Seattle’s Post-Panic Pep Talk: Canals, Steel and Paved Streets

All Agree That the New Year Will Be Happy.

SHADOWS OF THE PANIC PASSED.

The familiar greeting ‘A Happy New Year’ was exchanged amid unusual fervor and sincerity yesterday by friends as they met in their homes or on the streets, and for a brief rest the past year, so fraught with disaster and business trouble, was forgotten. All interests are turned to the future with an unusual degree of hope, and a desire for better times. That all are looking forward with confidence that will make up for the discouragements of 1894 is shown by the expressions of the heads of the chief cities of the state, the chief officials of Seattle and King county, and the representatives of the various phases of political opinion. With hardly an exception all look forward to a happy new year, one happy by renewed prosperity. But such confidence is the first requisite to bring out the looked-for prosperity, and if the people get to work to their hopes faithfully, they can, with good assurance, join in the refrain of the old song, ‘Happy days came once more.’

The utterances of the mayors of other cities were obtained by telegram and, with those of the leading men of Seattle, are as follows:

Mayor Byron Phelps: ‘I believe the outlook for the coming year decidedly better than it was a year ago today. While we have never had a really hard time in Seattle, yet people have seemed to realize that the boom days are past and instead of devoting so much time to pure speculation as heretofore, they are getting down to realities. While there are no extensive organized improvements going on, yet the individual efforts are great and in the aggregate the results must be felt. Many talk of manufacturing interests as though they could spring up in a short time. Those interests are slow of growth, be it said, and involve heavy capital. We have some industries talked of, and I understand well under way, that have great merit. The proposition of Mr. Gilman, I am sure, is well under way, and the manufacture of freight cars here is eminently practicable, because we have material here from which to produce the cars. We can set a better car on the track than can be produced elsewhere and at a shade less price. All that is needed in the United States to ensure investment here is capital to produce a superior article for less money. The city is curtailing its expenses in every direction, is paying its debts as they fall due and differs from most cities in having value received for its debts. There is no disposition among officials to draw the city into a dollar’s worth of expense in any direction more than is absolutely necessary to keep the government in healthy action.’

City Treasurer W. S. Atlee: ‘For the first time since the panic of 1893 the indications of a business revival are manifesting themselves. This is shown through the reopening of factories and the improved employment of labor. While capital is still cautious and even timid, yet it is anxiously seeking for investment. The state of Washington, fortunately for it, lies right in the pathway of this business revival and none the less will feel its beneficial effects. Our lumber, always an important factor in the prosperity of this part of the state, is destined now to be a greater element than ever in our prosperity. The development of our natural resources is now fairly begun. We are on the eve of important developments in manufacturing. I believe the close of 1895 will be able to refer to many advancements to the establishment of various kinds of manufacturing than any other town on the coast. On the whole, it seems to me that the business prospects for 1895 are very encouraging. Nothing likely to interfere with these prospects in this state, unless it be rash, unjust or foolish legislation, which I do not think the people of this state are too patriotic, enlightened and sound-minded to allow. The sound and far-seeing policy of this state should be to encourage by every fair and honorable means the coming and investment of capital here, and not the adoption of a policy that would tend to harass investment and thus prevent it from coming here at all.’

Alderman William Taft: ‘The present city government, after an experience of six months, has acquired such efficiency that its policy for the ensuing year should not only be progressive but also so economical that for every dollar of the taxpayers’ money full value should be given, so that capital seeking investment in our fair city should feel assured that our municipal affairs are intrusted to safe hands. Street and other improvements should be pushed, railroad matters adjusted as speedily as possible, so that railway terminal improvements may be started on short notice; all of which in conjunction with the building of the government Lake Washington canal will make Seattle in 1895 undoubtedly the city on the Pacific coast where capital will seek investment. Relative to the charter, at the end of the present year it should be revised for a new charter so formed as to conform to the necessities of our growing city, so as to be fully able to give an efficient and economical city government, as the present charter is lacking in its power to carry out these reforms.’

Alderman A. K. Kessler: ‘I firmly believe that by the 1st of March things will pick up entirely about Seattle and the coming summer be the best we have had for some time. I do not believe there will be a return of excellent times, but the coming two months, January and February, I expect to see very dull and close. I have watched things pretty closely and believe there will be undertakings started soon that will give the necessary impetus to business. The business of the city administration for the next year, I believe, will be economical and quite satisfactory. If the taxes are any way nearly collected there will be no trouble and the finances of the city will be in fine shape. I should say that if taxes are collected up to within 2 or 3 per cent of the regular levy there will be quite sufficient to carry things through. The different departments of the city administration are all working down to a close level and show economy all along the line.’

Alderman Frank W. Goodhue: ‘Our prospects for the coming year in municipal affairs, both financial and otherwise, are certainly far better than they were on the advent of 1894. I believe we now have expenses down to as low a figure as is consistent with good service under our present charter. If, however, it becomes apparent that further moves in the line of retrenchment can be safely made, the present mayor and council will not be slow to make them. We must acknowledge that our charter is entirely too cumbersome and expensive for a city of our size. We have too many boards and commissions. Many of these could be dispensed with, their duties to be performed by members of the council who should devote their entire time to the management of municipal affairs.’

Delegate P. H. Hum: ‘The future of Seattle depends largely upon the faith of her citizens, and as that faith has been shown by works in the years past, presents a like manifestation during the year 1895. As an evidence of what is to be done that will add to the prosperity and development of our city, visit Union street and see the newest durable pavement in this country, and when we say that Pike street from Front to Eighth is soon to be improved in the same manner and Second street from Pike to Yesler Avenue, at a little date, are not the indications good for the year before us?’

Alderman J. Crichton: ‘During 1894 the city has been run on a cash basis. It has paid cash for all labor and material. Not a dollar’s indebtedness has been incurred. During 1895 Seattle may forward to an early settlement of the terminal question, and the water problem. The citizens may also expect to see a system of housekeeping established, a fire marshal and a buyer of city supplies appointed. Our streets will be paved, our sewers extended and our hotels and houses supplied with fire escapes. Side entrances to saloons should be closed and other social problems settled. All work should be divided equally among the laborers of the city. These are some of the things I expect to see accomplished in 1895.’