The Great One Thing: Seattle’s First Bid to Stop Strangers from Leaving Empty-Handed

The great one thing in which the citizens of Seattle have been remiss is that strangers, no matter who or where from, have hitherto been compelled to seek and eke out any information in which they stood in need themselves. Arriving in Seattle and wishing here, or hereabouts, to settle, their only resource has been to rely upon themselves, in the matter of information for the betterment of their condition. Thus, we have known of many who travelled many weary miles to reach our bounteous land, to be only turned back from our Territory, for either a want of knowledge as to where they could obtain employment, or as to where they could settle, and feel assured of ultimate success, in return for their expenditure of time, money and energy.

However, this great want is to be supplied by the organization, by some of our leading citizens, of an Immigration and Labor Bureau for the promotion of immigration to Seattle and King County. That such an enterprise would prove both successful and beneficial to all concerned, there can be no manner of doubt. The former mechanic and laborer would immediately know, upon arriving here, where to look for employment, and our citizens, where to get the labor of which they might stand in need. The man with a little capital would know where to find, from disinterested persons, the best place to put his little stake, and the capitalist would feel assured (if the institution be properly managed) that the records of the office of the society would be the best index as to the financial condition of the place that he could possibly find.

So, too, would such an institution pay in the advertising of our county in the Eastern States and Europe, by the systematic distribution by said society, of Seattle papers throughout different States and counties. Every working man that lands in New York City is estimated to be worth $1,200 to the State of New York. How much then is every man worth where so much is to be done in the clearing and developing of our Territory?