. Grain ship
ping Is not large compared with that
of Tacoma and Portland. Seattle has
ever since the beginning built great
hopes on the fact that the large and
beautiful Lake Washington lies In It's
immediate vicinity-the present city
limits. indeed extend to it--and is ca
pable Of connection with tidewater by
a short canal. which would make the
lake the only fresh water port on the
Pacific ocean. entirely safe from tha,
plague Of ships AMI docks, the teredo.
SO far. these hopes have not been full
filed. but they are persistently clung
to, and appeals to Uncle Sam for ap-
proprlations will continue to be made.
Besides flour mill. only number Of
small industries are found in the place
The reason given for this is the want
OF level ground, owing TO the hilly
character Of the site, already referred
to. There is a great extent of tide-hats
amounting to $1,000 acres. directly to
the west Of the improved part OF the
city, Of which a local company has
undertaken the filing to above high
water mark, under the liberal policy
adopted by the state to encourage the
utilization Of tide-lands generally. with
in its jurisdiction The company began
operations in 1895, and filed about fifty
acres, when it came 70 a halt owing to
financial difficulties. and has not since
been able to resume the work, for which
several millions are needed. II Is GER
tain that more level building space Is
needed for the growth OF the business
portion. and the enterprise will doubt
less he carried on sooner or later.
That a large general business is done
il Seattle is proved by the clearings Of
the banks Of the place, which work with
a capital Of over S7.0OO,OOO. The clear
irgs for eight months in 1899 show a
gain of nearly 40 per cent over last
year, and were more than twice as large
as those Of Tacoma, and even larger by
$2,OOOOOO than those of Portland. The
Klondike gold excitement gave rise TO
a very large business i'm Quitting the
gold seekers and in furnishing regular
supplies Of all kInis 10 Ciie mining dis
tricts. But as rich a harvest as the
local merchants gathered in 1897 and
1903 was not again vouchsafed to them
this season. There has been steady
decline IN the Klondike trade this sum-
l.. hot int
merchants and manufacturers have
become alive to their opportunity and
are shipping goods in bond through
Alaska to the Canadian gold regions,
which method, Of course, gives them an
advantage over American competitors
to the extent Of the Canadian duty.
But the certain increase Of mining in
terests in Alaska will bring compensa-
tion for this LOGS in due time.
Tacoma is far ahead Of Seattle in
the character Of its private residences.
In fact no such fine homes are to be
found on the heights Of Elliott bay as
may be seen by the score in Tacoma. Sc
attic houses are relatively small, and
not only their size but their exterior
and the grounds about them reveal an
Indifference to appearance in striking
contrast with the aspect Of the rival
city. To speak plainly, the residence
quarter Of Seattle is very shabby, and
I could not help repeating the ques-
tion so often asked in the past: why
is it that people so pushing and well-to-
do care so little for pretty and com
modous homes?" HENRY WILLARD. |