The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-04-28
Moran Tract of Inestimable Value in
Port Development Plan

In its campaign of FACT-tcIlng about the proposed
purchase Of the Moran tideands by the Port of Seattle
The Star yesterday showed how, prices the
tract has present cash value of least three times the
100000 price to be paid And that the potential value
is almost inestimable.
Today the intention is TO show that the tract has n
special USE value for the port which makes its acquisition
question of prime public Importance. This is because il
occupies highly strategic position relating 10 Seattes
industrial, iobbng land transportation and shipping
sources.
Study the map a minute
The tract go of owned land plus six state
harbor area under lease) fronts on the main harbor
Elliott bay proper
1t is only onethird of mile south Of Yesler way
1t adjoins Railroad with its tracks. which connect
directly and efficiently with all the industries of the city
and with the transcontinental lines.
II is central handy, IN LEVEL AREA.
Moreover the proportions of the tract ideal for the
purpose The land has depth from the habor line back
to Railroad varying from 1900 to 1i00 feet This
makes ss, i THE DEEPEST TRACT on THE ENTIRE
WATERFRONT FROM SALMON BAY SOUTH.
The Importance of this fact lies in the possibility which
the port proposes utilize the full of dividing strip
400 500 feet deep along Railroad into convenient
sized industrial tracts to lease TO factories which seek
ing convenient sites After these apportoned there
is yet left ample for the construction, the bay
side of pier and slip terminals for the handling of great
coastwise traffic
While it that the port present is not using its
terminals all to their capacity yet it is also true that it
does need adequate central waterfront site close to the
level commercial and manufacturing section.
The Bell st. terminal probably was designed by the
original port commissioners to fill this need, but has
failed to do it. 1t has other valuable but its location
under high bluff and far to side of the industrial
district makes it highly nconvenent for coastal and inter-
coastal business.
ct is interesting to note, by the way that when
the port condemned this site in 1913 the court fixed
price of $4,000 1916 square feet of land acquired
from the Pacific Coast Co. This is at the rate of
MORE THAN THREE MILLION DOLLARS AN
ACRE The price the Moran site which the port
proposes to pay is 100000 acre.
The other present terminals situated far to the south
to the north Of the harbor frontage, well suited to
handle important specialized traffic needs such trans
pacific transshpment lumber grain fish, fruits and
other cold storage commodities
But for general commodities requiring interchange with
the local wholesalers and manufacturers well vicinity
the local wholesalers and manufacturers well vicinity
facilities
And is this traffic which the cream of the local
shipping business.
This class of commerce, which makes up three
fourths Of the total volume and which is increasing at
rapid rate does not and be attracted any
of the present terminals because of their distance FROM
and nconvenen relation to- the central business and
industrial district As result, the daily record of
shows at least twice many steamers and much
tonnage being handled at three inadequate temporary and
less makeshft private docks located next north
and south Of the site the port proposes to buy ut all
five of the north and south end public port terminals
1t is to obtain share Of this welpayng business and
to assist in serving the growing needs of Seates indus
trial and obbng concerns that this tract would be Of
extraordinary value.