Durango semi-weekly herald., 1907-05-27
PETHERBRlDGE ON
THE NORTHWEST,
Seattle. Wash. Aprll 20. 1907.

them by giving u recital OF some oil
my observations and experiences dur
ing my five months stay in the town.
Seattle is wonderful town. Is
most fortunately endowed by nature
with many favors of location and
abundantly surrounded by resources
not enjoyed by but few other towns.
Is managed by the most thrifty. ener-
geuc set of young men that can be
found anywhere on the globe. Whose
vigilance never ceases and whose sin
ews never tire.
The first settlement was made in
the fall of 1852 when party of TWEEN
ty-four men, women and children sail
ed up the sound and landed on Novem-
Der 18th at place known now as Al
XII point opposite the present site OF
Seattle. The following spring they
moved across Elliott bay and located
upon the present site known then as
the show ground. where It was their
custom to assemble, exhibit their trim
kets, indulge in pony races and all
other amusements characteristic of the
Indians.
The reigning chlet of ali of this
territory at that time resided at a
place known now as Port Madison, ten
miles up the sound, and 1t was In
reciprocation for many favors and
courtesies shown by him that the set
tlement was named after him, Seat
tie
The town was of slow growth. 1t
was many years before IL was decided
whether these rolling foothills and
precipitous canons would be the site
of the great city on the sound or
whether 1t would go to Everett, thirty
miles above where there was a beau
tiful plateau of level ground for miles
around, but Seattle's indomitable will
and push even In those days surmount
ed every obstacle and won out for
her.
In 1856 there were scorcely more
than 300 whites in the settlement
when the Indian war broke out, in
cited by desire of the sub chiefs to
exterminate the whites whom they re
garded as interlopers. The whites had
timely warning of the proposed at
tack by friendly Indians who kept
them posted as to when 1t would be
made. Captain Ganzeworth of the
sloop of war Decatur was stationed
in the sound. who forthwith sent his
marines ashore and guarded the town
for four days and nights. On Christ
mas night the attack was made and
the fight lasted for twenty-four hours
The shells thrown by the guns of the
Decatur were n source of consterna
tion to the Indians. They couldn't
understand the "Mox Pook" or explain
the explosion of the shell after it had
been shot at them. Captain U. S
Grant, afterwards president, was sta
toned but a short distance away and
for fear that he would come up ant
cut off their retreat they fed under
cover Of night and that ended the
war.
In 1870 Seattle had population oi
i,107. In 1880 1888 and 1889 5000
The big fire of this year swept away
nearly the entire business portion o
the town and what at first appeared
to be a terrible calamity redounded tc
a great extent to her future great
ness
Seattle is exceptionally fortunate II
having Alaska at her very door, ant
that kind Providence has ever guard
ed her interest in opening up the hid
den treasure of that far off land ant
laid them at her door when she mos
needed a stimulant In conversation
few days ago with Col John T. Corn
forth, former president of the Denver
chamber of commerce and an old resi-
dent Of Denver who is here now and
is constructing a railroad 1856 miles
into the interior of Alaska, Informed
me that when their road was com
pleted they would open up country
that would be tributary TO Seattle
larger than the state of Colorado" and
when you consider that Alaska is one
third as large as the United States
you can readily see what a future
there is for her.
The growth of Seattle has been phe
nomenal since the first excitement in
Alaska. There has been nothing like
1t In the history OF any country. TIC
add additional fuel to the flame al
ready started, about eighteen months
ago the Union Pacific, the Chicago and
Northwestern and the Milwaukee and
st. Paul railroads endeavored to eff
fect entrances into the city. To do
so they were compelled to enter
through a narrow strip of land lying
south of the city. They commenced
to buy right of way through low
marshy property known as tide land
Hats. or no value for building pur-
poses and having a nominal value of
but 800 per lot. When the intent OF
the companies became known to the
balance of the property holders they
banded together and decided to ask
$4,000 per lot. which they did and
the companies paid 1t. This amount
OF money estimated at about $12,000,-
600 being paid out to class of men
who never before had had 80 much.
Immediately began to buy lots and
build houses. This was the Incentive
TO the Imitation that has been on for