King County, Washington - The whole text, 1916 (part 1 of 3)

N. M . Ward All. Deputy Clerk Of Board

Having accepted the Kew King County Court House from you as completed under your contract, we taice this opportunity of expressing to you our sincere thanks and appreciation for the prompt, able and efficient manner in which you handled this job. It is seldom that the construction of a building of this magnitude is completed without more or less friction between owners ana contractor over the interpretation of specifications and other details. We are pleased to say that in all matters in controversy, you have met us in a spirit of absolute fairness at all times, thus enabling an adjustment of all questions at issue without bitterness on either side.

Foreword

T al\\avs sfciiis to iiic tlial a book is not complete without a which 1 interpret to meau an excuse for its existence. Tlie sole excuse for the publication of this book is to better aci|uaint tlic [icoplc of Kin;_' County - tlie real people who pay the taxes - with the properties they own; the ecpiivalent ^iven tlieiu for tlie money they advanced in the form of taxes, sometimes veritable blood money."' "Tax" is the cost of government; civilization may not exist without government, nor govei'innent exist without the power of levying taxes.

That our goveriunent is crude in spots goes without saying, whether it be national, state, or miuiieii)al. (iov. ernnient may be economical or wasteful, it may be wise or grossly lacking in that wisdom which spends not only for the present liettei-nn'nts but that i>osteriTy may have a place in the sun."

In my mind's eye I compare the coming of the Denny party and their landing at Alki in 1851, a land then known to be barren of all but inhospitable forests and hostile Indians, with the landing of the Pilgrims on Plymouth Rock centuries before.

When that little band of pioneers reacheil Puget Sotiinl they cai'ried with them no i-eturn tickets; thei'e Were no anchored steamships in thi' waterway awaiting their ])leasui'e. These [lioneers had burned their bridges - they had come for all time - and they are bnried here.

Is it strange that their offspring should l)e ind)Ueil with that .spirit of bravery and integrity that makes shining examples in our social and eonnnercial world of today .'

King ( 'ounty is a mnnicipality, a commission form of governnn'Ut so to sjieak, whose destiny is juvsided over l)y three nu'U. nominated in their respective disti'icts but voted U])on by the entire electni-ate of 1he county.

I read local history largely fi'om the landmarks, and as 1 i-ead it, 1 am convinced tliat each set of county officials has progressed somewhat in broadness beyond the set that Went before.

That some of the boards were criminally profligate with the people's money will go without saying; that they in almost every instance builded for the future. Aiul in most cases built unwisely may as well be understood. There prol)ably was as great a |)i'otest in the early days against the building of a log .iail for disorderly Indians as there was but yesterday against the expenditure of ovei- a million dollars for the construction of the modern nnmicipal building dedicated this day, alight with electricity - generated by Seattle's own water power - and steam heated with coal mined as a natural resource of King Coiuity.

It is a far cry from Denny's discovery of the mnd flats to belching fuiiiaces on those same flats where was nuinufactured the steel Axliich entel'e(l so lai'egeh' into the fabrication of the lu-w Court House. It was not dreanu'il by the Indians or the first settlers that a great watei-fall, miles and miles away, would sometime light |iaved streets, transport jjassengers and lift loads of humanity to the nttei-most heights of our present day skyscrapers. A Kij) \'an Winkle wcnild go back into another doze when he looked n|)on the impossible.

I know pi-etty nearly eveiy foot of King County. I have talked with the gnarled old men and the bent women who togethei- cut and "removed' the great forests that grew in our valleys and it is not for me, nor for any historian, to tell the i-eal story of King County.

We of 1lie present day talk of hard times and de- |)i"ession in business! Let us talk to the man who walked the trails and dodged the savage bidlet to bring food to a half-starved family, which he raised in the worship of (iod. And to the hardy wife who spent days while the husband labored away from home, her companions being the cradled infant - and the ever-i'eady, muzzle-loading rifle. Let us talk with the men who found logs in the road too large to cut and who luult bridges of smallei" logs over them to reach their destination, with families and household goods drawn by starving oxen.

Let us talk with them and llii'u drive over the bricked highways of King County upon inflated rubber tires; di-ive over this fertile counti'y on roads made possible by the blood and bone and sinew of these j)ioneers who came and left a comity better foi" tlieii- having lived!

1 ask no credit as an author for the com]nlation of this l)ook. For I did not write it: at least not enough of it upon which to leave my imjiress. The information herein contained is largely the work of famed authors, and I will here give them credit rather than in the body of the work. The reference departnu'iit at the Seattle Public Library rendered me services that made the history' possiljle l)y .selecting for nu' books that contained the information 1 needed. It was the kimlly offices of the librarian and his able assistants who l>rought to my attention the works of Professor Edward S. ileany, Thomas W. Prosch, Grant's Histoiy of Washington, the Pioneer's Record of Early Days, Welford Heaton's '"Seattle and Its JIakers," Snowden's History of Washington, Alice Harriman, C. I>. IJagley. and many other authors and their works; also early editors of The Seattle Times. The Post- 1 nti'lligencer, The Argus, and othei- publications of repute.

I also wish to pay my i-esjiects in passing to the man who stood sponsor for this woi'k - to lose money if necessary - and to him 1 declicate the I'esult of my labors. 1 refer in <ill kindness to

the 2r)th or 2(:)th of Septeiidier, liSol, Joiiii X. Low, Le<- Terry and David T. Deiuiy arrived at Alki Point where Low and Terry located a claim, and on the 2Sth of September Terry and Denny laid the fotmdation for the first home on the claim. Low having retnrneii to Portlaml for his family.

"r)th of November, ISol, the Schooner Exact sailetl from Portland for Puget Sound, and Queen Charlotte's Islantl with passengers for the Sound and a jiarty of gold miners for the island.

of Kehruai'y, iN.'rJ, Hell, lioren and A. A. Denny located claims on the east side of Elliott Hay extending north from what is now the head of Commercial Street (now First Avenue) to Hell's present northern houndar.w and on the 23rd of March Horeu and D. T. Denny started to the Willamette Valley for the stock, leaving Hell and A. A. Deiniy to look after the claims initil their return.

of March, 1S."')3, Dr. D. S. .Maynard arrived at Alki Point, and I'.cll :nid Dc-nny agreed to move their southern boundary north to what is now Mill Street (now Yesler Way), in order to give Maynard a claim south of theirs.

"lu October, 1852, II. Jj. Ye.sler aiTived fi-oni Poi'tland and the land chiinis were again readjn.sted to ena1)le him to hold a chiim inchidino; tiie site he had selected foia steam saw mill which was the first steam mill huilt on the Sound.

"la the winter of 1852-58, -!. -1. Felt arrived and after somewhat extensive exploration located at Apple Tree Cove and built a mill which lie i-emoved to Port Madison early in 1854.

"In the si.)ring of 18513, Captain William Kenton came to Alki, and during the sumnu'i- l>nilt a mill which he, early in 1S54, removed to Port (>reliai'd.

"Note: This epitonu' of historical events was prejiared and signed by the al)ove W(dl known [lioneei's. Arthur A. Denny was tlu' prime mover, and the or'iginal is in his safe at the famil.v residence. - Editor of the Pioneers' Record of Early Events of King County."

It is right that the above chronology should have been jn'e])ared by those hardy pioneers, all living on .lanuary 1st, 1880 - l)nt all having passed to the gre;it beyond at the timi' this histoi'y is being ]irepared.

OVER NINETY YEARS A(i(), or to be more exact, (Ui the twenty-fifth day of February, 1825, lion. Mahlon Dickerson, Cnite<l States Senatoi- fi'om New Jersey, made a s]ieeeh ill the Senate ui)on a hill which pi'ovideil for a grant of land to settlers to induce them to locate in the ()regon Teri'ifory, in which 111' said that Oregon could never liecome one of the United Stati-s and that the country would never lie of any essential benefit to tile riiion, either as a colony or as a State.

Kemember now. that all of that land now embraced within the confines of the state of Washington, w;is at that time part of the then "Oregon Coinitry."

Repeating the declaration that Oregon would never be a member of the Union, he undertook to show tiiat it would be extremely difficult if not altogether impossible to securi> from it a reiu'esentative in f-ongress. He estimated the distance form the Columbia Rivei' to Washington, D. ('.. at 4,ti50 miles, and said that a member of Congress from the state of Oregon wotdd travel, going to and i-etni'iiing frcmi the seat of govcrnmi'iit, !t,300 miles, aiul supposing he would travel at the rate of thirty miles a day, and allowing for Sundays, it would take him 350 days of the year to go to Washington and return. This would allow him only a roi'tiiight to rest himself in the cajiital befoi'e commencing his journey home. As a considerable ])art of the way was over rugged mountains, covered the larger part of the year with a great depth of snow, he stated, that traveling at the rate of thii-ty miles a day would be a hardship.

During the controversy \\itli (ireat liritian ovei' the bonndai'y it was even jiroposed that this section of Oregon Territ(U-y wliei'e is no\'- located Seattle, be traded foi' the Island of New Foundland ami had it not been for the hei'oic patriotism and energy of Marcus Whitman, who rode across the whole Continent to plead the caiisi' ol the far Northwest before the |)OWers in Washington, it is more than probable that this country woiihl have been lost to the United States.

The passing of the wilderness in the Pacific Xorthwest is one of the most interesting stories in American liistory. The great Northwest is interesting because it is the only section of the United States that never acknowledged allegiance to any other government and has never recognized any flag but the Stars and Stripes of Freedom.

The "Old Oregon Country" inchuled all that territoi'y which now emliraces the state of Washington, Oregon and Idaho, with a small part of Westei-n Montana and Wyoming. It was oidy accessible by vessels sailing around ('ape Horn or by land route over the Isthmus of Panama.

The first attem|)t at setth^nent in what is now King County, was made by .lolin Ilolgate in the fall of 1849, when he staked out a land (daini near the mouth of the Duwamish River, which he intended to make his future home, but he went back to the Willamette Valley and took no ste])s to file on it as a "donation claim." In September of 1851, Henry Van Asselt, Luther M. Collins, -Facob Ma|)le and his son Samuel settled on the i)rairie land where the Denny Tile Works now stand and Maple and his son filed upon the land Holgate intended to take.

Pacific Highway Leading To Everett And Bellingham

The first regularly established road on record in King County was surveyed and located July, 1854, by order of the Territorial Legislature, appointing Thomas Mercer, Henry Van Asselt and Henry H. Tobin as viewers, to "view and locate" a "road from Seattle to intersect the road from Steilacoom."

William A. Strickler was called in as surveyor and located the road from Seattle in a southerly direction crossing Black River and terminating at White River, near the piesent town of Aubnrn.

The next road requiring a survey was County Road No. t) located in November, lSti4, ten years later, by Edwin Richardson, U. S. deputy surveyor. This road is described as beginning at the northeast corner of Block 7 2 on Madison Street, and ran in a northeasterly direction to Lake Washington at a point several hundred feet south of the present terminus of Madison Street, at Lake Washington, and following the general course of Madison Street as it exists today.

The report of the viewers of this road states. "The country through which said road will pass is mostly of a fertile character, not only heavily timbered and remarkably well adapted for a wagon road, being generally level and what hills there are, are ot an easy grade."

An interval of three years occurred before the services of a surveyor were again required. In 1867 H. J. Stevenson appeas as viewer and surveyor of Road No. 18 for the sur- vey and location of a wagon road from a point opposite Fort Kidd. on White River, to a point on the military road about one-quarter of a mile north of Steele's ferry on the Duwamish River.

Difficulties in regard to right-of-way for county roads are not of recent origin as evidenced by the following petition, dated June 25, 1870: "We, the undersigned citizens of King County, Washington Territory, do respectfully petition your Honorable Boay to vacate the portion of county road that has been laid out across the garden and timothy fields of D. A. Neely and establish the old road from the new shed to what is known as the old Washburn House. (T<> avoid all fuitlici litigation) As in duty bound we will ever pray."

The record is not clear as to the first county surveyor of King lounty. The first mention of the office of county surveyor to be found in the commissioners' proceedings was March 30, 1SV2, where it is stated, "The object of the meeting being to fill a vacancy in the office of county surveyor, it is hereby ordered that George F. Whitworth be and is liereby appointed county surveyor, for the County of King, to fill a vacancy existing in said office."

The early roads of King County were generally located by "viewers" appointed by the Board of County Commissioners and they rarely deemed it necessary to call any engineering talent to their assistance.

With the rapid growth of the county, the road problem became an increasingly Important one as well as to other counties in the state and in the year 1907 the Legislature created the office of county engineer, changing the title from county surveyor to county engineer. Mr. A. L. Valentine, now superintendent of public utilities for the city of Seattle, was then county surveyor and has the honor of being the first county engineer of King County.

At this time a gravel road was the highest type of construction in the county and during the winter it was almost impossible to haul more than an empty wagon into the city of Seattle over the roads, either north or south of the city. Today King County has .54.71 miles of paved highways. Contracts are about to be let for 18 miles of paving which will make a total mileage of paved highways at the close of this year of 71.71 miles. Almost every type of standard highway paving surface is represented. including brick, concrete, bitulithic and asphaltic.

In 1912 the citizens of King County voted a bond issue of $3,000,000 for the purpose of establishing thj ground work for a comprehensive general highway system for King County, two million dollars of this fund to be expended in the county and one million dollars to assist the city of Seattle to improve the streets which will connect with the county highways.

The Automobile Club of Seattle and the Good Roads organizations of the county proposed this plan of issuing bonds to the Board of County Commissioners and were active in urging it adoption by the voters.

The late Col. Alden J. Blethen of The Times and Mr. Scott C. Bone of The Post-Intelligencer became personally interested in the movement and the success of the bond issue was largely due to their effective work.

The preliminary plans for the roads to be included under the bond issue were made up by Commissioner M. L. Hamilton, A. L. Rutherford and County Engineer J. R. Morrison. It is due to their thorough knowledge of the county and its requirements that such a practical and generally satisfactory scheme was evolved in the very short time allowed for this work, which was only three days.

The main object sought was to provide every important section of the county with a main trunk highway, to be laid out on easy grades and with as little curvature as the conditiors would i;ermit. Only two projects included paving. No. 7, Seattle to Renton, and No. 11, Seattle to Pierce County. The other roads were to be graded and given a surfacing of gravel which would serve until the new grades had time to settle and the growing importance of some particular demanded its being paved.

The work of the county engineer's office rovers a very wide range, embracing surveys and designs for roads, bridges, docks and river improvements and the supervision of construction of all such work done under contract. The county engineer is required by law to make a yearly report of the condition of eai'h of the 840 bridges and docks in the county. In timber bridges or combination timber and steel bridges it is necessary to examine each stick of timber in the whole structure.

The policy of the present Board of Commissioners is to use only steel or concrete for the more important bridges. King County is one of the very few counties designing its own bridges.

The unsual amount of work required to make the surveys and prepare plans and specifications for the bond issue roads, in addition to the customary work of the office, required a large force during the height of the work in 191.5; ninetyfive men were employed.

The duties of the county engineer are defined by the statutes of the State of Washington and what in some cases appears to be slow and expensive methods of the county engineer's office is due to the requirements of the law.

The total mileage of roads and number of bridges and docks in King County under the supervision of the Board of County Commissioners and county engineer, is as follows:

The above lut represents the Old Court House as it stands today, grim in its dress of gray stone and cement, and soon to be abandoned for the new structure on Third Avenue. This building has witnessed everything - weddings, divorces, murders, hangings, and sometimes it was well that the figure of Justice was blindfolded, for even .Tustice was dealt to litigants in blind and unseeing manner. Within its walls is the jail which has housed many famous and infamous criminals. - H. C. Pigott in Seattle Saturday Night.

The old Cotii't House with its hasi' i-cstiiig on a eominanding eiuiiieiici' nearly 1300 feet a hove the harbor, presented a very iinjiosing' ai)i)earance, its lofty tower projecting a total of 160 feet making 460 feet aliove sea level. The county voted an issnance of bonds to the amount of $200,000 for tile erection of tliis old structure then long needed for tlie courts and county ott'ieers, and the commissioners innnediately selected a site and secured plans. The site chosen was on the hill on Seventh Street between Terrace and -leffersoii Stri'ets.

streets. On the other hand, tlie elevation added iinich to the eomnuiuding a|i])earancc of the structure and rendered it so much more to the attractiveness of the city.

Plans for the old edifice were i)rcpared by ilr. W. A. Ritchie, and these were drawn with an idea to combining beauty, solidity, and fireproof features. This structure was )u-obai)ly the best and handsouu'st yet erected on the Pacific Coast at the time of its building. It was constructed of stone, brick and iron and cement, the same grouping of materials as in the new building, yet mite the contrast in the ])ictures.

THE first official action taken looking towai'd the construction of a new Court House, dates back to the year 1903, at which time Charles Raker, now deceased, P. J. Smith and L. C. Smith eonstitnte<l the Hoard of Comity Commissioners. 1'. -I. Smith is now a resident of Issaiinah, and L. C. Smith, who on retiring from the Board, served a four-year term as Sheriff, is at present living in Auburn. The need of a new building was clearly set out in a formal resolution ])assed by tliis Hoard on April 18. Ilt03. in which tiie statement is made that the "old building is iimdecpiatc foi- the present needs of the County, and the great increase in population and volume of business demands a more commodious structure," and in conclusion it is ordered that the oft'er of the Yesler Estate to sell Block 33, (C. D. Boren'.s Addition to Seattle, to the County for a Court House site at a consideration of $235,000.00 be accepted. There being no funds available for the purpose of buying a Court House site, it was further provided that payment be made to the Yeslei' Estate in County Warrants drawing o'v interest. Deeds of conveyance were passed on May fitli. 1!)03, and four hundred and .seventy .$500. 00 County Warrants were issued to the grantors. Provision was maile in till- next two annual tax levies to redeem warrants. Kor some reason, presumably financial considerations, no fui'ther action toward actual construction of a building was taken by this Board or the one immediately succeeding it. On the contrary, a five year ground lease was entered into with Geo. B. Lamping and associates in lOOfi for the westi'i'ly half of the block, at an annual rental (it $6,000.00. These parties constructeil a tempoi'ary structure tiiereon, covering the entire half lilock. which was used for the first two years as a skating rink, and was known as the Coliseum. Later the building was tt'uanted to Sullivan & Considine and converted into the Oi-pheum Theatre.

In addition to the original cost of the site, approximately .$1'26,000.00 in local improvement assessments, ineluding re-grades have been, paid; to oft'set which, $45,- 000.00 in rentals have been collected, making the total cost of the site to date .$316,000.00.

It is worthy of note that in the purchase of this site, Commissioner Baker and his associates on the Board were severely criticized, ridiculed and maligned in the ]mblic press and on the street, for their reckless and unwarranted expenditure of public moneys. Time, hoM'ever, has demonstrated the wisdom of the luirchase, for in l!tl4, at tiie commencement of construction work, the site was conservatively valued at $1,000,000.00.

The first stejjs toward actual construction of a new building on the site purchased in 1903 was taken on July 5th, 1911, at whicii time the Board consisted of II. L. Hamilton, A. L. Rutherford and David McKenzie. A

I'esolution was passed on that day calling for a sjjccial election for September 5th, 1911, to vote on the ((uestion of issuing bonds in the sum of $1,500,000.00, for the purpose of building a new Court House. No actual jilans, sjiecification or drawings for the building proposed to be constructed were furnisiied however, and the bonds were voted down by a vote of 7,322 for and 11,792 against; the claim lieing made that had the jieople been fully advised as to just what they were to get for the money voted, the results might have been dift'erent.

A year later, the needs and demands for a new building being more acute, the same Board passed unanimously a resolution calling for another bond issue for the same purpose, the amount being reduced to $950,000.00.

There is a little inside and heretofore untold story in connection with the fixing of this amount at .$950,000.00 instead of an even $1,000,000.00, wiiieh might be considered in the nature of a bait to the voter, but the deswarrant going to tiiat extent. At all the conferences held perate situation and need of a new Iniilding .seemed to to coEsi<ler the submitting of a new bond issue, the amount liad always lieen fixed at One Million Dollars. However, in view of the fact that just one year prior the people of the county had refused to vote a bond issue of $1,500,- (100.01). it was thought probable that it was the large amount asked for that frightened them. In ])oth print and public speech Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars looks and sounds much less than One Million Dollars, and altho $50,000.00 would make vei-y little difference in the character of building we would secure, it might make a great difference in the number of votes received. It was considered probable that the average voter would vote foi' a bond issue of .$950,000.00, while he might voti' against the larger amount of $1,000,000.00. It was determined, therefore, to fix the amount i>f tlie bonds at the smaller figure.

Pi'ofiting by the mistake of the yeai' before, they immediately employed an architect to plan sucli a building as could be built for the sum proposed, with ample foundations to carry additional stories whenever the needs required it. The choice of an architect fell to A. Warren Gould, who at once prepared plans and drawing.s for the proposed building, which were widely ]niblished ami posted thruout the County.

At this stage of the proceedings, a new element of great force entered into the negotiations in the form of the "Civic Center League." This organization had been formed to carry out if possible, the recommendation of Virgil Bogue, an Engineer of national reputation, employed by the City of Seattle to plan a "'City Beautiful" along modern lines. He had recommended the grouping of all public buildings in a common "Civic Center" and had selected for .such "Civic Center" in the Dennv Hill re- grade district, a mile or more north of the present Covirt House site. It was the jnirpose of this League to either force the construction of any new public buildings in the proposed Civic Center, or delay construction iintil such time as the people could Ix' educated to the point of demanding a Civic Center oi- await the election of a Board that would do theii' bidding. They were very persistent in presenting their deuiands before the County Commissioners, and in order to appease them and to get an accurate idea of what the people actually wanted, it was voted to submit also another bond issue in the sum of $1,400,000.00 being $950,000 for the building and $450,000 for a new site. A very exciting campaign was carried on, a feature of which was the flaring posters gotten out by both sides, and posted on bill boards and fences thruout tlie County. When the vote was counted on November 5th, 1912, it was found that the bonds for the Court House on the old site had carried by a vote of 35,768 for and 16,565 against, while the Civic Center plan had been defeated by 18,123 for and 31,206 against. It has been a matter of speculation as to just what the Board would have done had both bond issues cai'ried.

Before proceeding further with the details of actual construction, the Board deemed it wise to call into consultation a committee of business men of established integrity and expei'ience in matters of this kind. The members of the Committee as finally determined upon were: Laurence Colman, Chairman ; J. S. Brace, Theodore Haller, Herman Chapin and P. J. Smith. They entered into the matter at hand with enthusiasm, and altho they were all busy men, they gave their time and energy to the furtherance of the project without stint and with no thought or hope of reward of any kind. Especially is this true of Messrs. Colman and Brace, for no final decision of any consequence in connection with the construction of the Xew Court House has been made without their approval, and it is to be lioped that whatever credit and appreciation is to be meted out for this undertaking at the present or in the future, that the member.s of this "Advisory Committee" receive their full share.

As soon as the details could be worked out, and acting under the advice of the Business Men's Committee, the bonds were offered for sale and on March 5th, 1913 were struck off to George H. Tilden & Co. Before delivery of the bonds coidd be made however, the Board was enjoined by Court from issuing them, the plaintiff in the action being one of the Civic Center advocates, the League being still unreconciled to the construction of a public building outside of the proposed Bogue Center. The chief grouiul for the action to have the bonds declared illegal, was that the votei's had been deceived as to the kind and size of the building to be built with the proceeds of the bonds. It was clearly shown at the trial that Architect A Warren Goidd had produced a picture of a complete building of fourteen stories, such as is in contemplation for the future, and that the advocates of the down town location had made beautiful photographs of this ])icture and spread them bi'oadcast thruout the County, to give the impression to the voters that that was the building they were to get for $950,000.00. After a lenghty trial with two Superior Court Judges on the bench, tlie contention of tlie jilaintitf was u|)held and the bonds ileclared illegal. An ai)peal to the Supreme Court seemed almost a foi'loi'u hope, but it was finally determined upon by Commissioners Hamilton and Rutherford, backed by a lengthy and exhaustive brief, all at the hands of Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Robert H. Evans, acting for the Board, the Supreme Court in December, 1913, reversed the lower Court and held that the bonds were legal. The Board immediately advertised for new bids for the bonds and iu May, 1914, they were sold to the Dexter Horton National Bank at par, five per cent, and a premium of $26,885.00. Thirty days later the total sum of $976,885.00 was covered into the County Treasury, and tlie decks were all cleai'ed for actual construction work.

P>ids were called at once for a three-story fireproof granite building under the Gould plans and specifications, it being clearly stated that no bids exceeding the amount of money available would be considered. Bids were also asked for the construction of two additional stories, for the legislature of 1913 had passed an act permitting the joint action of County and City in erecting a public building for the use of both municipalities, and the Seattle city authorities were talking of taking advantage of that law, and wished to know approximately what the cost would be for two additional stories for their exclusive use. Bids were opened June 29th, 1914, with nine of the most reliable contracting firms in the Northwest responding to the call, and all of same were found to be within the amount available. This was considered as a vindication of Architect A. Warren Gould, as he had contended at all times that such a building as he had jilanned could be built for $950,000.00. The low bidder was the Puget Sound lii-idge & Diedging Comi)any of Seattle, and on June 30, 1914, the conti'act was awai'ded to them at $810,563.00. Their supplemental bid U>v two additional stories was $248,585.00.

The Count}^ was extremely fortunate in their selection of a buildei-, for the reputation of the Puget Sound Bridge & Dredging Company for integrity, square dealing and ability to handle efficiently, large undertakings is well known. During the entire progress of the construction work no serious differences or misunderstandings arose between the County and contractor, for the reason that the President of the Contracting Company, Samuel Hedges, met the County more than half way on a settlement of every point in which there was a difference vi opinion, - and there were scores of them.

After a careful investigation to find the proper man for Superintendent of Consti'uction to repr'sent the County on the ground, the Advisory f'ommittee recommended Mr. C. R. Aldricb, a well known architect and builder, and he was immediately employed. The appointment proved a wise one in every way ; for in addition to the responsibility of seeing that the County received what it was paying for, he had a diplomatic way of settling strikes, interpreting specifications, conciliating sub-contractors and material men, that removed much detail from the shoulders of the Commissioners and the Advisory Committee.

On July 10th. 1914, ten days after the contract was let, tile first sod was turned by Commissioner M. L. Hamilton. A brief ceremony had been arranged to commemorate the occasion, and from a crude platform of planks, Norman M. Wardall, as Master of Ceremonies, gave a short address of felicitation and introduced in turn Councilman A. F. Haas, Acting Mayor; David McKenzie, Chairman of the Hoard of ("ounty Commissioners; M. L. Hamilton, County Commissioner; P. J. Smith, member of tin- Jioanl ill l!)0;i when the site was purchased; V. R. Aldrieh. Superintendent of Construction; and Samuel Hedges of the Contraetinjr Couipany, all of whom expressed a sentiment of tliaiikfuhiess that the dream of years was ahout to be brought to an actuality. Less than two hundred citizens were present.

The City of Seattle was paying out annually nearly $30,000 in rentals for offices to house their various de- |)artment.s that couhl not be accommodated in the City Hall, and the ('it\' Council desired very much to join with tlie County in the construction of the new building in order to bring all their scattered departments under one roof. They were unable however, to finance the matter without calling an election to vote bonds for the pnrjiose, which was not deemed desirable. The ownership of one building by two municipalities, when the title to the ground on which the building stood rested in one of them, presented many legal and objectionable obstacles too complicated to solve readily, and after many conferences between the Council. Commissioners and Advisory Committee, it was finally determinetl that a straight landlord and tenant jiroposition was the cleanest cut and most reasonable solution of the matter of joint use. Tlie City Council therefore, on October 3rd, 1914, passed a resolution declaring its intention to lease from the County of King approximately 50,000 square feet of floor space in their new building for a term of twenty years, at an annual rental of sixty (60c) cents per square foot. In order to provide this additional space, the County Commissioners called a special election for November 3, 1914, to vote another bond issue of $350,000 to construct two ac'litional stories. It was figured that the $300,- 000.00 in rentals received from the City during the twenty year term of the lease would pay the interest on the bonds and retire them in full. Very little opposition developed and the bonds were voted 40,508 for and 22,474 against.

When the time came to make a new contract for the addition of the two stories, a great difference of opinion arose as to whether they should be carried up of Index granite, the same as the lower stories, or if terra cotta should be used. There was a difference oi some $30,000.00 in favor of the use of the latter material, which was a King Comity product, and the manufacture of whieli would give employment to man}' unemployed men, who were overrunning the City at that time. Many conferences were held with the Advisory Committee, and the Committee finally recommended the use of Terra Cotta. .V supplemental contract was then entered into with the i^iget Sound Bridge & Dredging Company at $248,585.00.

and is so well matelied with the granite in color and texture that it is difficult to tell where one leaves oflf and the other begins. A little later on the Contractor was authorized to add still another story at an additional cost of $45,000.00. This story however, contains but 14,000 square feet, about one-half the size of the others, and is not discernible from the street, as it is set in from the main walls of the building. Tiiis additional space is to be occupied by the City p]iigineer, and the County will get an equal amount of sjjaee in the ohl City Hall building for use as a County jail.

The formal lease between the County and City was not entered into until December 30, 1915, and provides, among other things, for a term of twenty years from that date at 60c per square foot per annum ; for the furnishing by the County of all janitor, elevator, heat, light and all ordinary building service; it being expressly provided however, that all electric energy used in the building shall be purchased from the City Lighting Depai'tment, at the lowest current commercial rates; for the construction of a tunnel to connect the basement with Fourth Avenue near Yesler Way to be paid for jointly. This tunnel is for the purpose of making the basement available for a garage, some sixty machines being owned by the two municipalities.

An information Bureau will be maintained and will be in the hands of J. W. Stokes, wlio holds the cigar stand concession. The building will be managed by Clarence W. Ide, former U. S. Customs Collector and U. S. Marshal.

In the liistory of the construction of public buildings exceeding a million dollars in cost, it is certainly a unique and rare condition to have one built within the fund appropriated for the purpose, and without a breath of scandal connected with it. This should be a great source of pride to every citizen of King County and should go far toward inspiring faith in the integrity of its public officials.

Contract was signed July 7, 1914 for the three-story building, firound was officially broken July 11, 1914, by the County Commissioners, contractors and representative citizens. Excavation continued practically without interruption, men being employed night and day in an effort to complete foundations before wet weather set in. About 56,800 cu. vds. of earth were removed. The site of the building has at former times been beach washed, four distinct beach lines being cut through in excavating for footings. Every pier of the building rests on very firm earth, two of the piers being put down to a deeper level than was anticipated to assure a good footing. A little quicksand was encountered, the bearing of the footings being lielow the quicksand strata. The only water difficulties were caused by surface water, so that witli the drainage provided, the basement will be dry for all purposes. No discernible settlement has occurred.

Concrete in the foundation was started along the Fourth Avenue side on August 13, 1914. There are 192 isolated pier footings, some of which contain enough concrete in one footing for the foundation of an average sized residence. All of these are reinforced with steel bars I'olled in Seattle. The structural portions above the foundations were carried on in the usual course of procedure, all the structural poi'tion being of Washington cement, reinforced with Seattle steel and in places a filler of Seattle clay tile. Tliere were used in the building about 29,000 barrels of cement, 3,500,000 pounds of steel, 17,500 en. yds. of concrete, and 190,000 sq. ft. of floor tile.

The oringinal contract provided for the addition of two stories at the option of the County. Order was issued to the contractors to proceed with the two additional stories on December 11, 1914, these two stories to be faced on tiie outside with tei-ra eotta made in Seattle, of wliieh there are about 31,000 sc). ft.

Setting of granite in the lower stories was commenced on February 24, 1915, of which there are approximately 37,000 cu. ft. of Washington quarries.

Tlie structure is built to permit the addition of five more stories if needed, consequently a temporary cornice was put on, the erection of same starting April 15, 1915. Roof covering was completed Jul}' 10, 1915.

On April 23, order was i.ssued to add a partial sixth floor, for the use of the City Engineer, the structural portions of which are permanent.

Partitions of tile of which there are 2G0.000 s(i. ft. started on May 4th. Plastering was started July 21. Of this there are 80,000 sq. yds. in addition to ornamental cornices, mouldings, etc., all of which is finished a smooth white.

Exterior bronze and plate glass windows, of which tliere are 515, were made in Seattle, the erection of same in the building commencing June.5.

There are four Otis Traction elevators, traveling 450 feet per minute, installed during the month of December, and are of the best type manufactured or used.

The i)lumbing and heating in the building was installed by a Seattle firm, the work on whicli was carried out througiiout tiie construction of the building. The iieating is steam direct I'adiation with forced draft ventilation for court rooms, the fan was made in Seattle and is capable of delivering 60,000 cu. ft. of air per minute. The heating in court rooms is regulated to an even temperature by thermostat control.

The l)uikling was accepted from the ('ontractors on Februai'v 25, 1916,. The Prosecuting Attorney occupied his space on February 26 and the installation of court room fixtures, office eountei's, desks, etc., was commenced on the same date.

The building is substantial, durable, and well-finished throughout and will undoubtedly prove a great benefit to the community for a long period of time.

THE present Court House site is inseparably connected with the History of Henry L. Yesler. Mr. Yesler came to Seattle in the fall of 1852, with the intention of starting a saw mill. Early in April, 1853, the saw mall was set in opei-ation, being the first one on Puget Sound. The mill became the center of operations in the little village of Seatlle. It furnished labor and suppoi't to most of the inhabitants at that time. Mr. Yesler first built him a modest home on the N. E. cornel' of First Avenue and James Street, where the Pioneer Block now stands. As the village grew his property gradually increased in value, and in time he became one of the wealthy men of the city. He was probably the landlord and owner of more houses occupied by tenants than any other man. Other people were building homes and buildings foi' themselves, but Yesler never missed an op])ortunity to get a tenant, and if he didn't have a house foi- that ])urpose, he wo»ild build one.

beginning about 1870 the little town of Seattle had great hopes of immediate growth by reason of the coming here of the Northern Pacific Railroad. In 1873 the western terminus of that road was located at Tacoma. From that time Seattle had to fight for its very existence. This went on for a period of more than twelve years, but in 1883 with the advent of Henry Villai'd to the management of the Northci'n Pacific, and the other companies which he had assembled under one management, Seattle and King County enjoyed a very rapid growth. It was understood at that time that Villard would give to all of the cities of the Northwest equal opportunities and fair play. This created large activities in the sale of real estate. Fortunes were made in a few months, b.y quite a number of Seattle's leading operators, among whom was Mr. Yesler.

Several of them at that time decided to build elegant homes, on which they coul dexjjend a part of their newly acquired fortunes. The three most notable houses erected at this time were those put up by Mr. Yesler, Mr. Martin Van P.uren Stacy, and Mr. James McNanght. Mr.

Yesler had iu early years fenced the block now occupied by the new King County Court House, and there planted a large orchard, taking care of it for many years, but in 1883 he decided to erect his new home upon that site. By the time it was ready for occujiancy he had expended somewliere from $75,000 to $100,000 and had secured for iiiinself the most elegant mansion in all the Northwest.

Mr. and Mrs. Yeslei- soon moved into the building. but neither of tliem long survived. Tiie last daj's of Mr. Yesler wei'e not happy. Financial troubles came uijon him, along with ill health and faniilj' troubles.

The fir.st Mrs. Yesler died in 1887, and in 1890 Mr. Yesler astonished his friends by marrying Miss Minnie Gagle. The second wife was a young woman, and they did not live very happily together; and his last yeai's were embittered by financial ]iressui'e, by ill health and l)y unpleasant martial relations witii his second wife. There were no children.

About 1896 the old home iiaviug been vacant for a long time, was secured by Seattle for a Public Library which was maintained there, using at the same tinu- the barn nearby for a reading room.

After the fire this property practically laid idle for a wiiile, and finally some temi)orary structures were j)laced thereon, among them being the ('oliseuni Skating i-ink, afterwai'ds used as the Orpheum Theatre and many small stores, and was acquired hy the (.'ounty Commissioners for approximately the sum of $240,000.

Tlie Court House block was a part of the original Yesler Donation Claim, and was cleared from the original forest. Yesler used it for a garden and orchard, and would go up there and spend hours of his spare time. He took a great deal of pleasure in superintending the cultivation, trimming and care of the trees, and had developed a really beautiful orchard years before he built his home.

Thirty or forty years ago the home owners were right down iu the heart of the city and this old Yesler home was the most expensive and commodious house in the communit\-, and in fact in the Northwest.

Clarence H. Bagley

ON the sixth of June, 1889, at 2 :30 in tlie afternoon, the fire began. The weather was bright and clear. The air was still and sultry during the morning. There had been no rain for several weeks, and everything was dry and ready to fall an easy |)rey to the flames.

The fire began on the north side of the main business part of the city, where, with the gentle north wind that sprung up as the afternoon advanced, it had the best possible chance to spread to the whole quarter. It started in a building on the southwest corner of Front and Madison Streets owned by Mrs. M. J. Pontius. In the basement of this frail wooden structure, was a paint shop kept by James McGough. Here a workman was boiling glue, which, suddenly rising, ran over on the stove and ignited, driijping fire down upon some shavings below. Thinking to (piench the sudden flames, the workman cast at them a bucket of water but not skillfully, for by the act the whole lighted mass was scattered ovei' the floor, which was soon covered with the flames. The oils and turpentine were kindled instantly and as the wind passed underneath the floors and timbers, the combustion was foi'ced into the ai)ei'tures, and carried through the i)assages to the apartments above. Flames and smoke poured from every window, forcing their way upward and seeking to find escape through the roof.

Engine Company No. 1 got to work expeditiously, laying two lines of hose from the hydrant at the corner of Front and Columbia Streets, and commenced playing on the burning coi'uiees. The water failed. The slender streams made no imi)ression. What seemed an afi'air of but a few moments now assumed a serious asi)ect and the gathering crowd realized that the block must go.

mansard roof and at 1he cry, "Thr Opera House is on fire,'' all eyes were turned thither and the probability of a great conflagration was realized. The impossibility of saving the great building soon became evident. The Denny block was now burning furiously, the houses aero.ss the street also were now wrapped in flames.

By the magnitude of the fire the whole city was now aroused and it was seen that there was no control for the wild element. It would stop only at the great brick barriers. The whole cit.y force was therefore called out with a view to saving property and pi'eserving order. Josiah Collins, chief of the fire department, was absent from the city. With great pi-omptne.ss Mayor Robert Moran began organizing the crowds of men on the streets.

The fire presented a broad fi'ont extending from Second Street along Yeslei- Avenue to the docks on the west, and in its track before it wei'e the sawdust flats aiul that populous but not very grand portion of the city built over the water, with such gi-eat structures as the coal bunkers, the steamship warehouses and the sawmills. Upon this prey it advanced without the slightest check. Many fine structures as the Arlington Hotel and the S(piire Building, lay in its course.

A circiunstance meriting double notice was the coming of the Taeoma fire eompan.y. At three o'clock telegrams were sent to Taeoma, Port Townsend and Portland for help. The firemen of Taeoma responded promptly, and about forty men with a hose cart and about eight hundred feet of hose were put aboard a special train, to which thei-e was given a clear track, and covered the distance in fifty-eight minutes. As they dashed into town tliey were greeted with eheei's. They got to work at once and were of the gi'eatest assistance in checking the flames.

ten-ible. In the gatlicriiis darkiu'ss it n-seinbled a volcanic crater. Far into the night it burned, casting such a glare upon the liay as to throw the shi])i)ing into distinct view. The coal hnnkos, with about three hundred tons of coal, bui-ned the lungest. During the night a throng of people from the lodging houses passed up and down the streets, spending the night without sleep, while some sought shelter on the hill. As the night was warm, there was uo suffering. Those who had friends or acquaintances were, of course, well provided for. Such was the beginning, progress and end of the fire.

^Measures for relief wei'(> no le.ss prompt. The generosity and sympatliy of the neighboring cities, ])artic\ilarly of Taeoma, offered without ostentation and i)rompted by friendliness alone, will not be quickly forgotten. They srcui'ed a vacant lot on the corner of Thii'd and TTniversity

Streets ami there erected a tent thirty by twenty feet, furnished with tables and stored with provisions. Arlangements were made here on 'the most extensive scale, no less than to feed six thousaiul people a da.y so long as necessary.

The Tacomans kept open their tent and speedily erected others for lodging accommodations. They stayed by Seattle, some days feeding fully three thousand persons. Twenty cook.s and half as many dishwashers were I'lMpiired.

The fii'st hank, liiat of Dexter Horton & Co. (then lloi'ton & Phillips'), was established in 1870, with a capital of $50,000 and Horton put up the first stone b\iilding in wliieh to house it.

For fully ten years the bank of Dextei- Ilortoii (& ( 'o. was the only banking institution in the city and fully met all the reipiirements of the coniniunity. As the city grew in pojuilation and commercial importance the need of uiore extended banking facilities became manifest and in obedience to this demand the First National Dank was incorporated in Sei)tember, 1882, with a capital of $150,000. This bank first did business in the basement of the old Post building and at the time of the fire occupied a fine room in the Yesler-Leary Building, on the corner of Front Street and Yesler Avenue. Aftei' the fii'c temporary ipiarters were occupied on Cohnnbia Street between Second and Third, but for several months business was eonducteil in lemjioi-ary (piarters on Front Street. The bank soon moved to a building erected foi- it on the corner of Yesler and Pioneer Place.

In 1888 there were only six banks in the city with a capitalization of $750,000, These were: Tlie Puget Sound National, First National, Merchants National, Dexter Horton & Co., Guarantee Loan & Trust Compan.y and the Washington National. During the next year the National Bank of Commei'ce, the Boston National, Commercial National, Washington Savings and the Bank of British Columbia were established.

Commercial interests began at Seattle, in the most natural manner, being but an outgrowth of the trading from the vessels that came to the place for piling and square timber.

As soon as the people then here were assured of a sale of timbers, they made ready cargoes, which the crafts took aboard, loading the longer and more unwieldy round timbers through the front hatches into the hold, and adding if obtainable, a deck load of square timbers. While thus taking on a cargo, the captain carried on a trade with the people on board the vessel. It wa.s soon seen to be ]irofitable to leave the remaining stock behind at the village, to be sold oft" on commission. To Mr. A. A. Denny, first fell the lot of taking such goods, and disposing of them. A store was therefore provided, at the northwest corner of Commercial and Washington Streets, being in a building one story high, and about twenty by thirty feet. Here, for a short time, Mr. Denny sold goods on commission, but soon associated with himself, Mr. Dexten Horton and Mr. Phillips. The stock kept on hand was of all .sorts - provisions, hardware, cloths, cutlery and notions, but was not of large value. Soon after under- taking this business, jMi-. Denny and his partners were able to place themselves upon an independent basis, the former going to San Francisco to purchase his annual stock. At the time of the Indian war, Mr. Denny withdrew from the business, to enter the volunteer service. Horton & Phillips continued together a number of years, until the institution of the bank by Horton, and the death about the same time of Phillips. The business was then jiassed to Atkins & Shoudy, and subsequently to Crawford & Harrington, afterwards transfoi'med to Harrington & Smith.

A second establishment was tliat of C. ('. Terry, who a trade with Dr. Maynard, and obtained site at Seattle and afterwards purcha.sed the west half of the Itoren donation claim.

The first wholesale business was established in Seattle in 1867 under the name of ('rawford & Plarrington, later taking the name of Harrington & Smith.

In the spring of 1875, George W. Stetson and J. J. Post formed a partnership and opened a small sash and door factory at the foot of Yesler Avenue, renting power from Yesler 's mill. This was the beginning of the grea't mill next succeeding, which has sent Seattle lumber all over the world.

Within view of Seattle, 12 miles across the Sound, at Poit Blakely is one of the largest hnnber mills in the world. It gives employment to 450 men and indirectly to hundreds of others. This great plant was erected in 1888, at a cost exceeding $300,000 by the late Captain William Renton, the blind millionaire, and Seattle pioneer, who came to Puget Sound in 1852. The area eovei'ed by the plant exceeds ten acres and fourteen ships can be loaded at once. There are five night watchmen and two on Sunday and holidays. The plant is illuminated by 450 incandescent electric lamps and ships can be loaded at night as well as by day. The offices of the mill are connected with Seattle by sulimariiic telegi'aph cable ei-ossing the Sound at Alki Ponit.

The Crescent Manufacturing Company was established in 1888 and was totally destroyed by the great fire one year later. Better buildings were erected and a plant of greater capacity sprang from the ashes of the old one.

P>allard, the greatest shingle mill tovi'n in the world, has a daily capacity of 6,020,000 shingles, or about half the entire output of King County. There are twenty mills in Ballard alone that manufactui-e nothing but shingles. Throughout King County are scattered scores of mills which are contributing millions of feet of lumber annually 1(1 tlie output of the state.

The following letter is interesting in the light of recent developments in the case of the building of the canal from tide water to Lake Washington. James Scott was Secretai-y of the Territory fi-om 1870 to 1S72. -lames McNaught afterwards gained a national reputation as counsel for the Northern Pacific Railroad Coiii- |iauy.

Sir: I herewith send you articles of incorporation of "The Lake Washington Canal Company." Please fihthem in youi- oit'iee and send bill to me and oblige. Your obt. servt., J. MeNAUGHT.

While the above seems as though it might be the very inception of efforts to build the canal, mention should here be made of a still earlier effort. John Pike, for whom Pike Street in Seattle was named, was the architect and builder of the famous old Territorial University building which was used as the temporary home of the Seattle Public Library. He had a son Harvey Pike, who was both enterprising and energetic. About 1860 Harvey Pike began to dig a canal at the "Portage," to connect Lake Washington and Lake Union. For many years the evidence of this beginning could have been seen, but the work proved too great and was abandoned.

In July, IS!):"), (he Puget Souml lii'idge ct Dredging Company was given the contract for digging the water ways and filling in the adjacent land on the South Seattle tide flats by the Seattle and Lake Washington Water Way Company which was organized June 22, 1894; Elisha P. Ferry, President; Eugene Semjile, Vice-President.

While Eugene Semple failed in his project to give Seattle the Southern Canal, he did a great work in filling in the tide lands. He created out of a valueless waste of water and mud property worth today at lea.st one hiindred million dollars.

Oil Dccciiihfi- 10, ]S(i8, tlic first issue of the Seattle Gazette made its appearance. The ptiiitiiig press used was venerable with age, being a niaeliine of wood, differing very little from the ju'ess nsed by Ben.iamin Franklin one hundred and fifty years ago. and known as a "Ramage." This press was brought to the Paeific ('oast it is sujiposed, eai-ly in the present century. The printing office was in the second story of a wooden building owned by II. L. Vesler that then occupied the present site of S('hwal)acher IJi'others & Co.'s sfoi'e. J. R. Watson was editoi', proprietoi' and comi)Ositor. With the aid of some friend, or occasionally a young Indian for a roller boy, the paper was gotten out from week to week.

The first half ,year closed June 4th, 1864, and the pa|)('r then suspended until August 6, following when it iilijieared in an enlarged form. On March 3, 1866, tlie Srattle Gazette was susjieiulecl, having covered a jieriod (if two years aiul three months.

April T). 1866, the Puget Sound Semi-Weekly succeeded it, witii Hall & McNamara as publishers. A short experience proved that the time for a semi-weekly had not arrived, and on the 30th of the same month, the Puget Sound Weekly appeared. With the issue of March 18, 1867, the first volume ceased and with the beginning of the new volume I. M. Hall again took chai'ge and the paper was christened the Puget Sound Weekly Gazette.

In the early jiart of August, 1867 S. L. Maxwell arrived in Seattle. He was a first-class printer and a writer of considerable force. Messrs. Daniel and C. B. Bagley had at that time become owners of the jirinting office plant, and Mr. Maxwell arranged to take the office at $300 and pay for it as he earned the money. On August 5th, 1867, he issued the first number of the Weekly Intelligencer, the progenitor of the Post-Intelligencer of today.

In 1874 Maxwell sold the Intelligencer to David Higgins for $3,000. In 1878 Mr. Higgins sold to Thaddeus Hanford, who edited the paper for several years. In 1879 Mr. Hanford sold the paper to Thomas W. Prosch and Samuel L. Crawford.

lu the spring of 1868, T. G. Murphy brought a small printing plant to Seattle from Sitka, Alaska, where he had been publishing for a short time the Alaska Times. He resumed the publication of his paper in Seattle, but continued it for onl.v a few mouths, when McNamara & Larrabee purchased the paper. A short time thereafter the establishment was turned over to Wilson & Hall, who thereupon began the publication of the Territorial Di.spatch and Alaska Times. In October, 1871, Colonel ('. IT.

Larrabee and Beriah Brown bought the paper and after continuhig its publication for three months, on December 4, 1871, issued the first number of a new and independent paper which was named the Puget Sound Dispatch. In August, 1872, Larrabee retired, when Brown's son, Kdward H., became associated with his father as proprietors and |iublishei-s undei- the firm name of Brown & Son. On the loth of September, 1872, tliey issued the first number of the Puget Sound Daily Dispatch, the first daily published in Seattle. In 1871, Edward H. Brown retired from the paper, and for a short time Beriah Brown continuetl it alone. In April, 1875, Austin A. Bell purchased a half interest in the paper, and from that time until September, 1878, when the Dispatch was purchased by Thaddeus Hanford and merged into the Intelligencer it was published b.v Brown & ]5ell. It was afterwards edited foi- a tinn_^ by Thomas V>. .Alcriy, a brilliant Oregon journalist.

Ill 1S75 the Pacific Tribune, the first jiaper ])ul)lishe(l ill Tacoma, was moved to Seattle. It was started by Thomas W. Prosch. Its publication had been both daily and weekly for a number of .years. It was Republican in politics and it was continued in Seattle three years when it was alisorbed by the Intelligencer, at which time Mi'. Hanford became for a time the publisher and proprietor of the only paper published in Seattle.

In the meantime B. L. Northrup started a monthly agricultural paper called the North Pacific Rural. This obtained some circulation in the county and formed the nucleus of a new daily which was issued with the title of Post in October, 1878, under the management of K. ('. and Mark Ward. Several wealthy citizens subsequently obtained control of the Post through mone.y advanced to pay the expenses of its publication. It proved a far from profitable venture, and in 1881 they merged it into the Intelligencer, at which time the present title of Post- Intelligencer was assumed. For a few days the Post- Intelligencer was the only newspaper in Seattle, a circumstance that now, considering the size and wealth of the city, and the number of its publications, seems quite I'emai-kable. The Post-Intelligencer in 1891 was under the management of Thomas W. Prosch and under his control made rapid strides in popular favor and was soon recognized as the most influential joui'nal in the territory.

In the summer of 1885 a number of the leading citizens subscribed a liberal sum of money to subsidize a paper to counteract or neutralize the influence of the Daily Call, an evening sheet, the organ of the more virulent of the anti-Chinese agitators. T. H. Dempse.v, J. R. Andrews and one or two others iindertook to publish a paper for the subsidy offered, and accordingly issued the Dail.v Times, also an evening paper, with the understanding that the subsidy was to be continued for six months. At the exjiirafion of the allotted time Mr. Dempsey was left alone to continue file publication. In March, 1887, Col. George G. Lyon, one of the most forcible writers in the cit.y, acquired an equal interest in the paper with Mr. Di'inpsey and took eilit(n-ial management of it. Under

The publication of two evening papers, both enterprising and well conducted journals like the Press and Times, in a field the size of Seattle made it impossible for cither to become financially successful. After a fair test of the field the publishers with rare good judgment finally agi-eed to a consolidation, the Times being absorbed by the Press, tiie consolidated papers were issued under the title of the Press-Times. This was etfected in February, 1891. The Press-Times was an independent Republican journal, and ranked among the best evening papers on the Pacific Coast.

A chain of ownerships continued until Colonel Alden J. Blethen rehabilitated The Times, and it was continuously under his management until his death last year, and then under his sons, where it remains today - a great newspaper.

What is true of the public buildings of Seattle and King County is true also of the homes in the city and county. King County contains probable more beautiful home sites than any city in the nation, both within and without the city.

Old ('liii'f Seattle was the largest Indian I ever .saw, and by far tlie noblest looking. lie stood nearly six feet in his moccasins, was broad shouldered, deep chested and finely proportioned. His eyes were large, intelligent, expressive and friendly when in i-epose, and faithfully ndrrored the varying moods of the great soul that looked through them. He was unusually solemn, silent and dignified, but on great occasions moved among assembled multitudes like a Ti1an among Tjilliputians. and his lightest word was law.

When I'isiiig to speak in couneil or to tender atlvice, all eyes weie tuiiied ui)on iiim. and deei)-toned, sonorous and elociuent sentences rolled from his lips like the ceasless thunders of cataracts flowing from exhaustless fountains, and ins magnificent bearing was as noble as that of the most cultured military chieftain in command of the forces of a continent. Neither his eloquence, his dignity nor his grace was acquired. They were as native to his manhood as leaves and blossoms are to a flowering almond.

His inrinen<-e was marvelous. He might ha\e been an emperor i)ut all his iustiucts were democratic, and he ruled his loyal subjects with kindness and paternal benignity.

The Puget Sound country, with its great inland sea, its brooks and rivers, its hills and mountains, it sunlimited forests, have been the home of the Chinook Indians for hundreds of years. As far back as the memory of white settlers run the Chinooks confined themselves mostly to the open water of the Sound being more of a fi.shing tribe than hunters. It was a rare thing for any of their number to venture up the Snohomish or Skagit rivers. In the early days of Seattle old Chief Seattle ruled the destiny of the tribe. In later years the descendents of his followers have become divided and separated until they are but wandering tribes, eking out a livelihood by fishing, hunting and berry picking. Most of the Indians throughout the state are on Indian reservations, where good schools and churches are located among them. Some have become farmers and stock raisers, others build and own sea-going schooners and go to the sea fishing, sealing and whaling. Some of the reservations comprise a large amount of the richest land in the state.

It is liai'd to conceive a section of the uiiivei'se in which nature has more bountifully provideil for the dairyman than King County, Washington, where loggedoif lands can be jnirchased at low cost, where the grass is green twelve months of the year, and where a great city consumes thousands of pounds of milk and butter daily, and great condensers prejjare the proiluct of the dairy for consuiujition in the lumber and mining camps of Washington, Alaska, and British Coluudiia. The finest hay and grains are raised here and a comparatively small acreage will support a good-sized herd of cows. For a market the daii'yman has three sources - he may sell his milk in Seattle, a city that consunu'S 30,000 gallons daily; he may sell to any one of the ten large creameries of the county, or to one of the two great milk condenseries, which consume more milk each day than is sold in the city. These markets for dairy products now support between 1,500 and 2,000 dairy farms and the demand for milk is constatnly growing. As an agreeable mode of living, dairy farming in King County has many advantages over any other form of rural industry in the West. The county is well covered by good roads and is crossed by munerous steam and electric railroads, which bring every section of it in close touch witli the City of Seattle. Telephone lines reach most of the farming districts. Taxes are moderate and shipping facilities the be.st.

l)air\ing is one of the principal resotirces about which many of tlie leading towns of King County have been built. In the fertile White River Valley. Kent and Aubui'ii are each the location of a large condenser, while O'Brien, Thomas, Christopher and Oi-illia, near-by placets, are the scene of much trade in dairy products. Entimelaw and Issaquah, two towns whose lumbering and coal mining brought them to the fi-ont, support good-sized creameries and are the centers of well developed sections \\ here logged-off lauds have been cultivated. North Bend, Fall City, Bothell, Redmond, Reuton, Kirkland, Maple Valley and Tukwila are all growing towns where op])ortunities ai'e exei'lh-nt fill' the new dairy farmer.

King ('ounty is naturally a daii'ying county. Its bi'oad, rich acres art'ord splemlid o})])ortunities for |)asturage: the available markets offei- profits to those engaged in the industry and the close interest that is taken by Seattle and the milk consuming creameries and condensed milk plants ensure scientific handling of the supply.

Seattle took the first ste])s to insist upon a pure milk sujudy and a rigid enforcement of Sanitary Laws has compelled the ilairy interests to take every precaution to keep tlu^ sujiply fi'ee from iiu]iui'ities.

The condensed milk factories at Aubuin and Kent, the lattei- controled by the manufacturers of the Gail IJorden brand and the foi'mer l)v the Pacific Coast Condensed iluniciijal ref^nlatioii jti-ovides authority to a deputy in the Board of llealtli to examine the milk of each dairy Milk Co., take most of tiie milk produced in the county, at any time lie deems advisable. Hoard of Health requirements when fulfilled guarantee absolute purity and the board eiifoi-i-es its mandates to the letter.

Up to l.SS."), although Seattle was not a lai-ge cit\-. the milk demand was greater than the supply, because the farmers had not turned their attention to raising ;nid keeping iiiileli eows. At that time what milk was sold in the city was brought in by local milk dealers. In 181)0 the first separator was brought to Seattle by one of oni' in-ominent dairy companies. At that time it was the only one in the state, and hundreds of cattle and dairy men came to the city to see it work. It was not long befori' many more were introduced, and now they can be found all tlu-ough the Western part of the state. Fully onehalf of till- flutter consumed now in the state is home lii'oduct. wiiile prior to 1890, 9!) pir crnt was shipped in from California and the East.

King County is the laml of the small fariinM- and fruit grower. It has the advantages of a fertile soil, an excellent climate and good home and foreign markets. The county is well watered and has the best transjiortation facilities. It matters not what section of King County is selected for a home, the truck fariiu'r, fruit grower and .specialist in modern agriculture finds an ideal spot for building his family castle and accumulating an independent bank account. The valley lands are rich in stoi-- etl jjlant foods and the u]ilands |)resent desii'able ]i]aees for every branch of intciisitied agi'ieulf ure.

-Many I'idi disti-ii-ts in the boi'deis of King ('miiity remain in an undevelojied condition ami otter splendid sites for homebuilders. Tiiat condition exists because of the fact that other occupations have attracted the attention of the people. In the early days the first setth-is built homes on the streams in the valley. They did not consider the uplands worth clearing of stum|)s and logs left as the relic of the timber gatherers. ( )nly snmll ti'acts were put undei- cultivation for the I'eason that men engaged in fishing, lumbering and other branches of natural connnerce peculiar to a new country.

Agriculture has passed through vai'ious .stages of development in the ditferent sections of King County. Years ago the pioneers of the White River Valley planted theiifarms to hops. Then they harvested big croj)s and disposed of the product at fabulous jn-ices. Hut the hop growing acreage of the country increased, the various pests entered the fields and prices dropped to a standard that did not give returns sufficient to justify a contiinnition of the industry. One by one the hoj) fields wei-e abandoned and the vilH^s dug out to give room for newcrops of potatoes. Then the White Kiver potato became famous on the nuirkets. Fruit growing gives good results in every section of King County. It is the natural land of the cherry that produces wonderful crops every year. Many choice varieties of marketable apples are grown in the orchards of valley and upland. The climate is so mild and uniform that no fruits are killed by frost or cold weather. The wood makes a rapid growth and trees come into bearing at an early age. Some of the best vai'ieties of pears are produced in the orchards of King County.

The berry industry is one of the most valuable money producers of King County. Raspberries, blackberries and strawberi-ies gro\v to perfection on all classes of soil.

King County pi'esents the ideal land for floral success. It is the evergreen spot of where the flowers bloom out of doors every week in the year. The greenhouse industry is a profitable business in King County. It may be established in the valley or on logged off lands of the forest. Wherevei' ])i-oiier attention is given the work in'eeiiliouses pay handsome profits. A'ashon island presents an object lesson in building and operating greenhouses. A few yeaj-s ago that fertile spot was a part of the gi-eat Puget Souinl forest. The logs wei'e cut away ami sent to the mills of commerce and the stumjjs taken fi'oni the gi-ound. Then began an era of development. Vashon now has sixty-seven commercial greenhouses and room foi- many more of the same nature.

Poult I'v raising reaches its highest point of ]i.Mfection in King County. It combines with the small fniit industry and enables the fai-nn-r to get profits fi-om both sources at the same time.

.Many special branches of horticulture have l)een tested and shown to be ]irofital)le in King County. Owners of small tracts have diseovei'ed that there is good profit in gi'ow ing horseradish for tlie genel'al mai'ket.

Tliat root attains i)erfeetion in the valley lands of this county. It is in demand at the piekh- factories and on the public marUcI of Seattle It i'ci|uircs but little attention other than good cultivation, Imt yields sntficicnt to pay the gardeners .t4()() to ^MH) an ac-re.

King County offers ideal sites for seed farms of the highest type. The soil and climate conditions are such as to insure the best cabbage and cauliflower .seeds. That fact has been discovered by eastern dealers who purchase 100,000 pounds of cabbage seed annually from growers in the Puget Sound country. Garden peas and sweet peas grow in abundance and of choice varieties, in the fields of King County. The world is open as a market for these crops. There are large and snudi tracts of land that can be purchased, on reasonable terms, in the most fertile spots in King County. In fact the county calls loudly for men and women who will go upon the land ami reap the bounties.

Most Scenic. Bt'Ilt By Charles G. Ht'Ber

THIS is the leading eonnty of the state in point of population, eoniiuerce and tinanee. It has a strategic advantage of location, bei)ig central in Western Washington, with over a 4n-iiiilr mainland frontage on Paget Sound. Its total area is 2,111 S((nai-e miles «itli a widely varied contour.

King County is aS miles in length, east and west and 42 miles in widlh. eovei-jng an ai'ea of 2,14") sipiai'e miles. The eastern and the western boundaries are irregular, the one following the summit of the Cascade fountains, the otliei' the shoi'e liiu' of Puget Sound. From the eastern line, the county is very mountainous until a i)oint about 20 miles from the divide is reached, whence tlie foothills disappear and h)w I'ertih- liills and wide vallej's appear.

and the rushing torrents of melted ice and snow broaden out into quiet rivers. From this point to the shores of the Sound, the land is as fertile as any to be found in the wni'hl. and nuniy thousands of acres are under cultivatiou.

Topography: Beginning at sea level on the west, numy fertile valleys, the largest of which trend north and soutli, alternate with wide plateaus of varying altitude until they are tinally enveloped in the foothills of the Cascade mountains, whose tree-clad ridges, with a maximum elevation of 7,000 feet, form a zig-zag terminal line at the eastern boundary of the county and separate it from Kittitas and Chelan counties. The most important valley is the continuous one formed by the Wliite and Duwamish Kivers and nsed as the main i)ortion of the thoroughfare between Seattle and Tacoma. Trihntary to this, Init trending generally east and west, ai-e the valleys of the Black, Cedar and Green Rivei-s, Anothei' considi'i-fdilc area is formed by tlie Sno(|nahuie and its ti'ihiitai'ies behind the seeond ehain of hills trending toward tlie noi'th. There are also a nund)er of lakes witli wide areas of tributary agricultural land. The most important is Lake Washington, from one' to three nnles wide and nineteen miles long, parallel to and a few iiiiii-s ba(d\ fi-om the Sound, tlie country to the west forming the site of the City of Seattle. This lake is now connected with tlie Sounil by a government canal which utilizes Lake Union, in the heart of the city, as a jiart of its course. Lying belniid it is Lake Sammamish, about eight miles long, and connected with the lower lake by a sei'ies of sluggish sloughs.

Population: The census of liHO gives the county 284,638: that of IIKMI. 110,053; showing an iiici'ease for the deeade of 158. (i per cent. The LTnited States Census l:>ureau estimate July 1, 1!)15, was 376,717. Local conservative estimators now (daim nearly 500,000. Outfitting for Alaska, wintering hei'c of large fishing and mining eoucerns of the North, together witli much tourist travid, have contriluited also to a large floating ])0|iulation.

much of it is still eovei'ed with valuable timber, Avhile another hii'ge portion is in the logged-off state. Tiii' most iinportaut tiiniiered |Hii-lion is tin- mountainous region in the eastern part inelnded in the Kaiider and Suo(pialmie forest reserves.

There is no so-calleil jirairie land in the county, but thousands of acres lie as level as could be desired, es- ])ecially in the v.dleys alri'ady noted, and on a few elevated mountain plateaus there are many fertile slopes suitable for fruit. ]>asture and stock raising.

On I )eei'iidiei- 15, 1852 Col. I. X. Rbe\- gave notice that he would soon introduce bills for tlu' cleat ion of four counties out of what was then Thurston ('ouiity. This he did and there could not have lieeii any opposition for on the 21st, King County had been set off. and on the 22nd Pierce, Jefferson and Island followi^d. Col. Ebey had the honor of naming one of the best counties on Pugct Sound. The laws effecting this readjustment of the map were approved liy Gov. John P. Haines.

So on December 21st, 1852, King County was cut off :"rom the Northern i)art of Thurston County with the following liouudaries: commencing at the northeast corner of Pierce County thence north along the summit of the Cascade Mountains to a jiarallel of latitude passing through the middle of Pilot Cove: tiience fi-om the point last aforesaid west along said parallel of latitude to the Pacific Ocean : thence south along the Coast to a point due west of the head of Case's Inlet: thence from the point last aforesaid east to the head of Case's Inlet ; thence east along the northern boundary line of Piei'ce County

January 6. 1N53. the eoniity seat was also located on the land claim of .Maynard. and Ai'thur A. Denny. John .\. Lowe, and Luther ,M. Collins were appointed a board of comini.ssiouers and C. D. Uoren, sheriff, and II. D. Yesler probate clerk. It was named in honor of William R. King of Aalabama.

William R. King was born in Sampson County, North Carolina, April 6, 1786: was the son of William King and descended from revolutioiuiry ancestors. He was selected president pro tem. of the Senate May 6. 1850. and on the death of President Zachary Taylor and ilillard Fillmore becoming president, he became the acting vice-president and served to DeceiiibcM- 20, 1852. He was elected vicepresident that year on the ticket with Franklin Pierce but did not live to enter the duties of that office. He went to Cuba for the beiietit of his health but receiving none he returned to Capaba. Dallas County. Aalabama, where he died April IW, 1^5:;.

M. L. Hamilton

Marcus Del^afayette Hamilton, the present chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, was born in Blackstone, Livingston County, Illinois, in 1S(J2, and came to Seattle in 1886, engaging in railway construction work.

At the time of discovery of gold in Alaska, he was one of the first to cast his lot with the pioneers of that country and spent several years at Dawson and vicinity. Returning to Seattle, he engaged in business, organizing tne Georgetown Water Company, and has been identified with the improvement and upbuilding of the city and King County from that day to this. Me was never a candidate for public office until the fall of 1910, when he was elected county commissioner for the short term for the Second district, comprising the southern portion of the City of Seattle and the County ol King, including Vashon Island. His experience in railroad and street construction work stood him in good stead in rebuilding and maintaining the roads of his district, and more has been accomplished in that direction difi'ing the short period of his incumbency as county commissioner than during the preceding twenty years. Over fifty miles of hard surface roads have been completed and nearly all the dirt roads have been reconstructed, graveled and widened, their total distance being approximately 1,4(10 miles. His ability along this line was soon recognized by the residents of his district and he was reelected in the fall of 1912 by a largely increased majority for the long term, and when he retires from office next .lanuary, the highways of the southern portion of King County will be the wonder and pride of the whole state. He will have supervised the expenditure of over $4,3.=i0,000 on public highways, streets and bridges in the south district alone during his six-year term os county commissioner.

Aside from Mr. Hamilton's active personal superintendence of road construction, he has the following constructive, progressive legislation to his credit as a member of the Board of County Commissioners during the period from January, 1911, to date:

He introduced and voted for a resolution submitting to the people a $3,000,000 bond issue for the purpose of constructing highways, roads, streets, avenues and bridges, which bonds were duly voted in November, 1912. It was he in conjunction with County Engineer .1. R. Morrison and County Commissioner A. L. Rutherford that defined the exact location where this large sum should be expended. He insisted on the aliandonment of the old Potter's Field for the burial of pauper dead at Georgetown, and voted for the erection of a modern crematory to take its place. The result is an up-to-date plant on the Poor Farm grounds for the disposition of pauper remains, which is also largely used by the general public for a stipulated fee, one-fifth of what is usually charged at private crematories.

In .July, 1911, he voted for a resolution submitting to a vote of the people, a bond issue of |1,.")00,000 for the purpose of constructing a new court house. This was defeated at the polls at the fall election, and a year later he introduced another resolution for the same purpose, except that the amount was reduced to $9.50,000. This bond issue was carried, but its validity was attacked before the bonds could be sold, and in May, 1913, two judges of the King County Superior Court held the issue illegal on technicalities. This decision was generally accepted by the public and by one member of the board as final, but not by Hamilton. He insisted that the case be appealed to the Supreme Court, which was done on his motion, and the decision of the lower court was reversed, the bonds wre sold, and the new court house about to be occupied is the result.

In the negotiations with the Board of County Commissioners of Pierce County in the matter of the joint improvement of the Stuck and Puyallup Rivers, it was Mr. Hamilton's persistence that enabled the two counties to enter into a joint agreement on a basis of payment by Pierce County of 40 per cent and King County of 60 per cent, rather than a payment by King County of 7 5 per cent as was demanded by Pierce County, and acquiesced in by certain other members of the King County Board. A saving of over $200,000 was thus effected.

elfected a saving of over $4r,,(jiio by making his own deal with the owners of the property, rather than accepting the apiiraisal of three expert real estate appraisrs appointed for the purpose by both parties in interest.

Through his efforts, fifty acres of the Poor Farm at Georgetown has been platted into industrial sites to be leased to new industries desiring locations in Seattle, at nominal rentals. This property has both water and rail facilities and is very desirable as factory sites, and already four different industries have been located and added to the city's pay roll.

He was active in the construction of the new Juvenile Detention Home, the finest structure of its kind in the West. Also in rebuilding the Alms House at Georgetown, and the Stockade at Bothell for county prisoners, and in the construction of a new ferry to connect 'Vashon Island with the mainland.

These are a few of the big things that have come before the board for solution, and gives some idea of Mr. Hamilton's a<'tivities and his liberal and progressive scope of vision looking to the future growth and expansion of the county.

Mr. Hamilton is a man of tireless energy, boundless activity, is absolutely fearless, an enthusiast and an optimist, and he has a way of infusing the same spirit in those around him. No pull is strong enough to keep a man on a pay roll controlled by him who does not show some of the same characteristics to get results. He never temporizes or side-steps, is quick to make up his mind and reach conclusions, is very outspoken, making bitter enemies and warm friends. He is married and lives in Georgetown, having a summer home at Des Moines.

M. J. Carrigan, county commissioner from the First District, King County, hails originally from Chillicothe, Ohio, where before coming to Washington he was one of the editors and owners of the largest and most influential Republican newspapers in Southern Ohio - the Chillicothe Leader.

He has been a resident of Washington for twenty-five years, and has resided in Seattle for the past fourteen years. He is married, having three children, and his home is at 1723 Harvard Avenue. He is a large property owner and taxpayer, and politically a life-long Republican.

Mr. Carrigan's career in this state has been one of great activity, both in private and public life. Directly after coming to Washington, he became heavily interested in Clallam County timber lands and in the development of Port Angeles. He was elected mayor of that city in 1896, and was U. S. Collector of Customs of that port from 1897 to 1901, when he resigned from that position to move to Seattle.

He has been an active, steadfast and helpful friend of the Good Roads movement from its inception in this state, and has had much to do with shaping the excellent road laws now on our statute books.

He served as county commissioner for King County during the years 1909-1910, and later became a member of the State Board of Tax Commissioners, State Board of Land Commissioners, State Board of Equalization and State Capitol Commission.

.Mr. Carrigan was again elected to the Board of County Commissioners of this county in 1914, for the two-year term. He served as chairman of the board, and as chairman of the Board of Equalization during 191"i. He devotes all of his time to the multitudinous duties of the office, and gives to the people of the county the full benefit of his wide experience In administering public affairs.

The past year has been one of notable activity in the office of the county commissioners. An unprecedented amount of road, bridge and river improvement work has been accoralilished, totaling |1, 200, 000.

The splendid new Court House at the corner of Third and .James Street has been brought to a state of practical completion within the bond issue of $1,;:!00,00() voted therefor. A twenty-year lease has been negotiated with the city for the use of a portion of this spacious building at an annual rental of $37,000.

Two hundred voting machines of the latest model have been purchased under a plan permitting of their being paid for out of the savings effected by their use, as against the cumbersome, old style paper ballot system.

Important improvements have been made at the County Hospital; a Department of Public Welfare has been established and is being efficiently administered, and $2,200,000 has been distributed in the current business of the county.

Seattle is the foremost city west of Chicago in the provision of public recreation places. All parks, playgrounds, boulevards and public squares are under the Jurisdiction of the park commission, which during the last ten years has developed a comprehensive plan, involving the expenditure of approximately $6,000,000 of public funds, of which $4,000,000 was authorized in bonds voted by the people.

The net result of this investment has been to provide Seattle with an ertensive recreation system, embracing approximately 2,000 acres in area and including practically every feature of a modern recreation system, municipal bathing beaches, bath houses, public golf course, social centers, equipped and supervised playgrounds and the usual parks and boulevards.

The small park idea has been carried out by the location of community parks in every district of the city with several large parks for general use. There are thirty-eight parks in the city, of which more or less are improved and of service to the community. Seattle has twenty-five playgrounds, not including children's playgrounds in parks. Twenty of these playgrounds are improved and in use, and twelve of them liave modern outdoor gymnasium apparatus and equipment and are provided with trained svipervlsors during the summer months. Four of these playgrounds are provided with social center buildings of field house, which operate the year around, and are provided with reading rooms, club rooms, public gymnasiums, baths, assembly halls for social functions, etc. Seattle ranks third of the cities of the United States, regardless of size in the provision of playground facilities.

Seattle boulevards are novel in that they are constructed largely through wooded areas, serpentine in fashion, connecting many of tne parks and practically belting the city. The boulevards follow along the shores of lakes along high ridges, overlooking the lakes and salt waters of Puget Sound with panoramic views of mountains, lakes or beautiful landscape always in view. These scenic driveways, thirty miles in length, are the crowning feature from the tourist's viewpoint of Seattle's remarkable recreation system.

Fresh water bathing stations on Green Lake, Lake T'nion and Lake Washington and a salt water bathing beach half a mile in length and a modern bath house at Alki Beach afford delightful facilities for bathers.

At Jefferson Park on Beacon Hill an eighteen-hole municipal golf course is maintained, which, on account of its scenic surroundings, is regarded by visiting golfers as the most beautiful golfing site in the United States.

Krist Knudsen

Krist Knudsen, the present member of the Board ot County Commissioners from the North District of the county, was born in Norway Aiiril 2G, 1S6(). At the age of twenty years he came to America, and after sojourning in the states of Connecticut, New Yorli, Illinois, Kansas and Colorado, he came to the state of Washington, arriving in Seattle, April L'O, 1S87. In May of the same year he was married and shortly alter took up a homestead at Juanita, then a wilderness at the north end of Lake Washington, but now almost a suburb (if the City of Seattle.

In the fall of lS!t2 he was elected road supervisor for King County in the district in which he lived, and for nine years thereafter was reelected each year. Through legislation the office of road supervisor then became one of appointment by the Board of County Commissioners, and he was appointed and reaiipointed for nine successive years, by the different Board of County Commissioners, serving in the!.- turn.

In the year of lill2, he decided to become a candidate for county commissioner from the North District, and was successful, being elected for a term of two years. At the close of this term he became a candidate for reelection, and in November, 1914, was reelected to serve four years.

Mr. Knudsen's record as commissioner during his three years' service has been along progressive lines, working in harmony with Chairman M. L. Hamilton and Commissioner M. J. Carrigan on all measures of county legislation required to keep pace with the rapid development that has taken plarf in recent years. His familiarity with the roads and bridges of his district gained from his long service as road supervisor has enabled him to render very efficient service in that Mno of his duty as commissioner. He superintends the expenditure of approximately $600,000 each year on the various hignways and bridges within his commissioner's district. His term will expire in January, 1919.