The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-14
New York Capitalist Speaks of
Washington Holdings.
WILL IMPROVE sEDRo-WooLLEY
j. ID. Alexander, who Comes to seat
tie by Way of the Isthmus of Pam
anna, Talks of Local Conditions
as Seen East-Future Markets CT
Puget sound-Panama Canal 10
More Feasible Than Nicaragua.

Among the substantial capitalists Of the
East who have pinned their faith to
Washington investments Is J. r. Alex
ander, Of New York who arrived at the
Butler last night from the South. He
came by way of the isthmuS of Panama,
travelling leisurely, and will spend some
time here looking after his interests in
this state
Prior TO five years ago Mr.. Alexander
was a resident of Seattle. He is the
father of the town of Woolley and with
other Eastern capitalists has large land
holdings in that vicinity.
ut has never been my ambition TO get
rid of my Washington investments" he
said last night. Nor do l intend doing
so even now. although they have greatly
increased in value since they came into
my possession. Notwithstanding the as
sertions that have been made in the
East that In a few years Washington's
standing timber will be cut, I am firmly
convinced that fifty years from today,
should / live, | will know of as many
lumber and shingle mills operating on
Puget sound and turning out just as good
product as they are doing today.
This being true, then, If Washington
had nothing else to rely upon. land in this
state would be valuable But there are
many other things that combine to make
Investments here safe and profitable. The
Alaska business will always have Seattle
ana washington as It's market to draw
infancy and there is no telling how great
will be its benefit to this community.
We are going to develop our property
at Sedro-W ooley now. 1t has enhanced
in value of its own accord and we be-
lieye If assistance is given 1t in the way
OF establishing and assisting manufactur-
what our plans are we do not know now,
except that we will probably establish
more lumber mills there. We are not GO
ing TO start a boom or sell any property
below figures. | va
believe in Washington property and don't
want to get out OF the state, The time
il now ripe to give our assistance and
that is my purpose here now.
Seattle, or what little | have seen Of
1t tonight. is a very different city to what
1t was five years ago. The throng on the
street is noticeable and on the business
streets l have not seen an idle store
room or a business house that was not
busy. We hear much of this city in the
East. even more than we do OF the Cape
Nome country
washington red cedar shingles are very
plentiful in the East. Hardly lumber
carry a stock Fir lumber is not so pen-
tiful, which / suppose is due to high
transcontinental freight tariffs. The OPP
ening of the Nicaragua canal will prove
a boom to fir lumber in this state. 1t
will not only open up the markets on the
Atlantic coast, but IN all Europe, and
this once done win give Puget sound
lumber a trade with the world.
II came 10 the Coast leisurely From
New York | went to Colon, then across
the isthmus and by steamer from PAN
anna TO San Francisco. All was excite
ment on the isthmus The various repub-
Hes were In a state OF instruction and
owing to lack of communication It was
not known what movements were being
made. However. report had II that soon
er or later there would be a clash be-
tween Nicaragua and Honduras.
I'VE passed the Nicaragllan commission.
They were sitting in the sun with their
silk hats on. | DID not learn what they
thought from their investigation up TO
date. but the general opinion, / heard
expressed by petty officers. that be-
fore the Nicaragua canal plans would
be successful Nicaragua must become the
property of the United states.
The prevailing opinion in Central Am
erica is that the Panama route is the
shortest and the least expensive to COM
plete A company has taken hold of the
Panama canal and have 1000 men ut
work. Their big dredges which have been
well preserved since the French govern
ment expose, are now hard at work.
who Is doing the building did not learn
and no one seemed to know. outside of the
fact that It was n private company /
heard many expressions that this route
would be the one completed and used by
interoCean commerce"