The Price of Admission: A 1887 Seattle Real Estate Crisis

For several weeks, Mr. Griffith Davies, the well-known book dealer, has been house hunting, with poor success. The case was becoming urgent, as Mr. Davies learned that his brother and wife and brother-in-law were coming out from the East to visit him, and the house in which he was living was only large enough for himself and wife. Mr. Davies kept up his search for houses with unabated energy. Hearing that J. A. Stewart, who lives in a large residence out near George Hall's place, was going to California, Mr. Davies called upon him to secure the refusal of the house. Mr. Stewart stated that he had been thinking of going to California, but would not leave until he sold his printing office. He then agreed with Mr. Davies that if he would find him a purchaser for his printing office he might have the refusal of the house. Mr. Davies spoke to a number of people about it, but could find no one who wanted to invest in printing materials. That evening Mr. Davies got a telegram that his friends would arrive in Victoria today, and he rushed up to Stewart’s house and said: 'If I will buy your printing office, will you vacate your residence on Saturday and turn it over to me?' 'I will,' replied Mr. Stewart, 'if you will pay what I ask for the office.' 'Settled,' said Mr. Davies, as he took a check book from his pocket and filled out his check for the purchase price of the printing office. This shows the necessity of men with families coming to this city. People are bound to come to Seattle, and when once here cannot be driven away. If more houses are not built, people will be living in tents in this city before spring.