September,
1 88a.
THE WEST SHORE.
.63
easily understood when it is known that the road
would traverse a country in which at 1 1 miles
west from Seattle the Renton coal mines would
be tapped; at 15 miles large bodies of spruce, fir
and cedar besides cnttnnwood in abundance; at 30
miles west bituminous coal fields " in place;" at
to miles iron and limestone; in Snoqualmie pass
inthiacile ccal and precious metals; at 60 miles
west fir, cedar, ash and maple; beyond the Cas
cade range of mountains the grain fields of Kitti
tas and Yakima; along a great portion of the route
inexhaustible water power and large quantities of
fine agricultural land; and at the proposed termi
nus the great granaries of the Walla Walla coun
try and its great demands for lumber, coal, fish
and other products of the Sound country. It is
stated that it is the purpose of the S. P. W. F. &
B. C. road to construct 80 miles of the road in
1883.
COMMERCE OF SEATTLE.
The recital of the names and number of the
fleet of vessels engaged in the carrying trade of
Seattle suggests forcibly a large number of com
mercial outposts and dependencies, and with equal
force suggests wholesale and jobbing houses with
large capital and doing a large business. Suffice
it to say that in this respect neither suggestion nor
expectation is likely to outrun the reality. The
" stocks on hand" of the leading firms are of
themselves flaming advertisements of the commer-
cial importance of the city of Seattle.
TAXABLE VALUATION.
The real estate of Seattle is assessed for the
current fiscal year at Sh.lIQ. il8. the personal
properly at $720,000; total $4,039,538. Upon
this sum a tax of $21,015.21 has been levied.
King county, according to good authority, has
made a gain of 100 per cent, in the value of tax
able property in the last five years, of which
amount of gain, it is safe to say, the city of Seat
tle has contributed at least eight-tenths, if not
more of the whole amount. It may be added
here that it is equally safe to say that Seattle is
no exception to the general rule, and that the as
sessor's figures do not approximate the real value
of the property listed. The figures above quoted,
as matters go, are liberal, but do not represent,
we imncine. ouii twivthirri. r,f R!,itli' rent
wealih. Portland, Oregon, it is claimed, is one
the wealthiest cities, per capita, on the Amer
'can continent. Apply the rule by which this re'
suit is reached to Seattle and the same result is
obtained.
EDUCATIONAL.
A community which has devoted so much
money and energy to the advancement of its ma
'erinl interests which has shown itself so self
reliant and determined in all that relates to its ad
vance in the path of financial growth and proeress,
would not fail, it is only reasonable to suppose.
"i the conservation and encouragement of the great
use of popular education, Seattle supports in
good style three private institutions of learning.
Trinity (Episcopal) Parish School, The Sisters
(Koman Catholic) Academy, and a Kindergarten,
' hire are four public schools in the city proper,
nu one in North Seattle, or Bell Town. In June
of the present year (1882), the question of levying
special tax for the purpose of raising a fund of
-5.ooo, with which to build a schcol hojse ade.
quate to the demands of the constantly growing
filiation, and worthy of the wealth and envi
fmmenti of the young city, was submitted to the
people, and decided in the affirmative by almost
"a rising vote." A committee of citizens were
sent to Portland to examine the school system, as
well as the school house architecture, of that city,
and the result of the vote and visil will socn be
seen in one of the most commodious, elegantly
equipped and ornamental structures of its class on
the Pacific slope. (See illustration.)
THE UNIVERSITY.
At an early date in the history of Seattle, Mr.
A. A. Denny, a aioneer. and one of the most
public spirited citizens of Seattle, donated to the
Territory a tract of land, ten acres in extent, for
University purposes. The site of the University
of California, at Reikeley, commands, perhaps, n
view as varied and sublime as docs the site of the
University at Senile, liolh, by reason of their
locality and their surroundings, are filled to the
nurseries of great thoughts and noble nspiiations
in the youth whose good fortune it may be to call
either "Alma Mater." The former is liberally en
dowed and carefully nurtured by the Slate of Cal
ifornia; the latter, from some unexplained cause,
has failed to receive that consideration at the
hands of the legislature of Washington Territory
which it has a right to demand and should receive.
The University building ptesenls, from almost any
point of view, an imposing aspect. The front,
with its spaciou? porlico and lolly Doric columns,
suggests the antique. The building inside is com
modious, and with the necessary repairs and im
provements now being made, will be most ad
mirably adapted to llie woikto which it U dedi
cated. Let us hope lhat the incoming legislature
will do what is right by the Territorial University.
The failing health of Prof. A. J. Andcison's
wife making a clrnge of climate necessary, lie
resigned the presidency of "he University in June
last, to the regret of all lesidents nl bcallle. lie
has been succeeded by Piof. L. J. I owell, ex-
State Supcrinlendent of the Oregon public schools.
Prof. I owell is a strong man intellectually and
physically, and takes to his new field of labor
energy, capacity, cnlhusiofm and ability.
The Territorial University linsrcceniiy uccn uie
recipient of material pecuniary aid Ircm Mr.
Henrv Villard. and we suggest mat 11 ou.u
.. . .1 .. .. . A ,.t ili upnhliv men of
an excellent ming iur hi
Seattle ''to better his example. ,
THE YOUNG NATURALISTS
A direct outgrowth of the high slandard of
popular education aimed at by ih : people of Seat
.i t. rnA in the existence of an organization of
young men, with the above caption. I ne ihocu
... nrr-aniied January I, 1880, with fiv
,h.ri,r members, and now numlr twenty-three,
Since organizing they have collected . c.n
. . 1 it.. 1 '..Am !ntHi anil
,h,r bailments, valued at at leas- $3,000. The
taxidermist's department is parucum,,
n,ch of the work l ol a superior cna.
acter. In June last, the association chartered a
..L I m.,1 a tour of the lower hound,
.eromnanicd by Prof. Oilman, of the Tcm.or.,1
lT:.it-e!ttr and added many valuable specimens
. ,,,11,,-tion. especially in the fossil d "
J..,,imenti. A pleasantly situate,!
. 1:1 ,v them at present lor a ii.useu..,,
f,svh!chthev are indebted to .he liberality of .he
above named gentleman, w
hose son, aged a i
auovc n"iv h , c ...
They contempt"
at a cost of $300, The officers of the association
arc as follows: W. Hall, President; E, S, Meany,
Vice-Picsidenij II. Jacobs, Secretary) F. M Hall.
Assistant Secretary) C. L Denny, Lihrntinnt A..
li. Hubbard, Assistant Librarian; A, M. While,
Treasurer; J. D. Young, Marshal.
CIIUKCIIKS.
The religious element of Seattle is rcpresenled
by congregations of the following denominations!
Episcopal (Trinity church, Seattle, and Chapel of
the Good Shepherd, North Seattle), Methodist
Episcopal, Methodist Protestant, Free McthodUt,
Roman Cntliol;-, Congregational, I'resl ytciian,
ltaplist, Scandinavian Lutheran. In addition to
lliese, "The Young Men's Chiislinn Association"
have on organization, with regular Hirelings, and
olo maintain a fiee rending room. Without I e
ing prctcnlious, the church aichilcetuie of Srat.le
it noticeably neat and ultrnclive. Additions and
improvements are being made lo the Catholic
church which when completed will icsult In a very
commodious and hambomc edifice.
I.AKKS WASHINGTON AMI UNION.
Aliout four miles east of Seattle lies Lake Wash
ington, twenty-live miles long with a width ol
from two lo five miles, and just norih of it, con
nected bynslicom which nt in insignificant ex
pense can be converted into a canal, hike Union,
three miles long and fiom onc-fnuith to one half
mile wide. Like Washington lias an nveinge
depth of Irom 60 to 70 fict. It Is stoutly twenty
feet above high tide niaik. Romantic and Uoull
fid in its location, in the puiiiy of il waters, In
its extensive aic;i, 111 Hsell ami 111 lis surroundings,
it chalhnges comparison with Taho In all the
cmenls of picliiretq'ic lovelinesi, and suip.iSK
that Mecca of the I111M In salulniiy ami equabil
ity of climate, in the length of Its luinnu-is and
in the mildness of in winters. Rainier looks down
on it fiom the south-east and lesser peaks Hand
ike giant senllncls all around lis pine and fir and
cellar clad borders. On llie east tide fiom ilsly
to seventy families hove found futile and produc-
live homes, fruits and vegetables Iwlng produced
in profusion, while Ihc bcny ciop, embracing ill
marketable varieties, not only challenges but de
fies comparison. On Hie west side ai trio icimi-
nation of the diive fiom Seaillc to the lake, l the
handsome homestead of Mr. McC-ilvciy, where
spent half on hour pleasantly in conversation
with that gentleman. He l lsn Improving mi
dace since 1865. and a handsome and picturesque,
as well as comfort suggesting, place he has made
of it. We undcrsland that he has luted It to
patties who ill erect a fust-class summer hotel
and construct a trolling course on It. When
proper facilities for Hie accommodation of guests
are provided, Lake Washington will sttract ll
thousands yearly. The United Slates govern
mcnl has appropriated $t$,ano l0Wi,r,l lh e"n' .
.truclion of a ship canal connecting Uket Union
and Washington with the sound. It Is e.pecltd
that the completion of this work will result in
lowering the waters of Uk. Wa.hingt.rn alwut
IJ feet. An Immense body "f agricultural land
will by this piurM I WJ fa"'" ',,"",r
i existence, ami as another result, a d.i e'H
any in the world will I constructed along the
shore ol the lake.
A(;l1'I.Tt;AL.
Our cmnrtunilirs for uammlntf, penally,
.to the v"ultu.l resource, of K-g wmy.