The Case for a 'Seattle the Beautiful'

In is not full time that the City of Seattle should be taking measures to secure desirable locations for the purpose of city parks? Certainly nothing is gained by delaying such action till such lands have so increased in value as to require for their purchase many hundreds of thousands of dollars instead of the few thousands of dollars that would now suffice. It is not necessary to prove how important is the question of parks as it is generally understood and acknowledged. Seattle is not only renowned for the commercial advantages of its bay, but for the beauty of its location. Its water views of lakes, bays and Sound, with snow-capped mountains to the east and west, all go to make a city that must be beautified. I think it will require but little reflection to convince one that the proposed method is far preferable to clearing entirely the land, expending large sums in getting rid of the stumps, and then replanting with trees, for which half a lifetime is required to render attractive. Now, as to the location of the park, I should suggest some place on the shore of Lake Washington for an 80 or 100-acre park, reaching from the lake shore to the summit of the bluff. Then 40 acres somewhere on the lovely shores of silvery Lake Union should be selected for a park, whilst a beautiful park might be located somewhere on the summit of the ridge dividing the bay from the sea-like lake to the east. Finally, I will mention another site for a grand park on the summit of the high peninsular hill northwest of the city, and dividing Elliott from Salmon Bay. If each resident does his part in beautifying his home, the city of Seattle will soon be known abroad as 'Seattle the Beautiful,' thus attracting to the city not only the seekers of beautiful and pleasant homes, but also tourists.