The City That 'Surprised' the Supreme Court

In an extended interview with Justice Field of the U.S. Supreme Court, he expressed great surprise at the size and thrift of our town, inquiring as to the source of its prosperity. When told of the extent of our coal fields, iron mines, lumber, and the immense wheat fields tributary to this port, it seemed to him incredible that such advantages should have been neglected by capitalists. Like others in San Francisco who build their houses of Puget Sound lumber, warm themselves with Seattle coal, and eat Columbia river salmon, few realize that Seattle employs more tonnage than Portland and is a growing industrial juggernaut. We have labored under the disadvantage of having the representative capital of the Pacific coast actively interested against us, as the Directors of the Central Pacific Railroad have used their influence to discourage investment here, fearing it might lead to a railroad connection with the East. We cannot be kept out of sight much longer. Prosperity is rarely thrust upon a people; none deserve success who do not aid in achieving it.