The Iron Giant Lands: Moss Bay Steel Chooses Seattle Without Asking for a Penny

The claim made for Seattle, namely, that it is the natural depot for the products of the remote regions of the Puget Sound Basin, receives confirmation to the great news which the Post-Intelligencer conveys to the public this morning. Mr. Peter Kirk has located his works at Lake Washington (at Seattle practically) after full examination and carefully study of all the facts and considerations involved.

Here is the judgment of himself and his associates: this is the place most advantageous for a great manufacturing industry, which calls for iron, coal—in short, for the best resources of the country. Here is the place where the raw materials for manufacture can be most easily and cheaply massed. Here is the place most convenient for general transportation. Here is the connection with the commercial world. Here is cheapest depot for the purchase of general supplies. Here is the place best adapted for the operations of manufacture. These are the important facts determined by the "careful study of all the facts and considerations" to which Mr. Kirk has devoted the past two years.

It is a fact well known that most persistent efforts have been made to secure the location of Mr. Kirk's works in the interest of the Northern Pacific railroad and of its speculative terminal enterprise, and that Mr. Kirk has put aside all the inducements offered him to locate elsewhere and come to Seattle where no bonus was offered or required. It is a fact of most striking significance.

The Post-Intelligencer is in position to say that the extent of the proposed works will be beyond any expectations that have been expressed concerning them. There will be no disappointment for the fulfillment will surpass the promise. This is said with full understanding of all that it implies.

To the owners of the Denny mine, the people of Seattle owe a debt of gratitude which it will be difficult for them to pay. They have placed the interest of the city above their own and have insisted as a preliminary condition to every negotiation looking to the working of their mine that the advantages arising from its operation should accrue to Seattle and not to any other city on Puget Sound. They have adhered to their proposition on this point amid discouragements which would have shaken the resolution of men less firm.

It has long been evident to intelligent observers that the city which reaps the benefits of the development of the iron field of the Cascades must become the great city of the northwest. Before the great advantage which would accrue from the development of this field, all other advantages seem of little account. The iron and coal of Western Washington will build up a great manufacturing city, and where that city is built, commerce will make her home.

Seattle has for many reasons long enjoyed the prospective advantage of the operation of this field. The great iron mines are within the district which is regarded as entirely tributary to Seattle. They are nearer by many miles to Seattle than to any other point on the Sound. To take their product to any other point for shipment would be a wonderful diversion of traffic from its natural channel.

Finally and most important, the mines are owned by Seattle men and by men thoroughly loyal to the interests of their city and fully able to maintain their rights against any who may assault them.

In spite of these considerations, however, a persistent effort has been made to deprive Seattle of this advantage and to bestow it upon another city. Every effort was made to induce the owners of the Denny mine to swerve from their determination to make the interests of Seattle their own, and when these efforts failed an attempt was made to throw a cloud upon the title by which they held their mine. This also failed, and the Denny Iron Mining Company was left in undisturbed possession of its property and unshaken in its determination to prevent any discrimination against Seattle.

The result of this battle is that Seattle will now reap the benefits which are her due. The Denny mine will be operated, and the interests of Seattle will be duly regarded. This city is accordingly more than master of the situation and its position is more than secure. For this we owe thanks to Mr. A. A. Denny, Mr. Peter Morton and their associates in the Denny Iron Mining Company.

Mr. Peter Kirk, the managing director and the largest stockholder in the Moss Bay Iron and Steel Company, whose large establishment is in Manchester, England, is an inventor and an engineer of world-wide reputation and bears the high character for integrity, ability and for practical skill in the management of great enterprises. His "backing" is all that is needful for development on the largest scale of the great iron masses of the Puget Sound Basin. With Mr. Kirk as his general agent, and as secretary of the Moss Bay Works to be located at Lake Washington, is Mr. W. V. Williams who is now the secretary of the English Moss Bay Company. Mr. Williams was brought up in Mr. Kirk's and has been his most powerful assistant.

They ask no bonuses nor subsidies. They have already expended a large amount of money in their chosen site at Lake Washington and will go ahead without delay in the work of building here an industrial establishment of the largest order.