Tide-Flat Speculation Heats Up
Real estate agents and railroad interests jockey for position on Tacoma's valuable waterfront as rumors of premium land prices circulate.
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Interest in the tide-land deals was stimulated today when the report was circulated that an offer of $9,000 an acre had been made to the Northern Pacific for a piece of tide-land south of the Eleventh street bridge and east of the city waterway. The tract contains about 10 acres. Although the matter was talked of among real estate men, very little appears to be known of the matter outside of the mere rumor. At the Northern Pacific land office, the officials claimed to have no knowledge of the deal. The Standard Oil company has had its eye on this tract for some time, and that fact lends color to the rumor. Although there has not been much stir over railroad matters lately, options are still being quietly secured on tide-flat tracts. Agents said to be representing railroad interests are taking options on every piece of that land that is for sale.
“Agents said to be representing railroad interests are taking options on every piece of that land that is for sale.”
The aggressive acquisition of Tacoma’s tide-flats by railroads and industrial giants defined the city’s economic geography. These early land-grab maneuvers laid the foundation for the industrial corridors that still dominate the waterfront today.
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