The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-12-27
SEATTLE READY FOR BUSINESS.
Prepared to Take Advantage OF the
Panama Canal.

The people of Seattle are fully alive
to what's going TO happen when the
Panama Canal is opened according to
ex-Judge Thomas Burke OF Seattle. who
is at the Waldorf and they are wasting
no time developing the harbor and dock
ing facilities OF the Puget Sound metrop-
oils
We expect tremendous impetus to
shipping as soon as the canal is opened
said Judge Burke yesterday. and in
anticipation of that Seattle and Kings
county, of which Seattle Is the county
seat are expending millions to provide
the most complete shipping facilities for
the port. We have u port commission
which has in hand the matter of providing
docks and wharves, and in the work they
are embodying the very latest improve
ments for handling ships and their car
goes 1t is proposed to make Seattle
the least expensive port in the country
for foreign and domestic shipping. To
begin with, Puget Sound. natural har-
Dor. is unsurpassed anywhere in the
world. All that remains is TO provide
ample modern shipping facilities. Last
fall the people voted $3.50, 600 just to
make a beginning of these with.
Business is improving in Seattle
Leading retail merchants told me before
left that the holiday trade had been
away ahead of last year and collections
generally have been excellent. The fish
ing industry has assumed large proper
tions; not only the salmon part of it.
but halbut and black cod Through
Seattle during the last year was shipped
more than one-fourth of all the salmon
produced In the world. We have just
finished an eighteen story bank building
and the foundations are being made for
a forty-two story structure. TO be erected
by the estate Of the late Lyman Smith
of Syracuse, who was very largely inter
ested out there during his lifetime.
Il haven heard much politics out in
Washington Of late, but think the State
will send Taft delegation 10 the Re-
publican convention The President
made very good impression during his
recent trip | have no doubt that if he
were nominated he would carry the State
no matter which candidate the opposition
would put up People our in Washington
are still discussing the sealing up of Alaska
as we call IL There is no doubt that
Alaska has been most outrageously
treated, but II il now believed that the
President understands the situation, and
that every effort will be made on the part
OF Alaska To do Justice 10 the Territory
As for Clifford Pinchot's recent state
ments IN regard to the A Alaskan situation,
they must be taken with salt. He has no
conception Of Alaska or Its varied re-
sources. and no idea at all Of what men
have TO go through to build up Territory
and State.
Roosevelt talk heard little or none
OF it out home There seems TO be more
of il here than anywhere else
When ! went out to Washington in
1875 Seattle was little place Of / 800
inhabitants Portland. Ore. was then
famed as the richest city OF its size in
the Union. Yet Washington since that
time has overtaken and passed Oregon
Seattle now has a population OF a quarter
of a million, and besides there have sprung
up in that country Tacoma. with 100 600
people: Spokane, with 10000, besides
Bellingham, with 5000; Everitt, with
almost that many, and several good sized
smaller cities But one could talk OF
that country for hours and not begin 10
exhaust the theme That reminds me
of what | heard the late Pat Winston OF
Spokane say at the New Willard in Wash
by the newspaper reporters. Col. Win
ston was a Southerner
"You know Spokane is not far from the
CPur dAlene mining district. One Of
the men asked il there wasn't great
deal OF mining being done near Spokane
Yes, sub, replied Winston.
What kindi' pursued the inquirer.
Both kinds. euh, said Winston; vocal
and instrumental.