The Great Statehood Gamble: How Washington Territory Bet Its Future on a Coin Flip
In February 1889, Congress passed the 'Omnibus Bill' granting statehood to four territories simultaneously. For Seattle and Tacoma, this wasn't just political news—it was a high-stakes gamble that would determine their city limits, tax structures, and place in history.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The following is on one choice list of suburban property offered for the next four days.
$75. Lots in Harwood addition. 6 blocks from Madison street. 2 1/2 miles from Occidental hotel, land lies level. Only lots at this low figure found within the city limits. One-fourth down.
$170. Lots 40x150 feet, adjacent to the Lake Shore & Eastern railway, and the interlake canal; five minutes' walk from box station, a most desirable location.
$200. Lots in Summit Park, 3 1/2 blocks from Mill street, all cleared; loveliest location in the eastern portion of the city, affording magnificent view of the mountains and Lake Washington.
Prices range from $250 up according to valuation.
$200. Lots in Orient addition, 40x100 feet, five blocks south of Jackson street addition. Homes are being built and churches and schools are conveniently near. Terms easy. Prices range from $350 up.
$200. Lots in Occident heights, the choicest property in West Seattle; on line of proposed cable road; magnificent view. Easy terms. Lots cleared.
$250. Lots in Lynch Shield addition, 40x100 feet, two blocks from Jackson street cable road. Inexpensively the cheapest property on the market. Prices range from $275 up. One-half cash.
The foregoing additions are the choicest suburban property on the market.
The following are offered for a few days:
$100 CORNER LOT, FIRST ST., W. S. 50x150 feet; one half cash balance on time.
$150 LOT ON FIFTH ST., 50x150 near Main, 50x150. One half cash, balance one year.
$1,200 HOUSE AND LOT near Eleventh and Jackson; house with nine rooms, pantry, etc., stable 24x30 feet. fruit trees; $600 cash, balance on time.
$1,500 HOUSE AND LOT ON Ninth and James; house has eleven rooms, fine well and outbuildings; one and a half story house, with basement; two blocks from car line. Balance one year.
$200 LOT IN KEENE A. KNIGHTS addition, 60x150 feet; two story, eight room house, water and bath, etc.; one half cash, balance on time.
$300 TWO LOTS IN LAKE VIEW addition, 50x150 feet each. Terms cash.
$2,500 HOUSE AND LOTS in Knights addition near Madison street, two story house of six rooms; one-half cash, balance time.
LOTS IN ALL PARTS OF THE CITY. ACRES ON GREEN LAKE. CALL AND SEE US.
OLIVER & J. NEWARK
Washtenaw Territory, Tacoma (Main Street) 3 1/2 Miles from Tacoma, on the line of the Hart railroad. The railroad is already graded to Newark, W.T. Ties now being cut and laid. The railroad will be completed by July 4th.
Hotel, 5 Cottages, 5 Stores GIVEN AWAY TO TOP RESERVERS OF LOTS. A Saw mill will be erected at once. Lumber will be sold AT COST to parties building at Newark, W.T. Date of sale: SATURDAY, FEB. 23, 1889, At the office of the Puget Sound Land Bureau, 114 Ninth street, Tacoma.
Cars Will Run Every Hour. A RARE CHANCE For the working man to own his own home within 15 minutes' ride of Tacoma. No city taxes. The entire tract will be cleared at once free of everything.
TERMS OF SALE Inside lots $75, corner lots $100; one-third down, balance in three, six and nine months at 10 per cent Or one-third down, balance in monthly payments of $10. No interest. These prices will rule only at the day of sale, after which lots will be raised 25 percent. For further particulars apply to PUGET SOUND LAND BUREAU, 114 Ninth Street, Tacoma. Cor. 2d & James Sts., Seattle.
This page captures the frenetic real estate speculation that accompanied Washington's transition from a sparsely populated territory to a state in 1889. Developers were aggressively marketing 'suburban' lots in what are now established Seattle neighborhoods like Summit and West Seattle, promising cable cars and rail lines that would transform rural land into urban gold. The promise of 'no city taxes' in new developments like Newark highlights the ongoing tension between municipal growth, infrastructure costs, and property values that defines Seattle's housing market to this day.
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