The Washington herald., 1908-05-20
By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

teams bringing produce from the gardens
and farms Of the narb-by valleys.
Such vast amount OF improvement is
necessary because Of the unfortunate Sc
lection Of the site OF the city. Henry
Yesler built q sawmill. and another fell
low came along and put up boarding
house to feed the mill hands. That was
the birth Of Seattle. Yesler selected this
site because there was a spring nearby,
and with no thought of the millions his
shorts -sightedness would cost other gen
erations, Had he gone a half mile either
north or south, all this trouble and ex-
pense would have been saved. But
neither Yesler nor any one else had any
idea that city was going to grow around
his sawmill.
At first the population divided itself
into separate towns. located here and
there in the valleys nesting between the
hills. Owing to the natural difficulties In
the way these places maintained their
separate individuality much longer than
they otherwise would have. They are all
included in the corporate limits of Seat
tie now. except Georgetown, although the
city has grown completely around this
place and two miles 10 the south OF It
The necessity for cutting away the hills
and providing arterial highways between
/ the valley towns now merged into one
city IS based on the principle Of l!fe that
without circulation the body cannot
thrive. To induce property owners to
bear the expense Of the work the argu-
ment was advanced that into whatever
portion OF the body the best circulation
enters, there are the best developed or
gahs A city must have accessible streets
for It's trafflc, or it will develop chronic
| commercial inxalidism.
The work is authorized by condemna-
ton proceedings in court. When a re-
grade is decided upon in a certain dis
trict the cost is first estimated. then a
careful examination is made Of each piece
Of property that will be benefited by the
Improvement The present market value
of the property Is ascertained. as we'll as
the enhancement OF value likely TO re-
suit from the Improvement n special
assessment is then levied on all property
within the zone Of the benefit, and the
work rushed to completion as rapidly as
possible. Some times only the property
in the immediate vicinity OF a regrade is
assessed, and again the benefits VIII ex-
tend a mile and a half from the scene.
The work not cnly proves Of inestimable
value 20 the city. but invariably results
| in enormous profits TO property owners.
Tbs rebuilding OF Seattle is causing a
wonderful transformation IN the place
| At one point a big hill has been cut down
| IA feet to LET a ninety-fOOt thoroughfare
go through directly under where a house
formerly stood. a double track tunnel,
mile and a half long, has been bored
under the city. in order 70 get rid Of the
| trains Half a dozen churches have been
| shifted in their positions, and q five-story
school building has been pushed back
out Of the way. IN the retail district a
| bargain sale was In progress in one Of the
stores. The shoppers were rushing in
and out of the big brick building without
knowing that It was on wheels and slid
| ing backward nine feet.
Copyright. ls0s. by Frederic ]. Haskin)
Tc-morx0v-The Inland Empire.