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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1884)
THE WEST SHOEE. 164 SEATTLE. THE City of Seattle occupies a picturesque site on the Hhoro of Elliott Iky, one of the most beautiful and perfect hnrlors of Fuget Sound By her age, by her commercial and industrial activity, at a season when quietness, and even depression, is prevulent in the North west, and by the confidence in her own future, which is indicated by heavy inveHtraents of her capitalists in industries and building improvements, in spite of the "dull times" so enervating in less energetic communi ties, this thriving city lias fairly earned the title of "Queen City of the Sound," Keattlo is no fledgeling, springing up under the influ ence of some railroad excitement; nor has she suddenly lciiMsl into prominence as the county seat of Bome newly (rental county, rising quickly from nothing to a certain height, beyond which progression becomes scarcely per ceptible. On the contrary, she is a city standing upon a (inn foundation, having within herself all the elements of a ixTinaiient and rapid growth, depending entirely upon her own resources for prosiority, and attracting, by sheer force of hor natural advantages, population and capital from abroad. This in-dwelling strength and self-reliant jmwer was manifested plainly during the dull times that followed the failure of Jay Cooke Si Co. in 1873. Other cities rolnpstnl into a torpid state as soon os work was suscnded ukhi the railroad, from which they were only awakened again by the shrill whistle of the construction eiigino when staim was once more raised in the boilers. Not ho with Seattle. All that time she went steadily on working out her own salvation. The number and capa city of her industries wore increased; she advanced steadily in population and business; the market value of real estate continued in the ascondant, and the assessed and cash value of projierty of all kinds largely increased. With uih innate vigor, it is not surprising when the new era dawned upon the Northwest that Seattle should take such n prominent rank in the line of progress. A third of n century has passed since the settlements were made which formed the nucleus about which the present city ha. gathered. As much that is incorrect has Ikhm, published m reference to the time and manner of making these m.tial settlements, the following statement, mgned by the survmng members of that pioneer band, idlof whom ,aro honored and influential citizens, will be cindered Mh unresting and authoritative- u m. Ur.,1-1 J M i u..ii . ' " r"rh Alltl Po inl N.I..-.1-. .. tuniliMk ..'. uunn and a. A. Demur ul their Vrhratr, , inU-IML Horn .ml t 1 n. d. of UImi IU,. ud,. JTu 1-Dw"" " U. on the fuBihn, Krbnu mm, (o B-II-. pr, oorthwn WhM " nu" ' of r,mn,.rcUl Muva II- Dr. l. 8. Mwu.M V... . In October, 1852, H. L. Tester arrived from Portland, and claims war duced to as to give him room for a claim, including the site for a sawmill a!" first steam mill on the Bound. tt May 23, 1858-Firet plat of Seattle was filed for record by C. D. Boren and A A. Denny. Subsequently, on the same day, another plat was filed by Maraud. In the winter of W2-8 J. J. Flott arrived, and after extensive explorati built a mill at Apr' ma Cove. It was removed to Pprt Madison in 18M, In the spring f i853 Captain William Benton eame to AIM and built a aJ3. which was removed to Port Orchard early in 18.M. In April, 1858, Thomas Mercer and Dexter Horton arrived, and Mercer setUad where he now lives. In December, 1852, A. A. and D. T. Denny discovered and explored Balm Buy, previously unknown. (Signed) HENRY VAN ASS ALT, DAVID T. DENNY W.N. BELL, CD. BOREN, ' H. L. YE8LER, A. A. DEN2JY. Interesting as it would be to' trace the history of Seattle from this infant settlement through the changing years to the sturdy city of to-day, that pleasant task must be left to the historian, while we speak of topics possess ing more than an antequarian interest The Seattle of the present, in the vigor of her growth, and possessing a knowledge of, and trust in, her illimitable resources, is & subject of deeper interest to the busy world of commerce. It is of this the capitalist, mechanic, merchant and manu facturer would learn. Strangers in Seattle always express a surorise that in this region, apparently so new, where vast stretches of country remain yet unclaimed, and where they have traveled for miles without observing the evidences of occupation, they should suddenly be ushered into a city so populous and exhibiting such signs of great pros perity. A brief Btudy of her industries and resources invariably results in the feeling of surprise giving way to one of enthusiasm and confidence in the bright future in store for the Queen City. The most strikine feature of the citv. and thn on most indicative of its prosperity, is the great number of large and handsome business blocks, brick structures, that in size and ornamental annearance comnare favor. ably with those to be found in much larger and older cities. These, with the immense stocks of goods dis played in the salesrooms, give the city a decidedly metro politan air. A glance at our illustrations will show the character of these buildings. wVii'Ia nnnn t,hn wwimrjanv- ing view of the town can be seen what a large area they cover, oome of these have but just been completed, while work upon many others is still in progress. In fact, it may be said that Seattle is exhibiting greater buildin? indllRT.ru ilni-inn fV.a fit an nnv nthflT city in the Pacific Northwest, Portland not excepted. . Not only is a greater number of residences in process of erection, but more and costlier business blocks and quasi public buildings. Fully one thousand houses were erected in 1883, at an aggregate expense of $700,000, while $100,000 were expended upon water works, $150,000 upon coal bunkers, $250,000 upon, street and sidewalk improvements. The Puget Sound National Bank build ing, the most elegant on the Coast outside of San Fran cisco, will cost $100,000 ntfid. The cost of constructing the Yesler-Leary block, with" the large addi- uuu oeing built, will be $120,000, and faJ,w expended noon SchwaWli ,'MiW Eonallv expen- , t sive buildings are now in course of construction-one