The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-18
SEATTLE. FRIDAY, MAY 10.
What Is Known as "Hot Air"

II. ID. Mcdonald. president Of the Ia
coma Chamber of Commerce. has been
having fun with the people of st. Paul
That Is to say, he has been talking to
them through the press of that city,
and the tales he tells of the Pacific
coast in general and Of the city Of Ia
coma in particular are fun OF fantastic
bits that would do credit to the lmagi-
nation OF Jules Verne or Rider Has-
gard Geography. history and present
day facts are shaken up somewhat
ruthlessly. and heavy draughts are
drawn from the well of fancy; but II
all makes good reading. and with those
who are unacqualnted with conditions
in this part of the country II might
pass as the truth. Here Is part of
what Mr.. Mcdonald unloaded last
week upon the unsuspecting St Paul
public through the columns of the Pho
neer Press:
II certainly believe that our city will
some day he the metropolis OF the Pacific
coast, We believe that we already have
the advantage OF Seattle. and as for
Portland, Frisco and other towns-well
they are almost sure TO be out OF IL
sooner or later Owing TO certain rail-
road transactions, our city has not grown
rs rapidly during the last two years as
was expected, and the impression gained
ground that Seattle had beaten us out.
This impression. however, IL erroneous.
"All indications now point to the supe-
rior prospects Of our city. For one,
tracks are just being laid for a new rail-
road between Tacoma and Seattle. Some
say II IL a branch of the Great Northern.
others connect II with tho Canadian Pa
cific. AZ any rate. this short stretch of
railway will make our town the terminal
point for two great roads coming from
the west.
Then there II the Burlington. which
has Just started to run trains over the
Northern Pacinc. and another road is
expected from the south, while n fourth
road will ultimately be built around Pu-
get sound on the west shore. our city,
you know. is located at the head OF the
sound and railroads would reach Il first
from the west and the southeast, Geo
graphically. the situation as regards
Seattle and Tacoma Is analogous TO that
OF Milwaukee and Chicago. and perhaps
time Milwaukee expected 10 be 1t
Even now" the speaker continued
Tacoma has the real advantage. our
reputation r. about 65,0n, az against
seatlc's 7ho0o, but | believe we have
more residences today than our rival The
population OF Seattle consists largely OF
transients. who go thcre because OF the
Alaskan boom. Tacoma draws upon the
best blood OF the country We do moi
have an emlgrant class, but mostly youne
men from the East, well bred, we'll edu
Gated, who have come there 10 make
their fortune
This IS an Instance OF splendid conf
dence. and the picture drawn Is by nc
mean hand, The only wonder is that
MIR. Mcdonald did not lay Il on a LITTLE
thicker As long as he was dealing In
big things there IS no reason why h
should not have thrown IN a few more
OF them while he was enlarglng 4
proposed lnterurban trolley line b..
tween Seattle and Tacoma into the tan
pertaut branch Of a great ,rauscoutt
mental road why did he not draw NOR,
heavily upon his lmaEinaton and max,
81 mad race between the Canadian
paclGc. Great Northern and Sou;hcrr
Pacific 20 aulsh their double tracks bc
tween the ;No cities. Then there O.
the Burlington. as he SAYS, and an
other road FROM the South But why
stop with these pal,ry additions Go Ia
comas railway facilities While he Il
constructing imaginary railroads &,
Commencement bay from the fou
points OF the compass. Why not max,
a sob OF II. and bring in the 500" IN,
Milwaukee K 81 Paul. the Northwest
ern. the Rock Island and the Union
Pacific? And while ne was locatin,
Tacoma, instead OF olympia. at tn
head 81 the Sound, and pushing con
srructlon on a road down the IVES
shore, why did he not make his hom
town the sure terminus OF this ney
line by throwing a cantilever acros
1--WE or six miles OF water and running