Seattle's Pitch to Host the 1897 Christian Endeavor Convention: Cheap Fares, Empty Boom Hotels and 85-Degree Summers

The movement to secure for Seattle the 1897 Christian Endeavor international convention is being pushed with commendable energy by the local Endeavorers, but the question has now become one of low railroad rates. The committee learned by letters from headquarters a few days ago that the city of San Francisco has the call on the 1897 meeting if it can secure as low railroad rates as the other competing cities. This puts the responsibility of securing the convention entirely upon the railroads. If the officials of the Great Northern, Northern Pacific and Canadian Pacific railroads will name a sufficiently low rate at the time of the meeting the local workers feel that Seattle is sure of the convention.

Acting on their expectation that the low rates will be given, the Seattle Endeavorers are sending a good delegation East to work for them. They will leave here next Tuesday afternoon with the excursion to the convention over the Northern Pacific. At Puyallup they will be joined by such delegates as go from the Gray's Harbor country and Tacoma, and later on will get the Spokane delegates, including State President Willcox and three or four others, all pledged to work for "Seattle '97." The party will proceed to Chicago over the Northwestern Line, stop over Sunday there, reaching Boston the morning of Tuesday, July 9, and have a full day and a half for work prior to the convention.

The committee here has been hard at work in correspondence with the officers. The following communication has been sent to each of the thirty-seven trustees:

"I want to interest you in the cause of 'Seattle, '97.' It may surprise you to know we are in the field. Our Endeavorers have gone very carefully over all the statistics and are thoroughly convinced not only that we can suitably entertain the '97 convention, but that Seattle is the very best place on the Coast for it. We made a canvass of the city and careful investigation has put us in possession of the following facts, which we believe show conclusively that Seattle should have the '97 meeting:

"First — As you will see by the map on the other side of this page, we have four direct, distinct, transcontinental railroad lines, that is to say, the Canadian Pacific, Great Northern, Northern Pacific and Union Pacific, all of them well equipped and with enterprising officials. These roads, excepting the Union Pacific, pass through a section of the country where the climate during the summer months is always comfortable, whereas the Southern roads, such as the Union Pacific, Santa Fe and Southern Pacific, lead through the hot, scorching deserts of Arizona and New Mexico, and the dried up plains of Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming and Nevada.

"Second — Seattle can take care of the convention. A canvass of the city has shown that we can accommodate 15,000 people in the hotels, boarding houses and private homes as they now stand, without going into the suburban towns. In addition to this and to these suburban towns, we can accommodate fully 5,000 more in three immense hotel buildings built during the 'boom' times which are now vacant, but could be temporarily fitted up. This would allow us to accommodate 20,000, though by using the school houses and other vacant buildings we could accommodate still more. Dr. and Mr. Baer have both estimated the attendance at the convention, if held on the Coast, at no more than 15,000 delegates.

"Third — We are guaranteed by our business men a convention fund of $50,000, or so much thereof as may be needed for the expenses.

"Fourth — Our summer climate is unsurpassed by any city in the United States, and July is the best month. Our United States weather bureau informs us that in the last three years the thermometer has not gone above 85; that July is entirely free from rainy or stormy days, and that, while we have the cool ocean breezes, there are no high winds, and sandstorms are unknown. In addition to all these I would like to describe, if I could, the many delightful attractions of our Sound country for those who wish for rest or recreation while on the coast. With our hunting, our unexcelled facilities for trout fishing, for yachting, mountain climbing, camping or outdoor enjoyment of any kind, we can supply attractions for any one. In addition, there is the delightful Alaska trip by steamers direct from Seattle (the trip is very economical), the opportunity of going to California by boat and returning to the east by one of the Southern routes, or the trip back, if desired, to Duluth and down the lakes.

"As to workers I can assure you that Seattle and the state of Washington has such men as could handle an international convention. We have a large number of strong Christian business men who are taking an active interest and who will devote their energies to making the convention not only a benefit to Seattle but a power for good to the whole Pacific Coast, as well as to all the delegates who attend.

"This matter I hope to present to the trustees in Boston. I shall be there and shall hope to meet you. While I do not ask from you any expression of opinion on this I will be glad if you will take the claims of Seattle into careful consideration and do what you can for us when the matter comes to be decided.

"I shall take great pleasure in seeing you in Boston."

The letter paper of the committee has the names of the committees in charge, including an advisory membership headed by Gov. McGraw, Judge Hanford and others. On the back of each sheet of the paper is a railroad map of the United States, showing in heavy black lines the four different routes to Seattle. The map is a credit to the enterprise of the committee and is excellent as an advertisement of the city.