Tacoma, Washington - Compendium of Information Concerning the City of Tacoma and Washington (part 3 of 3)

The above four mines are turning out 60,000 tons per month, which amount will be rapidly increased hereafter. At this time they carry a total pay roll of 750 men. The character of this coal has but recently become known away from home, but the foreign demand is constantly increasing. With the completion of the tunnel under the Cascade range, the demand for this coal must increase, while the shipments to California are steadily increasing. The following item pertaining to coal shipments is taken from the holiday number of the Daily hedger of this city, and shows the extent of this trade, now hardly begun.

There were 251 coal cargoes shipped during the year from Puget Sound to coastwise ports, amounting to 520,520 tons, valued at $2,602,- 600. The freight money received for transportation was $1,301,300.

Veins Of Iron

The existence of iron ore in inexhaustible quantities in and around Cleelum on the eastern side of the Cascades, as well as on the west side of the range, has long been known, but not until the completion of the Northern Pacific to Tacoma has the discovery received the attention it deserves. The governor of this territory, in his official report to the secretary of the interior, states that "it is an established fact that bog iron ore of the best quality exists in practically exhaustless quantities throughout the Puget Sound basin. ' ' Its exact location is now given - due south and running parallel to the Yakima river; three miles from Cleelum the iron belt commences, and runs to the west to the Cascade mountains. From twelve to fifteen distinct veins are now uncovered, the veins varying in thickness from three to -fifteen feet. This belt covers about twenty-five continuous miles, the ore of this section generally being magnetic ore. The next belt is up the Cleelum river. It commences about twelve miles north of Cleelum. Here is a group of mines, included in which is the purchase of a wealthy syndicate. This syndicate has a representative who is located in Tacoma. This gentleman is an experienced man in iron mining and associated with him are gentlemen equally well versed in the reduction of iron ores. They have secured several valuable claims. Their intention is to erect massive iron works at the mines, or rather to remove to these mines a two million dollar plant they now own elsewhere. L,et the reader be assured that this statement is an absolute fact, which can be substantiated by addressing the chamber of commerce of this city. The name of this company and its officers or stockholders and superintendent would be given but for th£ fact that the publication of this at this particular time will materially prejudice certain pending interests. Suffice to say that the name of this company is well knoWn in this country and abroad and it represents a vast capital. The Northern Pacific or its officers can furnish the requisite information to those seeking the facts concerning these iron works. When pending negotiations are consummated these works will be established. The Take Superior iron belt is of minor import to the importance of these in this territory. One seam or vein, next adjacent to the group owned by this syndicate, can be followed as uncovered for three miles, and is from 30 to 96 feet thick. The ore in both of these properties - the syndicate's purchase consisting of three seams or veins, each of which will average from 40 to 90 feet - is both hematite and magnetite, principally the former.. An old experienced miner or expert declares that the field now uncovered presents the largest body of iron ore ever seen in any mine. By assa}^ these ores run 60 per cent of metalic iron, and are practically free from sulphur and phosphorus, and are suitable for the very best steel or Bessemer rails. Between the two properties above enumerated is still another district or field; it lies between the property of the syndicate and Cleelum,, and consists of three distinct veins of equal thickness, as above. In the same district, magnificent copper mines exist, the ore being known as. peacock, and run over 60 per cent in copper. Gold and silver quartz lodes are not far distant and within a radius of five miles from the group of iron mines owned by the syndicate is an abundance of lime rock, samples of which are reported as assaying 90 per cent of lime. In the Snoqualmie pass, a section of country fourteen miles north of the east end of the "switchback," there is abundance of iron, innumerable veins; also silver, gold, marble and lime mines and quarries. The Northern Pacific has surveyed a branch railway this fourteen miles, it being through a practically level route, which, upon completion, will open this country to immediate manufacturing occupancy. As though nature in her liberality sought to omit nothing, there is found at a distance of but two miles from one of the Northern Pacific branches an excellent quality of fire clay. Coal fields abound in and around these mines, and it would seem that nothing but salt was lacking to furnish all the component parts requisite in the reduction of these various ores. The distance to all these valuable mines from Tacoma is trivial. Ere a great while America can point with pride to her |Puget Sound rails, nails, forgings, sheets, etc., and as the government proposes to fortify her Western coast and establish a Western naval station, it would not be surprising if she should utilize some of the naval, or water front reservations near here - of which she has several - for her Western navy yard. Here she could build her guns and armament cheaper than at any point in the United States.

Alaska Gold Mines

the railway secured. The road is contracted for, and is to be speedily built to these works. These works are being built by Dennis Ryan and others of St. Paul and the Bast. The necessity for the erection of such works has been apparent to the Northern Pacific and the monied interests of the city for some time. All the preliminaries for the immense plant had been nominally arranged last year, but a temporary delay occurred in the right of way through the land of the immense Tacoma saw mills of Mr. Hansen, situated on the lower part of the bay, but this difficulty has been harmonized and the work begun, both for the short strip of railway and the smelters themselves. The location of these big mills is most excellent. It is far enough away from the city to free it from objectionable sulphurous smoke incident to the smelters at Butte, and the grounds are accessible by ships, steamers or rail. The rapid development of the Coeur d'Alene mines, whose ore is now shipped long distances, the Salmon river mines and copper, silver and gold fields just east of the Cascades next adjacent to the big iron fields near Cleelum (now commenced in development and owned by Tacoma parties) have prompted the erection of this immense smelter. But the Alaska mines probably have had a material influence in this undertaking. These mines have immence machinery already located near Juneau, and old experienced miners declare the ore unusually rich and comparatively easy to mine. With the reduction works completed here, the entire product of Alaska will be sent here. This city being the terminus of the Alaska steamers, vessels will go to Alaska loaded with merchandise, and come back loaded with ore. Within the past three weeks an immense invoice of groceries bought here from a large wholesale house was shipped direct to Juneau, Alaska, showing the possibilities of this trade. With all the various gold, silver, copper and lead mines near and tributary to Tacoma, the wisdom of locating the big smelters here is clearly shown. This one industry will contribute to the material and rapid growth of this city.

Salmon River Minks

These mines are east and north of the Cascade range - and the Yakima, Kittitas and other magnificent agricultural regions, including the Big Bend and Palouse country - all find an outlet or market via Tacoma. The Salmon river mines, all of recent discovery, will prove the richest in galena ores of any mines yet discovered. Several hundred claims are filed in this district, and a great number will be worked from this on, Tacoma parties, a syndicate, have purchased a fifty- ton concentrator which will be erected at their mines there, and it is estimated that fully $500,000 in machinery will be placed in this new mining belt within the next twelve months. All this ore is destined for Tacoma, to be reduced in the large smelter or reduction works in this city. The ores from these mines so far have been transported by wagons or pack mules a distance of 1 65 miles to the nearest point on the Northern Pacific, thence shipped by rail to Denver, Omaha^ San Francisco or Wickes, paying this enormous freight and still leaving a handsome profit. The value of these mines to Tacoma is apparent to any one. Tacoma capital has, added to other interests, built a steamer at, or near Kllensburgh, which by traversing the navigable waters to these mines, reduces the wagon haul to a comparatively short distance. The completion of the railroad now projected to the Salmon River country will bring the entire products to this city, it being the nearest point to reduction works. The superabundance of coal, coke, lime and iron, gives these works the cheapest possible fluxes for the smelting and reduction to bullion of these new and rich mines.

The average number of freight trains arriving daily in Tacoma is ten; this excludes Sunday. Of the number three are coal trains, which haul a daily average of 120 cars of coal to the bunkers at the wharf. The other sey^ji trains bring in 105 loaded cars, this being the daily average since Jan. 1, 1888, and up to March 27, the date these figures were secured. The grand total of loaded cars received here in the eighty-seven days is 7,770, carrying 116,550 tons of freight, or an average of 1,575 tons Per diem. These figures are about double those of one year ago, and present indications point to a doubled increase for the coming year. All this freight, the passenger trains and all of the shipping is done under the hill along the shores of the bay, and entirely out of sight of people on the streets. Tacoma to be seen in its greatness must be viewed at the wharves and depot.

A Shipping Point

Tacoma is the shipping point from which Vancouver Island receives its main supply of live stock, and at its stock yards there pass every week for shipment to British Columbia and Seattle eight car loads or 144 head of cattle, and twenty car loads or 1,600 sheep and a few hogs. In addition, there is an average of 100 head of horses per week which pass through the city. The local consumption of live stock in Tacoma and sales aggregates 150 head of cattle, 300 sheep and seventy-five hogs, besides about thirty calves, and this number is daily increasing.

Ere Long Over a Million Feet of Lumber Will be Sawed Each Day in Tacoma. - Two Massive Mills Now in Course of Construction and Five Already on the Ground. - A Phenomenal Building Record for 188 7, Which will be Doubled the Coming Year. - Excellent Schools and Newspapers , Sure Signs of the Character of a Community. - An Immense Wholesale and Retail Trade. - Hotel Accommodations Nowhere Better. - Lumber Trade. - Something as to the Oldest and Greatest Bidustry in Tacoma. - An Immense Daily Cut Soon to be Quadrupled.

TACOMA, W. T. special Correspondent, Pioneer Press, April 9. - Two hundred and fifty thousand feet of lumber sawed each working day in 1887 is the exact average of one mill here - the Tacoma. There are four other mills here now, or immediately tributary, and two massive mills in course of construction. One of these mills has purchased twenty-five acres for its mill site. This is the Pacific Mill company, with an actual capital of a half million dollars, its president being I. R. McDonald, of Seattle. Mr. Hanson is the sole owner of the Tacoma mill. The last named mill has lately been running day times and with a half force at night and employing a total of about three hundred hands. The last week in March this mill cut 2,100,000 feet of lumber. During 1887, in addition to its cut of regular lumber, it also cut 16,000,000 feet of lath, 310,000 feet of pickets. The sawdust and waste of this mill is burned continuously in an immense tall and large brick furnace or kiln, and if this waste was measured into cord wood would equal one hundred cords per day. The actual daily expense of running this mill alone, not including loggers, as stated by its proprietor, is $3,000 per day. He built this mill at an early day, it then being the only mill on this whole sound, except one small portable concern several miles from here. As an experiment recently this mill cut against the biggest record of any mill on this coast. It ran ten and onehalf hours and turned out on this occasion 417,000 feet of lumber. The daily cut in lath is 800 bundles, or 80,000 lath. Where does such a mill sell its products ? The answer would be plain to those here by seeing the number of ships daily loading at this saw mill's wharf, averaging eight vessels. The proprietor owns five sailing vessels himself, and but recently bought a ship (costing to build $57,000) with capacity of 1,500,000 feet per cargo. Its market is coastwise ports, Australia, South America, etc. It could ship lumber to China at less expense than any other point on Puget Sound, for China is several hundred miles nearer here than it is from San Francisco. The logs for these enormous mills (this one running in adjacent frames, two gang saw mills with thirty-three saws to each gang) come from all over the sound, from lands owned by the proprietor and other parties, and these are towed to the mill boom by steamers and tugs also the property of Mr. Hanson. It is safe to predict that within a year the daily cut of lumber at Tacoma will equal 1,000,000 feet. This industry is one of the corner stones of Tacoma's coming greatness. Here is one of what will eventually be a dozen mills, this one employing in the mill 300 men, aside from its 400 or 500 employees aboard vessels and in logging camps. At the ratio of the past increase, with the completion of the two big mills to be erected here in 1888, the total pay-roll list in the lumber interests of Tacoma will crowd well up to 5,000 men in all of its branches.

Phenomenal Building

During 1887 there were erected in this city 350 buildings, of which sixty-seven were business houses, many of the latter being the elegant business blocks now seen on these streets. There were also three new school buildings, two new churches, five hose houses and 450 feet of wheat warehouses, nine buildings in all. The total cost of these buildings aggregates $869,583. 15. The number given and the cost of the same is under the estimate, and in round numbers it is safe to say that $1,000,000 was expended here, and that it erected four hundred buildings. The building season has not fairly set in for 1888, but the contractors and architects report that if not another building is contracted for this year the number already either under process of completion or arranged for will cost over a million dollars. The list for 1888 to date embraces eighty new business houses or blocks and 350 new dwellings. A $4,000 addition to the East school building is among the new enterprises, as also new churches costing $20,000, and the Methodist University to be built this year involves an eventual cost of $75,000. The exact figures even as covering existing contracts in new buildings up to April 1 , in Tacoma is $1,064,000. Nothing but shortage in mechanical labor and building materials (and that only brick, all other in superabundance) will defeat the erection of 650 to 700 new buildings, and the expenditure of $1,500,000 in 1888. Building in Tacoma costs less than at most any point in the Northwest, or more properl}'' stated, at no point can frame buildings be erected as cheaply as here. The following market reports are clipped from the daily Ledger in this city :

Such fruit no country ever raised. Better apples, pears, plums, prunes, blackberries, gooseberries, currants, cherries, are grown nowhere. But above all else give us this territory for strawberries and melons. Think of growing four tons of strawberries to the acre. You do not believe it! Suppose you write J. W. Blackwell at Tacoma. This gentleman has lived in California and Oregon, and for four years has resided on the uplands, three miles south of this city. He realized seven cents per pound for his berries, grows all varieties - Wilson's and Albany s - his profitable kind being the Jumbo's. He has an acre and a quarter in strawberries which bloomed three weeks ago. If frost should destroy the bloom, the berries rebloom afterwards. Picking for the market commences about May 25, and continues until about July 1. Samples of strawberries preserved in jars seen here justify the report of enormous sized ones, for it is said that this market has seen home-grown ones so large that two or three berries would fill the ordinary box, or four berries would weigh a pound. That they grow to perfection in size and flavor is beyond dispute. This climate and soil is conspicuously excellent in producing plums and prunes. It may not appear natural to a Minnesota or Dakota man, but it is delightfully refreshing to see fruit trees in full bloom, as they are now, bursting out. A. N. Miller, of Puyallup, Pierce county, Wash., has been here since i860. He raises twenty-five varieties of apples, the same varieties, generally, as he grew or saw grown in New York before coming here. He declares this yield to be much greater, 'more certain and to keep better than Eastern apples. Be that as it may, he furnishes the hotel now with apples that he has carried through the winter, and no finer flavored or sounder apples can be found. This gentleman raises every variety of fruit; and states he is less troubled with fruit pests here than in the East. It is folly to deny the pre-eminently successful raising of fruit in this country. The day is not far distant when the choicest canned fruits will come from Washington Territory. The growth of trees here is very rapid and they yield at two to three years old, the only difficulty being the profusion of yield. All the young fruit trees here must be propped or the limbs will break off with their own fruitful weight. Nothing pays better here so far than fruit raising, while prunes from Puget Sound, when grown in quantities for the market, will prove the choicest known. Some portions of the coast raise peaches and grapes - in fact anything but tropical fruit - while the Yakima valley raises tobacco of superior quality, the yield being at the rate of 1,000 pounds per acre. Parties there are going into tobacco raising as a business. The nearest perfection in all things, weather, products, people, cheapness in living, rapidity of making money and health, is Washington Territory. Ere long all America will admit this.

Into The Millions

The business of Tacoma for the year ending March 31, 1888, was very encouraging, and the outlook is for fully double that amount the coming year. The following figures give an estimate, as nearly as can be made, of the total amount of business transacted by Tacoma merchants during the year above mentioned. The estimate is a conservative one, based on the experience of the best business men of the city, and is believed to be considerably within the amount rather than above. In every case merchants claim that their business for the first three months of 1888, is fully double that of the first three months of 1887, and in many cases it has quadrupled. All branches of business are represented except lumber, coal and banking, and the sum total of the retail sales of this city for the twelve months, from March, 1887, to March, 1888, as taken from dealers themselves figure up $7,363,000. The retail figures do not include any wholesale trade. There is an exclusive wholesale grocery, wholesale paper, and nearly every line has a jobbing department included under the retail roof. The grocery house, although but recently established, is selling at the rate of half a million per annum. At no point on this coast, or in the Northwest, is there a better or more extended field for exclusive wholesale dealers. New towns are springing up all around. The mining Camps of the territory, the fast-developing Alaska (this city being the terminus of this line of steamers) and the great influx of emigration - 4,500 new citizens coming to Washington Territory in March alone - will make Tacoma an immense distributing point. The reader must remember that railway connection with the East was but recently completed here. He must also remember that the new tunnel does away with climbing over a great mountain, which lessens freight expenses. The men coming here with capital enough to carry good wholesale stocks are absolutely certain of rapidly building up a magnificent and permanent trade to a constituency that is surer and better pay than older countries. Here is a splendid point at this moment for a wholesale queensware store - or retail for that matter - and the same in a shelf hardware trade, including heavy hardware. Let the man seeking a location correspond with the chamber of commerce here, or come out himself and talk with the people. These merchants are broadgauged, wide-awake men. No "hide-bound" men live here. They will welcome reputable dealers with means - and only such merchants should come here.

Shingle Mills

The lumber mills referred to in another arcticle are exclusive of shingle mills, a good number of which are now scattered through the woods, and more are to be erected. These mills make cedar shingles, the durability of which is known to all. Some of the buildings erected in the town of Steilacoom in 1842 were covered with cedar "shakes," and some of these "shakes" are still in existence, weather worn, but sound as ever, the writer having seen and handled one that is preserved by a gentleman here to show the durability of cedar shingles. These shingles are in great demand, which keeps beyond supply and they are shipped to Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania; in fact throughout the East. One of the largest lumber firms in Chicago had a representative here within one month seeking to buy the entire products of the .shingle mills around Tacoma. A New York commission and ship lumber merchant spent two days in Tacoma recently. He has been handling ship lumber manufactured by Mr. Hanson, and came in quest of more. Two ship loads of spars, finished and ready for use, were shipped lately to ship builders at Bath, Me. ; also to Boston and all kinds of ship lumber are sent from here to ship-building ports all over the United States. The longest piece of timber ever cut and finished without knot or flaw in the Tacoma mill was a 24X24-inch square timber that measured 125 running or continuous feet. The Blakely mill, before it burnt down, sawed one piece, 24x24^2 inches square, 15 1 feet long, free from knots. This enormous length timber is now in the Mechanical institute in San Francisco on exhibition. As to the size of the logs in these forests reports state some very large and long straight trees grow here. The "boom " at the mill has several logs on hand, seven feet in diameter at the butt. A shipment by car load lots has been made to the Pullman Car works at Pullman, 111., being principally cedar. No prettier colored or more uniform or attractive grained cedar is found than the trees cut on Puget Sound. The result of the beauty and desirability of this superior finishing wood is that a constantly increasing demand from all parts of America continues, besidesthe demand from seaport markets. The average yield per acre of timber is given by experts at 30,000 feet. The trees growing in Washington are fir, pine, cedar, spruce, hemlock, larch, some white oak, maple, ash, cottonwood, with other varieties. It is not a difficult task to find fir trees 250 feet high, pine 150 and white cedar 100.

The Tacoma Press

A true index to the character of a community is shown in its newspapers, and nothing so thoroughly convinces a stranger of the true status of the town he visit*, as the columns of the local press. Here is a city with 15,000 population which supports two daily, three weekly and one monthly paper. In addition there is a real estate advertising paper, a daily issue of mortgages, deeds, etc., a theatrical issue - all doing well. The Daily Eedger is an eight-page forty-eight column Republican paper, which prints a full daily report from the associated press. Its columns, filled with "ads," bespeak its popularity and success. Its editorials are forcible and effective and its loyalty to Tacoma commands the admiration and respect of this people. The News, an evening four-page paper, is well patronized, ably edited and newsy, representing in politics the present administration. This journal is well patronized, its columns representing a line of active and aggressive dealers. Both papers are a credit to the city, and each contributes in no small degree to the growth and prosperity of Tacoma. The visitor in this city is forcibly impressed with the possible future of the city, for these two papers constantly set forth Tacoma's many advantages and do this in a conservative way. The Northwest Horticulturist, a weekly journal, is doing lasting work for Tacoma and the territory in educating farmers to a proper cultivation of the farm, garden and orchard. There is also the Tacoma World, a live weekly, devoted to social and local matter.

Annie Wright Seminary

The existence of the Annie Wright seminary lessens the terror of the thought of being 2,000 miles away trom Eastern schools. This seminary would be a credit to any city in America, as its faculty consists of instructors eminently fitted for their profession and possessing the experience of association with Vassar and other prominent institutions. The Annie Wright seminary is an institution for the education of young ladies. Its location is in the midst of the better homes of Tacoma, and is both commanding and attractive. The very finest view of the city mountains and bay is secured from the magnificent seminary building. Its scholars are from Montana, Idaho, California, Oregon and this territory. This institution is under the supervision of the Episcopal church, and is the just pride of this community. This building and St. Euke's Memorial church (Episcopal) are memorial buildings, the first named after and the second dedicated in memory of Annie Wright, the deceased daughter of Charles B. Wright, of Philadelphia. To Mr. Wright this city is most deeply indebted. He has been a working and distinguished director of the Northern Pacific railway, and to him more than any other officer, director or stockholder is this road and the whole country indebted. When others faltered, wearied or were doubltful he was loyal in heart and ready with money. He has made the occupancy of this country possible, and it seems fitting that the memorial structures which he has built here should be revered. Tacoma honors itself in honoring Mr. Wright.

Excellent Schools

Few cities have better schools and school buildings than Tacoma. There are six substantial buildings owned by the two school districts, which cost in all about $66,000, exclusive of the sites, which are valued at as much more. In every case the sites are at least 120x300 feet, and most of them are double that size. The Central school occupies a commanding site between G street and Yakima avenue, and cost $24,000. In 1887 there was a total number of 1,250 pupils enrolled in the public schools of the city; this year there is a total of 1575. In 1887 there were twentythree teachers employed besides the principal; this year there are twentyfive teachers in addition to the principal. The increase of scholars varies from 60 to no per month, at which rate there will be an increase of nearly one thousand before the year closes. In point of ability the teachers will compare favorably with those of any city in the East, and most of them are graduates of either a normal school or of a creditable college in the Eastern or adjoining states.

Hotel Accommodations

If all the cities along the line of the Northern Pacific could induce the road to build hotels and pattern them after the Tacoma hotel here, then indeed would the West have the finest hotels in America. One of the blessings to Tacoma- - if not chief and important factor in its growth - is the hotel built here by the Northern Pacific, costing $250,000. It is patterned after the Hotel Del Monte at Monterey, Cal. , and is furnished luxuriously. So home-like and comparatively inexpensive is this hotel that hundreds of travelers through California and Mexico, those coming in from the East and residents of Oregon and California, come here for rest, climate and recreation, as well as for the salt breezes of the bay. This cozy hotel has been the means of bringing many a dollar here for investment, and it will contribute as a future factor in the development of this city. Nor is this the only hotel here, for the Central and Western are good houses, and seventeen more hotels are here, a total of twenty hotels. The number being insufficient, other good hotels are going up. Two will soon be completed, so travelers need not fear that they will be out in the cold. There are accommodations now here, if crowded, for 1,200 guests per day. The need of this is shown in the fact that the total arrivals here now, via steamers and cars, run up to the enormous figures of 9,006 people per month. These figures are arrived at by the records of the steamboat officers and railway passenger departments, including the hotel registers. The local chamber of commerce, anticipating the rush of immigration have joined the Northern Pacific railway in the construction of temporary quarters for those coming here and finding the hotels full. This building is a long one, with a hall its entire length, each side thereof being neat little rooms with bunks, the whole patterned after the Pullman sleeper. At one end of the building is the wash room, with hydrant attachment to the city water works. The dining room is at the other end. This new building will prove a blessing to many coming here, as it will afford shelter and a temporary stopping place while people are looking for a permanent home. The chamber of commerce here has outstripped all other towns, as this new building is the neatest, most handy and best ever put up for the purpose on the Northern Pacific or by any one else.

A prairie farmer, who has been accustomed to look from the door of his home over waving fields of growing grain, will, if he comes here, express his pity in tones of tenderness for the poor farmer who is grubbing out a ten-acre patch in Western Washington. He will inwardly thank fortune that he is not compelled to support his family ou a ten-acre farm. What a waste of pity this is ! Here is a clear case to exemplify the ignorance of the prairie farmer. J. P. Stewart lives at Puyallup up in the valley of this name, ten miles from Tacoma. He has resided here since 1855 or thereabouts. For sixteen consecutive years he has raised hops off the same land. His yield has averaged him 1,000 pounds per acre, while some yields have been as high as 2,000 pounds. His average price per pound in that sixteen years has been 2 1 cents, and his profit has been about or near $200 per acre. This one experience is the prime or possibly best of all, yet it shows how care and good farming will pay. E. Meeker, of Puyallup, is not only a practical grower like Mr. Stewart, but is an able writer on agricultural topics. He makes an estimate, based upon the experience of eleven consecutive years, the price averaging 19.30 cents per pound, with the net annual profit of $100 per acre. The picking of hops in this county is done partly by Indians. Strange as it may seem they prove the very best hands. Their aptitude to the work superinduced by their search for wild fruits has made them adepts at hop picking, while rain or storms in nowise deter them. In this connection it will do here to state that no Chinese are employed in or around Tacoma, and no competition to white labor exists save in that of the Indians, who are civilized and thrifty. The ground or land employed in hop raising is chiefly timber land. That it is expensive land is shown from the returns it bears. The young man of pluck and a little means, whq will come here, shed his coat and work clearing his land can make more money in hops, fruits and vegetables off of a twenty acre field than he will average off of 320 acres wheat lands. The truth of this statement is everywhere apparent in this country. This coast has many cities and if none but Tacoma grows it alone will use the products of hundreds of farms, for its population will be 100,000 ere ten years.

Read Estate Transfers

During the first seventy- two days of this year, ending March 27, there were entered for record in the office of the auditor of Pierce county, 1,965 instruments, of which 1,186 were deeds for land. The considerations named for these deeds amount to $1,942,013.20, showing an average per day of 16% deeds, and of considerations amounting to $31,139. The average amount of the consideration named in each deed recorded during the year was a little over $1,654. The tardiness of non-resident property owners augments the number on the tax sale list, but the list is very small compared to cities to the east of Tacoma. An excellent showing is made by the sheriff records. There has been but one foreclosure of mortgage on real estate in over a year, and but three chattel mortgage foreclosures in same time. Of the latter a less number are recorded in this (Pierce) county than in the counties in Minnesota or Dakota. Sales of real estate involve actual cash and not credit. Property in this country cannot be bought at one-fourth or one-third down, balance in one to five years, but it usually commands all cash, or over half cash in city property. This feature is a healthy sign of the times, and proves there is no boom or inflation here.

Not Saloon-Ridden

The freedom from the influence of the liquor traffic in Tacoma is one of the noticeable and encouraging signs. Here are congregated the shipping or sailor element, with the local stevedore, the transient western man - that migratory element (but none of the cowboy species,) and added to these is the general transient traveling public - all elements calculate to stimulate the liquor traffic to a marked degree. But in no city in the west, regardless of size, unless in prohibition states and territories, is the liquor traffic apparently under such complete control. Every other door is not a saloon, neither does the saloon invade the best blocks or business centers. There is an occasional saloon on the main thoroughfare, but the saloon business seems to be regulated chiefly to a block by itself, and it seems evident that the saloon interest has no deep control in local affairs. This may be accounted for by a wholesome dread this trade has of this busin ess like, self-possessed and morally inclined population, or because the dealers here are of the very best class of men and possessed of sagacity enough to know that leaving well enough alone without intruding on better localities is their best safeguard against annihilation. No studied effort on the part of this people has produced this excellent state of affairs, but the prestige of an established commercial center, as secured through the business prudence and wisdom of a superior commercial people, now here, seems to have assured to them a perfect freedom from an offensive saloon prominence in public and general affairs.

A Conspicuous Structure

The new headquarters of the Northern Pacific in this city is a most imposing and magnificent structure. It is on Pacific avenue, standing just above the company's wharves, depot and freight buildings, and on a site overlooking the bay. This building will be ready for occupancy in a short time. The erection of this building at the terminus of the road, is further evidence of the interest the company takes in this city.- A further guarantee of this interest and their intent to foster Tacoma, is the fact that they will speedily erect their largest machine, car wheel, repair shops, round houses, etc., built anywhere along their line, in this city, this work to commence right away, and involving a total outlay of several hundred thousand dollars. With the expenditures of the Northern Pacific, the grand aggregate in building in Tacoma for 1888 is over $2,000,000.

Banking Business

There are four well managed and prosperous national banks in this city. Their aggregate capital foots up $550,000, their total deposits (of the four banks) are $1,350,000, and their undivided surplus, remaining over or accumulated since last declaration of dividends, is $70,000. Probably no city of its size is as well and fully provided for in banks as Tacoma, while a fifth bank with $50,000 capaital, with resources to double that amount, will open as soon as their building is ready for occupancy. These banks have studiously avoided the loaning of money for speculative or boom purposes, and they have thus kept Tacoma in a continuous healthy growth. Some of the shipping and lumber interests do their banking abroad as a matter of convenience.

Ship Buieding

Tacoma is an embryo ship building point. Here is secured the very choicest lumber - especially keels, spars, etc. - and the very best "knees" extant are cheaply cut out of these forests. The first ten feet above the ground of these fir, pine and cedar trees, seem to grow in a twisted, knarled and stubbornly strong condition. The trees are cut down, leaving these ten-foot stumps, as it requires too long a time to chop through the twisted buts. A spring-board platform is erected for choppers. The roots run out in all directions and above ground, so that naturally bent ' 'knees' ' for vessels are found in these fresh stumps in abundance, and the frame work for vessels are cheaply secured. Repairing boat ways are occupied continuously, as many vessels disabled at sea put in here for repairs. When the iron manufactories are established, Tacoma can build as durable and cheap vessels as any place in the United States.

Within Eight Years

Striking Comparisons Illustrating the Magic Growth of Tacoma Within Eight Years. - Immense Shipments of Wheat to Foreign and Coastwise Points from Tacoma. - Another Important Factor to the City of the Sound , Is the Abundance of Food Fishes. - Thousands of Acres of the Choicest Tillable Lands .Available for the Settler. - An Embryo Shipbuilding Point. - A Climate that is Surpassed Nowhere. - A Recapitulation. - Striking Features of the Wonderful Growth of the City of the Sound. - A Bright Outlook. - Comparisons and Figures.

Tacoma had 720 population in 1880, and 15,000 is a very low estimate of her present population. Her assessed valuation in 1880 was a half million dollars. To-day this valuation is $6,555,433. The miles of sidewalk have increased from two in '80 to fifty in '88. No streets existed then save a wagon track through a few stumps, now .thirty-five miles of streets graded in 1888, added to former streets, gives her fifty miles of roadbed, along which are eight public school buildings and colleges, twenty churches, twenty hotels, six banks, with nearly a million and a half in deposits, one of the largest railroad buildings in the Northwest, ^ gas works, electric lights, twenty-five miles of telephone and telegraph wires, waterworks with twelve miles of mains, supplied with pure water from a fresh water lake, that is conducted through an aqueduct eleven miles long. Nor is this all, for along this fifty miles of streets are five saw mills, three shingle mills, three planing mills, sash and door factories, one steam flouring mill with a capacity of one hundred barrels per day, one tub and pail factory, one fish cannery, three foundries, ten blacksmith shops, five brick yards, one spice mill and two soda works, one railroad car shop soon to be enlarged to four times its present size, two machine shops, two wheelwrights, four boat builders and several miles of street railroad tracks now built; also a big wholesale grocery house that would do credit to Chicago, and added to all this are five hundred business houses located along the line of five parallel streets, with cross streets twice that number. Who can say that Tacoma has not grown in seven years, and who can foretell the growth in the next seven years ? She starts off in the ninety days of 1888 - to date - with about four hundred new houses contracted for, with her population increasing - as shown by postoffice and free delivery record, of forty new families per day; while 300 daily new arrivals are here to investigate. Everybody is busy; the unemployed man in this city is the lazy man, or shiftless one - as there is work for all. Here is the only city this side of St. Paul whose chamber of commerce owns its own stately block and whose income is $7,000 per year. Here also is being erected an immense smelter for the reduction of precious ores, and two large saw mills go in to swell the list, while the greatest of all great enterprises is the pending iron works, to commence the reduction of these mountains of iron. Reader, are you looking for a new home? If so, regardless of your occupation and business, if you possess thrifty habits and want to succeed - come here. If you are penniless, remember that nothing but hard labor will relieve you, and you had better earn money where you are than come here without it. The busy people have no time to condole with unfortunate people; neither is this or any country especially inviting to penniless people. The present population here, generally, came here poor; yet to-day their assessed valuation of property, their bank deposits and bank capital, aggregated together and then divided by the number of population, gives each man, woman and child a pro rata share of $563. Helena is quoted as being the richest city for her size in the world. Her pro rata division was $571 to each inhabitant. Tacoma is and should be proud of her past record. Washington Territory and America at large, will be just as proud of her future record, for Tacoma will be the largest city on Puget Sound, and will have 100,000 population in ten years. There are good and substantial reasons for this prediction. Tacoma is the terminus of the Northern Pacific, the Oregon Railway and Navigation trains and steamers, the Alaska steamers, all Sound steamers and Central Pacific steamers. It is the terminus of the China and Japan trade proper, the center of coal, iron and lumber fields, and is the foreign shipping point for all produce from the Missouri river to the Sound, besides the natural reservoir, with obstructed navigation in the Columbia, of the surplus products of the Willamette Valley in Oregon.

Wheat Shipments

Duluth has enjoyed the monopoly of water transportation of wheat raised along the line of the Northern Pacific until the past year. But things are changed and are still changing. It will astonish members of the board of trade in Chicago and St. Paul to know that even Oregon wheat has this year been shipped from Portland to Tacoma, thence abroad. Wheat raised in the famous Willamette Valley in Oregon, has found a market via Tacoma. The shipment of wheat from Tacoma by cargoes has just commenced, and the future will demonstrate that all the surplus grain from the Missouri river to Tacoma, including the Oregon crop, will yet find a market from here. This last remark is most easily explained by the following extract and comparison, clipped from the Oregonian, Portland's most valued newspaper:

On the 1 8th of January, the ship W. F. Babcock; sailed from Tacoma with the largest cargo of wheat that ever left Puget Sound - 73,033 centals. Her port expenses (not including advances to seamen) were as follows:

If this ship, carrying over three thousand tons, had loaded at Portland, her expenses, at the specific rate charged here, would have been as follows:

Here we have a total bill for loading at Portland, of $6,075, against a total bill for loading at Puget Sound (Tacoma,) of $2,059.25. In several of the smaller items, it will be seen that the fees are larger than at Puget Sound (Tacoma). Stevedoring here cost 50 cents per ton, and at Tacoma only 30 cents; to discharge ballast here costs 75 cents per ton, there 40 cents; brokerage for supplying sailors costs $15 per man here, and only $2.50 at the Sound; but it is not these smaller items that make the contrast. Towage, pilotage and lighterage here would cost, for a ship like the Babcock, $3,270 - at the Sound $300. Here is the secret of the cheaper ocean rates at Puget Sound (Tacoma,) and the corresponding higher prices for wheat.

the agricultural yields of Washington Territory and Oregon. An experiment was undertaken by chartering the ship Persia, to load wheat at Tacoma for Liverpool. The result showed a clear saving of about five cents per bushel on the first shipment without any prior arrangements for the experiment in favor of this city. Since then, seven other vessels have been loaded, all of them employed since Jan. i, 1888. Their entire cargoes footed up 21,029 tons, or 700,966 bushels, an average for each vessel of 3,010 tons, or 100,138 bushels. A number of other vessels have been chartered, and a conservative estimate places the probable shipment for 1888 at 150,000 tons, or 5,000,000 bushels. The yield of Washington Territory alone is estimated at over double this amount of 1887. The Northern Pacific Elevator Company have shipped about 50 per cent, of the shipments from here.

Another Great Factor

The arrival on this coast of a part of the Gloucester fishing fleet this spring, suggests the thought that the food fish of these waters will constitute another source of material revenue and play a conspicuous part in the financial resources of this section. The great abundance of fish in these waters is a blessing to its inhabitants, for it lessens the cost of living. The most abundant fish in this territory are the salmon in Columbia river. This great river is the dividing line between Oregon and Washinton, and fish canneries are on both sides of the stream. There are five varieties of salmon found here, viz., Dog, Humpback, Silver, Blue Back, Quinnat or T'Quinnat - the latter being the Chinook name applied to the best of these five varieties. The legislature of this territory has failed to create a fish commission, neither are there any official statistics of the fisheries of the territory. Enough is known to establish the existence of the better varieties of fish in quantities sufficient for commercial purposes. Halibut abound in the deeper waters of the Sound and are taken during the winter months. The absence heretofore of fishermen (with fleets and paraphernalia or equipments) acquainted with deep sea fishing, or catching and curing for markets, has left the fisheries dormant. Unless the American fishermen are cheated out of their rights by diplomatic acumen, the Gloucester fleet now here will hunt in the American waters of the Northern Pacific, Behring sea and the Arctic to develop these fisheries. That they will find cod banks is assured. Cod are supposed to exist along the Sound in sufficient quantities to pay for the expense of the catch, and the next in abundance to the salmon is the cod. The varieties are several - true cod, sing cod, black cod, etc., possibly a dozen in number. These, too, are taken in deep waters. Fourteen varieties of rock fish, from the "reg grouper" of forty pounds weight to the small, dark, so-called black bass. Of the flat fish besides the halibut, are many varieties of flounders - a fish the Indians are fond of. These are very plentiful. Sturgeons, the fish that Hudson river steamers dote on, are very plentiful, varying in size from two feet to six and eight long. The Shell fish of Puget Sound, comprise several varieties. Clams - some "whoppers" in size, are very plentiful and being gathered by the Indians are very cheap. Crabs are the same - plentiful and large - but the oysters on this coast are exceedingly small and flavored different from Eastern oysters, but are exceedingly good eating. Lobsters are to be transplanted by the dominion government, and it is believed will soon be bountiful. Canneries are increasing. One canning establishment is located at Tacoma. The future will develop the fisheries of Puget Sound and Tacoma will prove a supply depot for this industry. For information on this subject the writer is deeply indebted to Hon. James G. Swan, connected prominently with the United States museum and fish commission.

Lands For Settlers

It would be impossible to give the exact location of Public lands subject to entry, but an abundance of good lands are in this country. In the Big Bend country, Palouse, Yakima and other sections, government lands are found. Some of these lands, both east and west of the mountains, are available without irrigation, this applying wholly to the lands in Western Washington. Land requiring irrigation is easily handled, as there is an abundant and never- failing quantity of water all over the territory, all of these streams being mountain streams, fed by springs and melted snow. Where small colonies go in together, they can construct ditches by their own labor, and after that, a failure is simply impossible, one remarkable feature in the superiority of the ' 'sage brush' ' lands after water is ditched on to them. These sage brush or alluvial sand lands are the very choicest and best yielding of all the lands. Throughout the Yakima, Kittitas and other valleys, the yields after irrigation are so immense that to tell of them occasions a doubt. Forty acres of such land would outstrip in yield two hundred acres in Minnesota or Dakota. As to fruits and vegetables they grow in superabundance. All kinds of fruit raised in any but a tropical climate grow in these valleys, on both sides of the mountains. Anything but oranges, lemons, figs, etc. , can be found and of most excellent flavor.

At a county fair in Yakima, some of the vegetables on exhibition weighed as follows: Potato, 6 % lbs.; cabbage, 60 lbs.; beet, 60 lbs.; turnip, 58 lbs.; carrot, 20 lbs; parsnip, three feet long; cauliflower, measured 51 inches in circumference. Of course, these were ' 'show vegetables, ' ' but the largest sized vegetables ever seen anywhere by the writer are those grown throughout this whole territory, and they are as good as they are big. In the article on "hops" it will be seen that ten acres of the timber land, when well cleared, will yield more actual money to the owner than any 160 acre Dakota farm ever yet put in wheat. The Northern Pacific Railway is fast selling its lands. The following list of Northern Pacific surveyed and unsold lands is given for the information of the new home seeker - who requires but little money to commense with. Of this list about 54 per cent, are agricultural lands, 15 per cent, timber, and the balance mineral.

Some Shipping Statistics

of entry at Port Townsend. These figures clearly establish the writer's claim that Tacoma is the largest and most important city on Puget Sound:

Port Townsend, Dec. 31. - The wheat, coal and lumber trade from Puget Sound to foreign and coastwise ports has steadily increased during the past year. In fact, in the past three years, as will be shown by the the following tables, it has nearly doubled in its volume, and it promises to increase in the same ratio in the future. The total number of shipments of wheat, coal and lumber made in 1887 was 742, an increase over 1886 of 80 cargoes. The aggregate tonnage engaged for the year was 786,897, distributed as follows:

There were 114 cargoes of wheat and lumber sent to foreign ports, amounting in the aggregate to 33,937 sacks of wheat, valued at $49,375, and 71,693,383 feet of lumber, valued at $1,003,186. Large shipments were made by sea of oats and other produce from the surrounding country to San Francisco, valued at $1,364,322. Merchandise to the value of $1,- 000,000 was shipped from the Sound north on Alaskan steamers during the year. The British ship Persian was dispatched from Tacoma for Falmouth with 33,937 sacks of wheat, valued at $49,375. The American ship W. F. Babcock also loaded 3, 100 tons wheat in Tacoma, the value of which is not included in this statement, as well as the British four-masted ship Wendur and the ship Reaper. Recapitulation of value of shipments for the year:

An Unequaled Location

Either wisdom, fate, intuition, or that genius which foretells greatness caused the location of the present town site of the city. It is beyond all cavil the very best location on the shores of Puget Sound, being at the head of Commencement Bay, the ground on which the city rests being on an available and commanding hill-side, at once and forever settling, or solving the problem of sewage for a great city, and yet including a vast area of acreage of low level land contiguous to the waters of the Sound, thus providing without artificial recourse, for the heavier business of large cities. There is a height of over 300 feet from the water front to the top of the hillside. Back of this are miles of magnificent land over which are roads as level and attractive as though graded by the hand of man for park purposes. The hillside on which the resident portion of the city rests is of easy approach, lying naturally in four distinct plateaus or handsome terraces, which has enabled the city authorities to build the most attractively level, broad roadways, graded in the most superior manner, with road beds as even as block pavement and as hard and firm as macadam. Without fear of contradiction the statement is offered that the eleven new streets and avenues of 100 feet wide and each averaging over two miles long are the most attractive in appearance and durable of any streets in any city in the whole Union, save those constructed of asphalt or wooden blocks. So far as the natural location of the city of Tacoma is concerned, it is superior to that of St. Paul as it was first found, and less expensive to utilize for great commercial purposes. And as to beauty, it is beyond comparison in perfection to any city in the whole Northwest, not excepting St. Paul, Helena, Denver, Portland or San Francisco. At any point in the city, conspicuously so on the brow or crest of the hillside, the view to the naked eye is unsurpassed. From all directions, or from almost any point in Tacoma is presented a panoramic that thrills the soul and makes glad the heart. In front of you is the bay, with its sheet of tranquil, placid water that enlarges in unmeasured elegance at full tide. The Sound is dotted with islands; each side of the bay is fringed with timber, its foliage always green, but in springtime or midsummer shaded with all the tints of nature's forests. As thrown in by the hand of an artist, the Puyallup river, replenished hourly by the melting of glaciers on the crest of old Mount Tacoma, meandering among the hills, through a distance of many miles, and finally emptying its waters along the front of the city into Commencement Bay. Across the bay, in fronts to the right and left, the Olympian and Cascade or coast ranges, snow-capped and commanding, stretch their continuous miles of wierd-like beauty, as an everlasting, but never wearying sight, while the monarchial monarch of towering mountain greatness stands the cloud-capped and snow-enveloped Mount Tacoma reaching heavenward just 14,444 feet. Each additional gaze seems to encounter a more delightful view during daylight, and in the bright moonlight this wonderous mountain in the soft shimmering light stands out boldly yet softly in pose as an artistic tableau. Nor is this mountain alone. Mount St. Helens, 9,750 feet high, and Mount Adams and Mount Baker, almost as high, can be seen at times. For scenic effect no spot is peer to this. A natural park, with roadbeds of clean, bright gravel, and land as level as a floor, interspersed at frequent intervals with groves of evergreen trees that have grown (the lower limbs resting on the ground) to the top in pyramidal shape so accurate, regular and perfect as to suggest careful cultivation and training. This park is twelve miles in length and two to six miles wide. At a distance of almost equi-regularity handsome fresh water lakes with grass-grown and tree-bedecked shores are located, while sparkling, rippled creeks or rivulets cross and 'recross this plain or prairie, producing an effect as charming and pleasing as that of Central Park, New York. This natural park commences just outside of the city limits of Tacoma and runs southerly, but parallel to the shores of Puget Sound, terminating a few miles below an old government fort (now the location of the insane asylum of Washington Territory) established in 1852, namely, Fort Steilacoom, the first military post or fort, it is reported, at which Gen. U. S. Grant did duty.

Each locality in the West and Northwest boasts of its weather until the average reader is surfeited and doubts. The climate of this section is as near perfection as anywhere on this continent. No place or country is wholly exempt from objections. But for all the year round, weather in Washington really takes the palm. Eastern people imagine that the ' ' rainy ' ' season commences here with their frost, and that it pours down in torrents. It does no such thing. There are more pleasant dry days than wet. As to the rain, it is of that character, temperature and quantity in which boys are delighted in being outdoors, somewhat as they are when they attempt to catch the first falling snow flakes in winter. A cruelly mistaken notion prevails as to the severity of this rainfall. There is enough of it to keep the grass eternally green, and not so chilly as to prevent the ever-constant blooming of flowers outdoors every month in the year. Talk about the coast rains. They are not to be dreaded one-half as much as the rigorous weather of neighboring territories and states. People here continue to do business uninterrupted, and where one man is under the shelter of an umbrella, a dozen are without them. It may strike the reader as singular that you positively see a hundred umbrellas day in and out on the streets throughout the East, to five on the streets of Tacoma. Neither is it on the shoemaker order of going bare-footed, for they are not needed. There is more mud on the streets of a busy Illinois village in springtime than there is here the year round. Why it is, some philosopher must explain, but it is supposably because these rains do not wet very badly. Whatever inconvenience is experienced by the inclemency of the rainy months is offset by the incomparably lovely summers. The law of compensation is divinely set forth in these two seasons, for here the temperature is uniformly just warm enough in summer to make good growing weather without extreme heat. A shorter explanation and better one is in the statement that the same wearing apparel in winter as in summer. The summers are simply delightful. Daylight continues until 9:30 p. m., and resumes again at about 2:30 to 3 a. m. It is a continuous round of bracing yet satisfying weather that is the source of hourly congratulations. While other localities are sweltering in the heat, this city is enjoying the coolest and most delightful weather. The following is a copy of the thermometric record as kept at "The Tacoma" last summer: reach this port daily, on which last year was shipped 377 cargoes of lumber, 251 cargoes of coal, besides innumerable vessels carrying oats, wheat, hops and other products, even to horses and cattle, there are twenty-two regular passenger and freight steamers plying from this port to various points on Puget Sound, California and British Columbia. Several new vessels are in course of construction to accommodate the rapidly increasing business. Most of the sound steamers make daily trips, while a weekly service of passenger and freight steamships ply between Tacoma and San Francisco, one freight steamship of 4,000 tons burden making the round trip every ten days between the two ports. The passenger steamers bring in an average of over 2,200 passengers weekly. Besides this, there are a dozen tugs, used in towing logs, also vessels after disembarking ballast, or from anchorage to wharves. Two of the largest of these tugs are owned wholly by Tacoma parties. Any point on the Sound or Pacific coast is accessible almost daily by steamers, and a regular line of Alaska steamers make their terminus here. The bulk of Alaska freight and passengers embark and disembark at Tacoma.

Perhaps nothing would show the increase in the business of Tacoma more than the fact that in February,' 1887, there were twenty-nine men employed by the traffic agent of the Northern Pacific in this city, while in February, 1888 there were seventy-two men who found regular daily employment under the same agent.

The visitor to Tacoma sees active industry and improvements on all sides. Targe numbers of laborers are found at work extending and grading the streets of the city and improving them with twelve-foot sidewalks on either side, and making the finest thoroughfares to be found in any town or city on Puget Sound. The city council has recently undertaken the further improvement of the graded streets by causing to be planted thereon, forest trees, many of which are varieties brought from the east. Large sums of money are now being expended in properly sewering the city, thus contributing to the health and convenience of its citizens. As indicating the amount of building now in progress at Tacoma, it may be noted, that from January 1st to May 23, there have been constructed at Tacoma, three hundred and fifty buildings, aggregating in their cost $825- 307.46. Among the large industries recently acquired by the city is a mill to be constructed on the water front this year at a cost of upwards of a half million dollars and which will manufacture every piece of timber required in the building of the frame structure. The product of this mill is for shipment to the Mississippi Valley, and in connection with the mill, the contract made by the mill company with the railroad company, requires the construction of a railroad southeast from Tacoma into the great timber belt from which the company are to obtain their timber. It has been reliably estimated that the location of this mill at Tacoma will add to its population during the year 1888, at least twenty-five hundred people. The extension of the standard guage railroad down the water front has been effected by Allen C. Mason, Esq., who has during the spring, constructed that road himself. This road will be operated by the Northern Pacific Railroad Company as a part of their system if it is not purchased outright by them. This railroad opens up the best water frontage of the city and the only water front owned by private citizens. The above named gentleman has announced his intention to construct a line of street railroad from the city dock in the first ward of the city by the most practicable route to the smelters, and this street railroad when constructed will open for settlement the very finest residence portion of the city. One of the chief attractions which Tacoma can offer in the course of a few years is the natural park, consisting of upwards of six hundred acres located on the point of the peninsula on which Tacoma is located. A bill is before the Congress of the United States now, providing that the United States Government will dedicate this track of land, now held by the government as a military reserve, to the city forever, to be used as a public park and never alienated by the city. A broad boulevard has been surveyed from the city, to, and through this park which will afford one of the finest drives, overlooking the bay and the narrows throughout its whole extent. The construction of the shore line railroad, insures the completion this year of the large smelting works, which will have a capacity of four hundred tons per day, and be the only smelting works on Puget Sound. Among other industries not yet definitely located here, but yet which probably will be during the coming summer, are extensive export flouring mills, a brewery and various iron industries. The contract has already been let by the Tacoma Opera House Company, for an opera house to cost one hundred thousand dollars with a seating capacity for twelve hundred people.

The following table shows the states from which investment funds have been received with the respective amounts from each, up to April 1st, 1888.

The test rate obtainable on Real Estate Loans running from three to five years is now Nine per cent., and in one or two years, as the advantages of the Territory become more generally known, this rate will be reduced, as it has been in the Mississippi Valley. Those who are investing now are reaping

The Benefit Of The Highest Market Rate

A. solid Nine per cent, per annum on first class improved productive Real Estate security at one-third its valuation. Interest pay cdole semi-annually, net, by New Fork ctraft in favor of the mortgagee,, and all interest payments collected and remitted to the loaner without cost or charge to him.

Absolute Security - the realty on which the loans are placed being in a new country where property is increasing in value, and where titles have not coirte down through scores of transfers where there is tictble to be imperfections in conveyances.