The $4,800 School Lot in the Wilderness

There seems to be a great deal of dissatisfaction expressed among the better class of citizens over the evident intention of the school directors of this district to purchase block 14, Central Seattle, at the enormous price of $4,800, or $400 per lot. A gentleman who is thoroughly posted in that portion of the county says there is not a family living half a mile from this block, and as the town is growing comparatively slow in that direction it will be years before this block will be available for any purpose. There is no opposition to the purchase of a block in South Seattle for school purposes—everybody favors that—but the taxpayers do most strenuously object to having so large an amount of their money almost thrown away even to accommodate the very expert wire puller who has a block of land in the wilderness, for which he cannot find a purchaser unless he works it off on the dear people. This is a matter that interests the people, and they should see to it that their money is judiciously expended. At the request of some of Seattle's leading citizens, we again call attention to this matter. The property under discussion is block 14, Central, and all who have any doubts as to the truth of the statement that there is not a family residing within half a mile of the said block, and that the price asked for the property is more than double what similar property in that section can be purchased for, are invited to investigate the matter for themselves. We do not believe our school directors can be roped into any such a diabolical transaction, notwithstanding the great pressure being brought to bear upon them by interested parties, who have this land on their hands, and who would not scruple at anything to get rid of it at a big figure.