Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-23

some distance from the wharves where Jim
Hill'sbig steamers. which ply between Seat
tie and Asia, land, but passenger trains will
carry steamer travellers right to the docks.
Indeed, one can now get on the Great
Northern boats at Buffalo, and without
stepping off of property owned by Jim Hill
and his combination can travel all the way
though the great lakes across our continent
and on to Hongkong or Manila without
paying cent to any one outside that great
combination.
Rich Men Of Seattle.
There are plenty of rich men In this city
in addition to the hundreds who think them
selves on the way to fortune. Some of the
largest properties are those which have
grown up by the increase in the value Of
the lands right in the city. Seattle was
founded away back in the f1fties by oregon
parties, five men from that state building
cabins here. They took out homesteads in
the woods on the edge of the sound, and
began to cut down the trees where the city
now stands. Some of that property is still
owned by their descendants and is worth
millions One of the men was named Yes
Ter and his estate Is valued, l am told. at
over 50 100000. Two of the other first set
tiers were named Denny, and the Denny
families are now said to have something
Ike S2O,Oo0o00 worth of real estate.
While 1 was in Seattle, about thirteen
years ago. Arthur Denny, one of the orig
inal founders, bad his home in the center of
a. big lot right in the heart of Seattle.
This lot is now covered with business build
fngs, but at that time it was devoted to
his residence, and he allowed his blooded
Jersey cow to feed upon the lawn. Upon
being urged to sell the place for business
purposes, he replied:
II can't do II, for II L sell where can
I pasture my cow?'
That COW pasture of thirteen years ago
was worth $4,000 What its value is to-
day I do not pretend to say. but 1t runs
high into the millions
Henry Yesler one of the builders UP oil
Seattle established saw mill here years
ago and in connection with 1t bought Lands
which were eventually worth millions.
In addition to these there are here now
mining kings from the Klondike, the tim
Der kings of our northwest, men who have
made money in grain exporting, some VINO
have grown rich In real estate trading, ana
others who have made fortunes IN n n-
ehandising of various kinds. Seattle is fast
putting on the clothes of a big city 1t re-
Gently built a sky-scraper called the Alaska
building which would not be out or place
in the heart of Chicago. II is steer stt nc
ture covered with Milwaukee brick. 1t has
fourteen stories. It cost S4,O0O,o0o ana Is
said to pay fair interest on the invest
ment.
The Ups and Downs Of Seattle.
Seattle IS a city of ups and downs. 1t
has more hills than Rome, and its best
houses stand on a number of long ridges
which rise above Puget sound TO three
hfths of the height of the Washington
monument. The hills give diversity of
citv architecture, and also, am told, an
enormous leg development on the part OF
the citizens. I have not inquired as 10
the average size of garter worn, but l
venture it surpasses that of any city of the
Union The Chicago girls are noted for
their large feet, and the Seattle girls-Weu'
the climate here gives them cheeks ike
roses and they will compare favorably in
beauty and form with their sisters OF any
part of the country. l am told the men
measure more around the calf and chest
than any outside the Swiss mountains. the
perpetual climbing develops the muscles and
at the same time fills the lungs with the
pure ozone from the Pacific.
City Improvements.
Twenty years ago these nils were COW
cred with forests They now have some
thing like 200 miles OF graded and i'm
proved streets; and altogether there are
enough streets and avenues here to reach
from New York almost to Chicago If they
were stretched out end to end. Seventy
miles of improved pavements have been
added within the last four years and with
in that time the city has put down twenty
five miles of asphalt roadway and more
than 1870 miles of concrete sidewalks.
Seattle owns its own water system, and
1t has one of the best in the country. Its
water comes from the Cedar river, which is
fed by the Cascade mountains and its pur-