Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-01-13
GROWTH OF SEATTLE.
QUAORUPLEO POPULATION IN A SIM
GLE DECADE.
Increased From 10000 In 1858 to SO,-
600 In 1S9S-WcnIth and Commerce
Grew In Even Greater Proportion.
Marvel of the Northwest.

ooo In 1SoS-" wealth and Commerce
Grew In Even Greater Proportion.
Marvel of the Northwest.
Less than 10 years ago the site of the
present city of Seattle was Il wilder
ness 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 it might serve as Il
picture of what this city was for sever
al years after its first settling
In 1892, when Captain George Van
couvcr of the British royal navy was
on his famous voyage of exploration,
which resulted iii so many of the now
we'll 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 YES
sells, the Discovery and the Chatham,
was i'll the vicinity surveying" Admiral
~ 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 Indi-
ans. Among these visitors was fur
trader which arrived in 1876. One of
its crew WAS Il young man named Dan
lei Smith, who afterward served as
justice of the peace and died in Seattle
III lS9O at the age of 81 years. Ills
brother followed him to Seattle and
aftcrWard served two terms as mayor.
1t was not until 1852, however, that
two brothers named Denny and sever
al others whose names are preserved
by association with various parts of
the city. Bell, Borcn, Maynard, Terry,
Van ASSET and Maple, settled in its
nci%hborhOod. The little town grew
quit" rapidly and soon had its Sawmill.
tann"ry, fishery, stores, school and
church. The early inhabitants suffered
severely from attacks by NiSlually,
IuNaIlup. DuwamiSh. Klicktat and
Yakima Indians and one of the princi-
pal features of the town WAS a stock
ade roughly made of heavy timbcrs.
1t grew steadily until in 1883, with
5000 people, ii led all the towns of the
territory. 1t was already becoming
Il very prosperous place when in July,
lSS3, fire swept over POO acres of
Seattlc's business quarter, wiping out
wharfS, railroads and houses, stores
and even the wooden streets them
selves
1t resulted in Il 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 Il great influx of population. The
population in lSS0 was only 3.;5J}::5. by
ing until lS!l3. when the depression
which fell upon the whole country had
its effect, and for two or three years
it remained Stagnant.
BY 1S9I trade was already picking
up when the discovery of gold in the
klOndilc gave ii Il tremendous i'm
pulse, and the momentum is still felt.
The population is now about $1,000.
But the increase in wealth and com
merciai Importance has been even
greater, For Il time it was rivaled by
Tacoma, in consequence of that city
being made the terminus of the North
ern Pacific railroad, but that rivalry
has practically ceased, and now Seat
tie is entitled to figures which place it
almost on Il level with Portland, which
for 10 years has been by long way
the leading city.
y visitor to Seattle cannot fail to be
impressed by its scenery. The busi-
ness part Of the city lies along the wa
ter front at the foot of terraccd hills
and extends across the tide lands ut
the mouth of DuWamish river. From
natural elevations in various parts of
the city are seen to the west ana be-
yond the calm blue waters of the
sound the dark and snow capped Olym-
pics, while To the east, extending north
and south as far as the eye can
reach, is the mighty Cascade range,
with Mount Baker 20 miles to the
north. nearly 1i,oOO feet high. and the
StupcndouS. solitary Mount Rainier to
the south. towering 1000 feet above
the sea level and capped with per-
pctual snow. Between the city and
that scene lies Lake Washington.
beautiful sheet of fresh water almost
80 miles long and as wide as three
miles. The water is clear ana cold, be-
ing fed by springs and mountain
streams. and ut places is over POO
fathomS deep. Linking Lake Wash
ington with the waters of Puget sound,
TO the north of the city, is Lake Union,
and it is TO unite the magnificent lake
of fresh water with the no less deep
arm of the sea that the canal, which
has attracted so much attention. is now