The 1878 State of the City: Seattle’s Growing Pains

To the Honorable Council of Common Council of the City of Seattle: I hereby beg leave to submit my report for the receipts and expenditures of the City of Seattle for the year ending June 30th, 1878. In view of the urgent necessity of some more efficient means to protect the City from fire and save us from the disaster of a great conflagration, preliminary steps have already been taken to secure a first class steam fire engine. In my judgement, this is a matter of the first importance. I feel it my duty to call your attention to the defective means of drainage in our city. The frequent and alarming prevalence of zymotic disease in our midst during the past two years gives most impressive emphasis to the necessity of some thought and action on this subject. Some stringent sanitary regulations are necessary to compel such persons to keep their water closets and sink drains cleansed and disinfected. Much may be done in this way to prevent disease, but through drainage to salt water is the only effective remedy. As things are now, the sewerage from one locality becomes a nuisance and a menace to health in another. There is no doubt that the business interests of the city imperatively demand the completion of the Commercial street grade to the railroad, and the grading of that portion of Mill street situated within the business part of the city. These improvements should be made before the commencement of our winter rains.