The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-06

A statistical showing of the operations
d the police department. OF Seattle ex-
htbim an efficiency and industry to be
found In no Other city OF the United
States. The conditions here during the
last two years have been more favorable
for the Increase OF crime OF all kinds than
have existed anywhere else. and yet the
city has been more orderly and compare
lively more arrests have been made and
convictions secured than is shown In the
most carefully protected centers else
where.
The efforts OF the administration have,
however been directed to the prevention
Of crime, rather than to wait until II oc-
CURED and then punish IT, The benefits OF
such q procedure are tenfold greater for
the citizens. though they do not realize
all that has been done In this direction.
When the Klondike rush was announced
In the fall OF 1897. CHIEF Reed and his
councillors set about preparing to handle
the expected influx OF crime. One of their
hrst extensions was to secure one of the
experienced detectives of the Pinkerton
rvico to help guard agans. the oper-
atoms Of experienced crooks He had
served In Chicago. Portland and other
Coast cities, and had a remarkable ac-
quaintance with the noted criminals OF the
country. The Pinkerton furnished special
Information about tho work OF high-class
outlaws and photographs, so that when
the crooks, confidence men, safe breakers
pickpockets and others alighted from the
trains bringing them from the East they
we're In many cases met at the depots and
tod to move on In this way a large
number never piled their vocationp here
Of all and the number of acts OF iawless-
ness was materially reduced
A SMALL FORCE.
There naturally was, however. consider
abs crime committed here, more than
usual, and more than there could have
been had the city been supplied with a de-
partment that q city OF Its size and con-
dition required Crime seems to follow
prosperity. and when any condition at
tracts large numbers OF people to a place
here II certain to be found a largo per
ceniase OF lawbreakers close behind in
the hope Of being able TO get some OF the
money that everybody Is enjoying. This
10 why the record OF crime at the Worlds
fAir, In Chicago In 1898. was so long. and
80 ~ N~p'ntNiotiNt ldiIS anu ptneT large
public events are productive of temporary
Increase In crime
seattle was in much this condition at the
BEGINNING OF the Kiondiks rush. Thou
sanas OF people nocked here from all parts
VI the world to take their departure for
.ne north They had money. thousands OF
collars some OF them. and came to remain
acre several weeks prior to departing for
Alaska IN their search for gold They
ware also returning from the north with
sAsAs OF gold. OF which they, expended
a'se amounts. Being a seaport and the
~n'er OF such wealthy transient popu-
nuon. Seattle offered a tempting field for
ms operations OF the expert criminals. and
'asy fastened to avail themselves OF IL.
iae success Of the department In coping
"''a ihis great evil is seen In figures of the
arrests and convictions made during the
"ss Two years In 1895 and 1899 four
"sfaers were committed IN Seattle, and
s'stt enc OF tho murderers was arrested
aaa sound over Tor trial In the superior
eestt kightcen cut OF twenty-five as
sAahes with deadly weapons went the
same course, and proportionately the same
SAY oe said OF ah the other chief offend
rms Is shown In the following table.
.Ae second columns give the number that
trial! ~