The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-11-02

ed It's working force at the great re-
pair shops near the city, II is not easy
to see. however where the Increase Of
business is to come from, which is alb
solutely needed TO create new uses for
I the grea; number of vacant business
places. As Tacoma has but limited
agricultural hinJerland, and as the trat-
} fic of the nelghbmSng coal mines, the
smelter and planning and saw mills, con-
sists mostly in transit shipments, the
prospect can hardly be hopeful unless
more local industries are established
and a larger outside trade secured, But
there is no capital available for the
former and even II there were, the set
tied policy Of the great Eastern manu-
featuring trusts against the building up
Of rival undertakings on the Pacific
coast would prevent it.
AS regards an expansion of trade,
line OF English steamers has been run
ming to Japan and China under the
name OF Northern Pacific Steamship
Company, Tor some years, 1t carries
-four from the mills on the westward.
and teas and raw silk on the eastward
voyages, but is has not led 50 far to
the establishment OF commercial houses
on the spot for the Asiatic trade. There
Is also a large tonnage OF wheat ship
ped direct to England on sailing YES
sells. which disburses considerable mon
ey. Alaska also represents a promis-
ing field. A few enterprising citizens
are exerting themselves for share o.
that northern trade, and II would be
well for the city II there were more OF
the kind 1t is said that the people OF
Tacoma have heretofore relied too
much upon the parental care Of the
Northern Pacific, and did not feel the
necessity Of self help as much as did
their neighbors Of Seattle. As the days
of railroad patronage are, however, now
substantially over they will have a
chance TO demonstrate what mettle they
really possess.
Nearly twenty years ago the people
OF Seattle, when they numbered but a
few thousand. decided to build the
short railroad from the town to the
Newcastle coal mines with their own
means and labor. Almost the entire
population. men. women and children.
turned out for the work. all contribut-
ing to 1t to the best OF their ability,
The records Of Western pioneer life
may be searched in vain for like in
stance of devoted cooperation for a
common purpose. But the resources Of
the determined people were dispropor-
ti0nate to their task. their efforts failed
to accomplish the end. and dire embar-
rassment for all classes followed. 1t
was my good fortune to be able to
come to their rescue by the purchase of
the coal mine and railroad as far as
built for the Oregon Improvement Co.
which developed the mine and cOmplet-
ed the road. and whose best properties
they have formed to this day.
Ten years ago availed myself OF the
hospitality Of the Canadian Pacific
Company and passed over the whole
length OF its main line from Mnntr7al
to Vancouver on Puget sounu. Un
reaching the latter place on June 6,
1899, I learned that a great fire was rag
ing at Seattle. On approaching the
next day by boat l saw vast volumes Of
smoke overhalging the city. On land
ing / discovered that the entire business
portion, covering sixty-five acres and
representing $4,000 900 worth of proper
ty had been reduced to ashes. and that.
as not a green grocery. not a provision
store. nor a butcher or baker shop. was
left standing. the population was threat
ened with starvation. This was avert
ed by the prompt succor afforded from
every direction but for days thousands
We're fed at public tables set up in
shaded square and supplied from open
air kitchens The destruction was so
widespread and complete that it looked
as though a long time would elapse
before the great waste Of space could
be filled again. But nothing daunted,
the citizens held a meeting after the
fire and resolved to rebuild Seattle, and
even in larger proportion. They made
good their resolution. Like Spokane.
within two years Seattle had fully risen
in solid form Of brick and stone, more
imposing than before.
| mention these two incidents in the
history Of Seattle as the best illustra-
tons Of the character of it's people. TO
their resolute spirit, enthusiastic self
confidence and untiring energy they
owe their extraordinary success, in Gre
ating out Of nothing nourishlng city
Of probably between $1,000 and 70. 900 in
habitants. The creation is the more
remarkable as the location is not a
well chosen one the steep hills, along
whose slopes the business streets run,
making development difficult and ex.
penslve, and compelling precarious ex-
tensions on piles over tide-v1ater flats.
| must confess that the continuous
growth Of Seattle often puzzled me, as
it did not seem justified by the resources
Of the place. Neither the Newcastle
nor the other tributary coal mines
opened since, nor the adjacent farm
ing settlements and lumber camps, nor
the shipping business appeared to fur
rlsh sufficient support for so many
people. There was also he serious
drawback Of the constant partiality