The Queen City of the Northwest
A visitor from Oregon praises the rapid real estate growth and the 'model' atmosphere of the bustling Seattle scene.
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.
From Tacoma we proceeded to Seattle, which is thirty miles up the Sound and which we regard as the coming great city of the northwest Pacific coast. Here we stopped at The Arlington and, while we never travel as a member of the press, we deem it a duty to say that we consider the Arlington the model hotel of the North Pacific coast. As usual we found Seattle booming, real estate firm and on the upward tendency. Two lots that were offered in September for $1200 each, sold for $1800 each. There is vast wealth centered in Seattle and more constantly coming. It has an excellent harbor, good climate, men of broad views, plenty of nerve, and money to back them. Who dare say that Seattle may not aspire to the honor of becoming the Queen City of the Pacific Coast?
“Who dare say that Seattle may not aspire to the honor of becoming the 'Queen City of the Pacific Coast'?”
This 1883 account captures the early boosterism that defined Seattle, a city that has been chasing the 'Queen City' title ever since. The mention of rising real estate values and 'broad views' echoes current concerns about rapid growth and the perpetual upward pressure on property costs.
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