The Rapid Transformation of Puget Sound
An old-timer writes to the editor to ask for news of Seattle, prompting a reflection on the dizzying speed of the city's growth from a three-house settlement in 1853 to a bustling port in 1883.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
A. F. Bryant writes from Clear Creek, Nebraska, as follows: 'Please send me a copy of your paper. I want to learn something more of Puget Sound. I was there in May 1853, when Seattle contained three houses.' Undoubtedly Mr. Bryant is aware that great changes have taken place on Puget Sound since he was here. In 1853, there was no newspaper on Puget Sound, nor any in Seattle until 1863. Then the Territory was unorganized, part of Oregon Territory. In King County, there were perhaps fifty white persons total from Steilacoom north. How different now! The 20,000 people then inhabiting the vast territory of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana have increased to 500,000, and Western Washington now numbers 60,000. Where there were three houses, 1,500 now stand. Then, no steamers plied these waters; now there are forty. No line of railroad or telegraph was within two thousand miles; now we have 500 miles of railroad and 1,000 miles of telegraph. In 1853, this country was less promising than Alaska is today. In 1883, from the character of its trade, there is but little difference between this country and the older portions east of the Mississippi, save for more elbow room and a better chance to make money.
“In 1853, this country was more scantily populated and less promising than Alaska is today.”
This reflection on rapid, breathless growth and the 'elbow room' that defined the frontier mirrors the ongoing struggle of modern Seattle to manage its own explosive expansion. The tension between the city's identity as a wilderness outpost and a global economic hub has remained a constant throughout its history.
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