The City That Couldn't House Its Own Growth

A gentleman who arrived in Seattle yesterday from San Francisco with a large merchandise stock of living goods had his heart set on establishing a house here. He sought an altogether new line of business and realized a very important addition to our trade organization. After looking over the field, it was decided that this was the place, and the attempt was made to secure a building. Front street, Commercial street, Second street and Railroad avenue were walked over and then driven over for a store room, but it could not be found. There was no suitable room to be had. Money even in excess of rental was offered in cases where there was simply no room. Calling yesterday at the Post-Intelligencer office the gentleman said: 'I am turning away from Seattle in disgust because I cannot find a place to do business. I came to establish a trade that would help to make your town a center but cannot get the chance to do it. I have heard of Seattle as the most enterprising city on the coast. Is this a sample of it? It is a fitting thing that people who own land and who could do themselves a service by not stiffening their prices against those who want to do business, who are willing to pay liberally for the privilege, the chance to do it. It is possible that I may have better luck at Tacoma. I shall go and see.' Here, gentlemen of Seattle, is a very serious matter. Business which we want and for which we are advertising abroad is denied here the means essential to its existence. The case above noted is not the only one of the same kind. It is but a sample of what we hear about every day. A trade organization, the thing which we need above all other things after the railroads which are coming, cannot be built up if it cannot find suitable house room. There is land enough in Seattle awaiting improvement and there is capital enough for investment, but there is no way for the demand and the supply to come to an understanding.