TACOMA AND SEATTLE.
TACOMA, WASHINGTON, July 5, 1892.
We left Portland at 8 A.M. on the 2d by rail, and arrived at this fine
hotel, "The Tacoma," at 3.30 P.M. after a very agreeable and
comfortable trip. The first thing to attract our special attention was
a view of Mount Tacoma, as seen from the rear windows of the hotel,
truly a royal and splendid sight: a great mountain, of symmetrical
shape, covered with pure white snow. There are not many such mountains
to be seen anywhere; none so beautiful, as I remember, except the
Jungfrau at Interlaken, and Fusiyama in Japan.
We have been in this place for three days, going about everywhere, and
find it a wonderful example of a rapidly built city--solid and
substantial, wide streets, great and costly public and private
buildings, an admirable system of swift-going street cars, running in
every direction, by cable or electric power; fine dry-goods and other
stores, and every indication of great business activity and success.
The citizens inform us that in 1880 there were thirty thousand
inhabitants in this city, and now there are fifty thousand. Judging
from the crowds on the streets and in the street cars, and the
business activity seen everywhere, this must be correct. We attended
service on Sunday at St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal Church, built by
Mr. Wright, of Philadelphia, in memory of his daughter. The church is
a beautiful one; the service was rendered in an impressive manner, and
the sermon was excellent.
Wishing to see Seattle, the other famous city of the State of
Washington, I went there by rail in two hours, and, accompanied by a
relative, spent the day looking at the buildings and shops, and
travelling on the electric street cars, which run everywhere, with
what appeared to be dangerous speed. We had an excellent lunch at a
good hotel, situated on top of a hill, from which we looked down on
the city and harbor. Looking at the solid blocks of business houses,
wholesale and retail, and the beautiful private residences, and
knowing that there are now about fifty thousand inhabitants in the
city, it is difficult to comprehend that fifteen or twenty years ago
it was almost a wilderness. After lunch, we took seats in an electric
car, and were carried five or six miles with the greatest ease, to a
beautiful lake, where we found many interesting things to look at for
an hour or two. We hear of a great deal of jealousy between Tacoma and
Seattle, but to a stranger they appear to have much in common--large,
substantial and handsome buildings, many of which would not be thought
out of place in any city; prompt, energetic, and lively business men,
and every appearance that the foundations have been laid for two great
cities, to which the immense products of India, China, and Japan will
naturally come for distribution throughout the United States and
Europe.