Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-17

surplus of fifteen or sixteen million BUSH
els for expoEtc Before the season closes
Tacoma expects to stand in the first place
Pacific coast Last sl year the total ship
ments from nget sound were 1850, 900
bushels, and this customs district was ex-
ceeded only by New York, New Orleans
There has been similar increase in the
shipments of -four. which began in 1890.
That year the total exports were only 49,
100 barrels but they have been growing
year by year, until they have reached a
total of million and half of barrels.
There has been a similar increase of
reached $50. 100000
Mr.. Pratt. editor of the Tacoma Ledger.
has furnished me these and many other
interesting figures concerning the rapid
growth of the commerce here, which is
due to several reasons; primarily to the
provisions of nature, which have been util-
1zed with energy and intelligence by the
c2tzens Tacoma lies, as you know, at the
foot of Puget sound, and has an almost
perfect harbor, with any depth of water
that may be required Along the bluffs
upon which the town is built the water is
so deep that vessels of the heaviest burden
can come up to the banks without dredging,
while, toward the other side of the bay are
shadows which are being reclaimed and
covered with mills, factories, warehouses
ana docks Few cities IN the world enjoy
such natural commercial advantages ard
few have improved them so skillfully.
Prosperity of Tacoma.
Tacoma has abundant railway facilities
also. and plenty of coal and other cheap
fuel: unlimited water power and a delight
full climate. 1t is surrounded by agricul-
tural lands of wonderful fertility, as we'll
as mighty forests that have given the town
it's wealth and glory. There is great deal
of local capital and during the last six or
eight years it's investment has yielded ex-
traordinary profits. Few towns suffered
more from the panic of 3d. but few recov-
cred fully and promptly and now no
town in the west is more prosperous. This
may be judged by the appearance OF the
residence quarter. which stretches along
the bluff overlooking the bay and is being
improved by the erection of comfortable
and, in many cases, palatial homes. Ia
coma is a city of homes delightfully."- located
and kept up In style that lnolcates prlde
as well as prosperity.
The business streets have improved very
much within the last ten years. The shop
ping district has become quite metropolitan
as one would expect when 1t is known that
the wholesale trade last year amounted to
nearly twenty-seven millions of dollars, an
increase of more than five millions from the
previous year, and that the bank clearlnSs
for 1903 amounted to SOS, 263, $40. Last year
81, I42 500 was invested in homes and other
buildings, and the number of factories was
increased to 332 with a capital of $l6,S52 000
an output of s29, S14. 1897, and a monthly pay
roll Oh 2i,b4o, which was uIVlQeU among
SSH working people.
Visible from the windows of more than
half the houses in the city is one of the
most beautiful landscapes you can imagine.
From the eastern horizon springs one of the
most glorious of all mountains, Tacoma,
from which the city takes its name. 1t is
not only an object of alteration, but the
source of unmeasured and ineXhaustble
power From its snow-capped summit and
glacier-buttressed dome flow innumerable
never failing streams. ALWAYS with full
banks when water is most needed. Some
Of them make descent of five hundred feet
within fifty miles of the city and capital is
already interested in Harvesting them for
industrial and transportation purposes and
for heat and light,
Ihe electricity switch lights the city,
moves the street cars and furnishes power
tor many important manufactures is now
brought forty-four miles from a cataract
20 feet high. known as Snoqualmie Falls.
The plant was installed at an expense of a
million and three-quart ers of dollars and
air eady generates ten thousand horse
power. Similar plants are in ontempla ton
which will Increase the available electrical
power within economical reach to a hun
dred thousand horse power.
But Tacoma's interests are not confined
entirely to material things. 1t has a Gull
tured population you may judge from
the book stores: 1t is an educational center
with two colleges; it has a number of lit
eIary clubs, a public library a museum,
800 acres of park, good hotels, handsome
churches, modern school houses well filed
with children and several modern hospitals
and other benevolent institutions.