The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1913-04-18
ng over the situation, but it strikes
him as rather peculiar condition.

ng over the situation, but it strikes
him as rather peculiar condition.
And new buildings are not confined
to the resident sections A number
of new business blocks are in pro-
cess of construction, although i'm
NrOvements of this character are not
rs numerous as one would expect
However, there is one monster struct-
ure, locally known as the Smith build
ng, that is equal in the way of size
md cost to a dozen or more ordinary
business blocks. 1t is the boast of
the denizens of this burg that it is the
highest public structure west of New
York, and the papers play it up at all
lines and on all occasions. Any ex-
,use is good enough to warrant big
'ialf-page pictures in the P.-I. or the
Times, and it is a never ending sub
ject for space writer's to work on. 1t
IS big subject and worthy of ex-
Jloitation. The Smith building is
touted as forty-two story edifice.
This must not be taken to mean that
he building can boast of forty-two
ull stories. At it's full height the
oeak of the tower hits the upper STRAIT
ia of atmosphere where the roof of
t2-story building would reach. Fig
Tres are not cOnviently at hand, but
the main structure covers ground
,rea of about 40 feet square. At that
ize it goes up for % stories, then the
'uilding dwindles to a tower, with
)ne-fourth, or possibly less, the base
# the main building. There are Ia
tories represented by the tower
rom that point the cover takes the
hape of a peak that represents six
tories, the top one the size of a bird
age. The structure is of steel and
Oncrete, absolutely fire proof. and
he most modern in finish of it's kind
narvelously imposing exhibition of
'tructural workmanship and we'll
nay the people of Seattle feel proud
If this addition to it's business center,
lready rich in the number OF massive
rchitectural masterpieces and tower
ng skyscrapers. While the cost cut
!uite a cash in his fortune, there is
more where the sinews for this mon
lment of enterprise came from and
'mithy, old boy, who is a liberal
;pender when it comes to public i'm
orovements is already figuring on
putting up another big building upon
somewhat more modest lines than the
pinnacle that has made his name a
word in this community.
Looking down upon it from the high
n ground, the Smith contribution to
Seattle's greatness does not strike
)ne as of extraordinary height, but
when down near the building on the
venue it decOrates, one realizes how
ar up in the air is the flag staff at
he summit, and catches creak in
The neck trying to count the stories.
rhe fearless structural workers skip
ping and teetering around up in the
loud zone, handling and fitting in
place the heavy steel girders, look
ike lilliputians, and the big banner
IN the staff appears to be no larger
han child's miniature flag.
But noting this and other business
houses under construction the same
problem presents itself as in the mat
ter of the building of new residences
with so many already built on the
market. Where are the tenants for
these new buildings to come from?
Riding about town one is surprised
to note the number of unOccupied
store rooms. 1t is true that many of
these empty store rooms are unde-
,irably located, yet there are vacant
rooms on the most densely crowded
business thoroughfares, thus being
most favorably located for business
purposes. 1t would seem that it would
fequire both nerve and confidence to
invest in more buildings when there
is so much property of that descrip-
ion that is yielding no revenue. But
he people are playing the future
,traight open to win, and l believe
hat they have the right hunch as to
low the cards are to turn.
Builders in Seattle have aimed to
x;yo a d;yorSitv of oroh;toctura In tbo
erection of residences, and IS a re-
suit very pleasing variety is given
70 those sections devoted wholly to
homes. In the older eastern cities
there is a stilted monotony in resi-
iential districtes where block after
block one passes solid rows of dwell
lings built upon the same lines,
whether of modest frame or stately
stone, until the tiresome repitition pals
upon the sight. In a city where the
population is crowding 100000 even
# the limits are sufficiently extensive
to Accommodate comfortably a million
people, there naturally are streets
where buildings in the home sections
crowd so closely upon each other as
to in a measure preclude any great
privacy. In laying out great city,
the aim of the original land owner is
to get the very limit Of returns from
the real estate he has to dispose of
without regard to the comforts of
those who may in the future utilize
it. or with any thought of the ultimate
effect his grasping for gain may have
upon the general aspect of the city,
and hence he provides lots bearly