The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-02-08
Seattle Railways.

| 1A"feAS''
Seattle Railways.
SEATTLE, WASH, Feb. s, 1900. If first
Impressions are most lasting, then Seattle
has lost much in the fact that her railroad
approaches are necessarily along the lower
levels and the water front, where bust
ness is given up to freighting, steamboat
ing, fisheries, junk shops and the like
proved when one alights from either of
the numerous railroad trains entering the
city, from the north or the south-twO
| from the south and three from the north.
A makeshift depot has thus far sufficed,
such as any little country town would
grumble at, and all the while there has
been talk of something better.
For few months past the Northern
Pacific has been contemplating terminal
facilities on the narrow water front, i'm
mediately in front of the business centre.
The company has bought up considerable
property and has asked the city to vacate
certain streets leading to the docks and
wharves.
The Great Notwithstanding from the
front to reach its freight yards, south of
the city. 1t was feared the granting of
the Northern Pacific's requests would
! operate to the disadvantage of the Great
|
terests of the city, and the city council
has finally declined to open the streets as
desired and President Mellen calls off his
purpose to build handsome depot and
extensive freight sheds.
Now comes President Hill of the Great
Northern and presents elaborate plans for
a handsome depot, freight sheds and
ample trackage and room lor any and all
railroads that may have use for them.
lie announces that lie is ready to build as
soon as the city shall approve his plans.
He also offers the Northern Pacific to
share in the depot building and other
facilities, making it grand union depot,
to cost between $500, 600 and $500. 600.
The general plan of the proposed depot
building is like that of the B. & o. depot
at Baltimore, Md, and will be OF brick
and stone, 265 feet frontage on Occiden-
tai avenue and - feet deep, two stories
| high. The train shed will be $50 feet
long by 10 wide. President Hills docks
and warehouses are at the northern end of
the city, between three and four miles
from his proposed depot and freight
yards. Here the Orient line of steamers
are locked, the improvements having
been constructed during the past two
years at an outlay of about 81 600, 600. 1t
was recently announced that Mr.. Hill was
having two large steamships constructed
in Europe for the Oriental trade, and he
now says not only two. ''but as MANY as
the trade will justify and he thinks
That 1t Will require % such steamships
the largest which foat-all within the
next five years. This comedies with his
prediction that Seattle will have popu-
lation of 100, 900 within fifteen wears. 1t
is generally conceded that ''what Hill
says goes, - and as goes Hill, 50 goes Sc
attic.
Street railways are also having their
innings in Seattle. For many wears there
! have existed eight different street railway
companies in Seattle, with a combined
trackage arproximating 100 mies-elec-
tric and cable. Two OF three miles addi-
/ tlonal have been constructed during the
present winter. Eastern capitalists have
been after the Seattle lines for some
months past, with the purpose Of CONSOLE
dation and many extensions and general
improvements. The city council has at
last granted franchise to the new com
j pany for % years, even though the city is
at present clamoring for municipal owner
ship and the spring city campaign is about
TO be fought with that for an issue. AS
soon as the franchise is finally granted, the
new owners will inaugurate extensive re-
pairs, extensions, etc., new equipment
replacing much of the old and four cent
fare will be granted tc adults and half fare
to school children.
The Cape Nome gold fields are now as
we'll known as those of the Klondike.
Many people are inquiring chow to get
there" etc. The journey is by sea, from
Seattle, about $500 miles, occupying u
to IL days and making but one landing, at
Dutch Harbor, on the Alaskan peninsula.
First class fare is 500 and freight $40 per
ton. About 800 will outfit man at
Seattle for the summer season of three
months The summers are warm and
pleasant and no Arctic clothing will be
needed except for winter. The trans
portation companies have stores there.
There is no growth of timber at Nome,
but coal will be imported for fuel The
| water is moor and naaGS hoilinr Dnn,lo