The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-09

-rHE city Of Seattle has no longer
AS any need to advance reasons why
vfRl 1t should be regarded as the
w chief city of the Northwest. nor
make elaborate argument in
support OF the claim that 1t
must inevitably become to the Pacinc
coas, what New York is TO the Atlantic
coast Its advance has been so great that
a very superficial knowledge OF Its advan-
tages and prospects must lead to the con-
eusiou that its future Is assured. II Is at
very interesting stage to men like the
members Of the National Editorial Asso-
citation, who are accustomed 10 take the
facts as they find them and form their own
conclusions. Trite as the subject is TO the
citizens of Seattle. 1t is an opportune time
to review not only what has been accom-
plished, but the conditions upon which Its
future supremacy is based
Less than forty years ago the site OF the
present city OF Seattle Was wilderness
more wild and lonely than any section OF
the country now within the boundaries OF
this Union. and there is no place on the
shores OF Puget sound so small but that 1t
might serve as picture Of what this city
was for several years after its first set
Ting.
In 1892, when Capt. George Vancouver.
Of the British royal navy. was on his fam
Gus voyage Of exploration. which resulted
in SO many Of the now well-known names
being first applied to the vicinity Of Puget
sound, the site and harbor Of Seattle were
overlooked The great navigator. with his
two vesseis--the Discovery and the Chath-
am--was in the vicinity surveying Admir-
atty inlet Port Orchard and the upper
| Sound. An occasional vessel found Its
way into these waters during the first
| half Of the century. trading with Indians.
| Among these visitors was q fur trader
| which arrived In 1926 One OF It's crew was
| young man named Daniel Smith, who
| afterwards served as justice OF the peace.
| and died in Seattle In 1890 at the age OF u
| years. His brother followed him to Seat
| tie and afterwards served two terms as
| mayor. 1t was not until 1852 however,
that two brothers named Denny and sew
| eral others whose names are preserved by
| association with various parts of the city.
| Bell. Boren, Maynard, Terry. Van ASSET
| and Maple, settled in its neighborhood.
| The little town grow quite rapidly and
| soon had its sawmill. tannery, fishery,
| stores. school and church. The early In
| hahitants suffered severely from attacks
| by Nisqually. Puyailup. Duwamish, Klicki-
tat and Yakima Indians. and one Of the
| principal features OF the town was
| ssockade roughly made OF heavy tiihbers.
| 1T grew steadily until in 1883, with 1000
people, II led all the towns OF the terri
/ tory. II was already becoming a very
| prosperous place when in June. 1889. fire
swept over 100 acres OF Seattles business
| quarter, wiptng cut wharves. railroads and
| houses. stores and even the wooden
| streets themselves. The direct damage
| was full .0G.0oO. and the Indirect dam
| age from loss Of trade caused a much
l fn5p fatt 49,
I'm business.
| 1t resulted in a great impetus being
| given TO the city. Fresh capital came in.
| fine buildings took the place Of the two
| story wooden structures. and there was Q
| great influx Of population. The popuia-
| tion in 1850 was only $3.50 BY 1880 1t was
ssss7. 1t continued growing until 1888,
when the depression which fell upon the
| whole country had it's effect; and for two
| or three years Il remained stagnant.
| BY lS3 trade was already picking I'D
| when toe discovery of gold in the Klon-
| dixie gave IL tremendous impulse and the
momentum is still felt. The population is
now about 15.ooc But the increase In
/ wealth ana commercial Importance has
been even greater, For time il was
riyaied by Tacoma, in consequence OF that
| city being made the terminus CT the North
| ern Pacific railroad: but that rivalry has
| practically ceased and now Seattle Is en-
| titled TO figures which place II almost on
level with Portland. which for forty
years mas been by long way the leading
| city.
n visitor TO Seattle cannot fail 20 De
/ Impressed by its scenery. The business
| part Of the city lies along the water front
| at the foot OF teEraced hills and extends
| across the tide lands at the mouth OF Du-
| vanish river. From natural elevations in
various parts OF the city is seen TO tho
| west and beyond the calm blue waters Of
| the Sound the dark and snow-cApred
oiympicS. While TO the east extending
| north and south far as the eye can
| reach. is the mighty Cascade range. with
| Mount Baker seventy miles 10 the north.
| nearly loo feet high and the stupeu-
| deus, solitary Mount Rainier 10 the south
/ towering 1890 feet above the sea level
ard capped with perpetual snow. Between
| the city and that scene lies Lake WASH
| tssion. beautiful sheet Of fresh water
almost thirty miles long and as vide as
| three miles. The wafer is clear and cold.
| berg fed by springs and mountain
| streams. and a. places IS over 30 1athoms
| deep Linking Lake Washington with the
waters os Page. soana. TO the north OF the
| city Is Lake Union. ana IL is TO unite the
| MAGNIFICENT lake OF fresa water with ,ha
! I'D less deep arm o. the sea taa, The canal
| whiea has attracted 50 much attention is
| aoS under way.
|
! II HE tEterlake canal would enable ths
largest vessels 20 find a land locked
| aarocr where al sae parasites % the sea
| Viii crep eli. leaving SHIPS perfectly clean,
| ~!thoai the enormous expense - docking
Conspicuous objects on the high land be
yoni the business districts are the court
house. high seheol. ere headquarters and
/ the Decay hotsi. Dotted over TIE s.sty
! VIII be observed elegant churches ara sub
| ssxnuai scAoasnoaseS Seattle takes par
| sieuI2r pride In her educational fnstisu-