The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-11
Northern Pacific Makes Heavy
Investments IN Seattle.
WATER FRONT REALTY soMoEo.


Water front and terminal properties az
gregassnz In value 100000 are abou. 10 be
purchased in Seattle By the Northern Pa
ciIc- Options have been secured under the
direction o. President MeIien, which. when
closed. will. II IL aaid give the Northern
Pacific absolute control OF the water front
from TESTER way to Union street.
The company IL reliably reported TO have
secured options on two blocks Of ground
lying between Western avenue and Post
atreet. One Of thsae blocks In that be-
tween Seneca and University streets. own
Cd by the Hopkins estate and lying d.
secsiy in the rear Of the Seattle Athletic
puts6 10 have been paid on this block, ~
part OF the purchase price.
In all these operations. the railroad
company IL acting through agents and rep
rs~nsativea hero. who are Mt popul0r1y
known to be In any way connected with
the company. These parties are keeping
oil facts connected with the transactions
strictly 10 Themselves. They no sooner
engage In negotiations for the purchase Of
= tract Of land than they piacs injunctions
OF the 4Eictest seerscy upon the owner or
his agent.
c. J. Smith II said TO be one OF the men
who Ii acting In behalf OF the railroad
company. II II absolutely known that Mr..
Smith some time before the death Of
Amos Brown. secured options on certain
tide land and water front property near
the foot Of Spring and University ssrse,s.
lt ID reliably reported. too. that Mr.. Smith
figured IN a deal by which the half block
Of ground between Western avenue and
Post street and Marion and Madison
streets may become the property Of the
Northern Pacific.
Change of Policy.
Mr.. Smith himself win neither deny nor
afdrm hin connection with this Transaction.
Evidence II NJ hand. however 20 suhssan-
tate the story that ne handled the deal
for the railroad company.
The important fact that appears from
al these circumstances II thar the North
ern Pacific has radically changed its atti-
tude towards Seattle. II r. plain the conn.,
pany In after revenue and has decided that
Seattle furnishes II with more huSiness
than any other town In the Northwest.
President MeIlen In raid TO have inaugnr
ated the new policy soon after his visit
10 Seattle last summer. While he had
some little differences with the city eoun-
ell al the time. jet Meiien's powers Of
observation were not ohscured or mp air.
ed by thc fact and he saw. It Is said.
that the company's opportunities for do-
Ing business In Seattle had too long been
neglected.
AHotBff laCt exptAtHS why mt. Mfbten
has decided to invest considerable OF his
companys money here and to provide ter
mInai facilities for the transaction Of a
great tus'ness Mr.. Meilen In new - IN.
carpany's service. he is not bourd ny any
unfortunate ties TO Tacoma. where the
former marasement Of the Northern Pa
ci1r centcrad 'ts energies II II said in
railroad circles that Mr. Meiien believes In
discardsng a policy when II has been
~
Another thing Mr.. Msllen had no hand
in sinking several millions Of money IA
Tacoma. ARD ne 10 therefore not compelled
10 Justify hts position By spending more
morey TO holster mp that town. In the
days when Cakes. Schulxs. Kenarick ana
MeIIenry were In fun ewing In The North
ern Pacific. town site propositions OF every
kind ncurishei and terminal improvements
were planned without number In Tacoma.
Cakes himself owned on. o. the larg at
additions 10 Tacoma All this II changed
now, The company II seeking revenue and
traffic.
Oniy One Solution.
II is che well considered opinion ag So
attic railroad and business men that ta~re
h hut one solution OF tire railroad praAs IN
in this city and shst - the formation az
q union terminal company This project
n said 10 have been preached 80 President
Meien some errNs ago HsG Fp nave r.
eeivesf hfs approval A railroad man Who
II thoroughly converMot with the prob
lens 81 railway terminals In thts city sa!i
yesterday:
''Ih~ municipality Itself and the Cham
Der 81 Commerce ehauii take the lnltis-
siv. In movement which viii end In the
formation 81 = terminal company. Tho
city shsald ~nea'e tho necessary streets
and should by other measures secure. n
al switching yards 20 he used by all me
companies reaching Seattle.
Railroad avenue Was never planned 40
. switching ward. iis use Ter this purpose
by all the lines II In violation 80 all NV
and good sense Lives are iaIiv Pat n
jeopardy In that avenue II IL fast he
coming a death trap. After the formation