Advantages of Seattle.Seattle has already been described. It has probably double the population of Tacoma, and more than double the business. It has flat ground enough for commercial purposes. In its position, its harbor, its relations to the back country, its materials for trade, commerce, manufactures, its present and prospective railroad connections, it surpasses all present and future competitors on Puget Sound.
There will be mining and trading towns at numerous points between Seattle and Salal Prairie.
VIEW OF THE CITY OF SPOKANE FALLS, EASTERN TERMINUS SEATTLE, LAKE SHORE AND EASTERN RAILWAY.
Towns of East Washington.The towns on the east flank of the Cascade Mountains may have a future; i.e., Cle-ellum, Ellensburg, and North Yakima. They have a chance for the State capital, and there may be manufacturing as well as mining towns near the iron ore, and other mineral beds. Small places will also spring up at the mouth of the Wenatchie and the Okinagane, and at the termini of the steamboat landings.
The county seat of Lincoln cannot remain at Sprague. Wheatland would have a chance for that.
Spokane Falls and its fine prospects.Assuming that Spokane Falls is the objective point of the Seattle Railway, I will give a somewhat full account of this thriving young city. In 1882 it had 700 inhabitants; in 1887 it had over 7,000. In 1883 the Northern Pacific Railroad reached there, and since that date the town has grown continuously. It will be a large city, as will be obvious if its advantages be considered. These are chiefly: I. Its water-power; II. Its agricultural relations; III. Its mining surroundings; IV. Its railroad prospects; V. Its good ground for building.
I. Its Water-power.—The value of this water-power arises partly from the volume of water and its great fall, and also its uniformity, and its freedom from disturbing causes. The river falls in a succession of cascades amounting to 156 feet within the limits of the city.Mr. Paul F. Mohr's article. Mr. Paul F. Mohr has published an intelligent article on the subject, from which I quote the following statements:
"To arrive at the available number of horse-power which the Spokane River could furnish at this point, assuming 90,000 horse-power as the gross power of the river, and deducting 60 per cent. therefrom, would leave 36,000 horse-power as a most conservative and minimum estimate.
"The City of Minneapolis used in 1880, as nearly as I can ascertain, about 20,000 horse-power, and Minneapolis is probably the largest flour-milling point in the world.
"The industries requiring most power are, in their order, as follows: lumber, flour, iron and steel, paper, woolen goods and worsted goods, with several industries consuming a comparatively small amount of power, not necessary to mention. Of the industries above named, all but the iron and steel industries can be followed at this point, and, in fact, the flouring, paper and woolen industries belong to this section of the country."