The Cabinet of 1889: A Seattle Real Estate Snapshot
While Secretary Tracy and other federal officials were scrambling to find housing in a bustling, growing capital, Seattle was busy laying the literal groundwork for its own future growth.
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.
Secretary Tracy ordered a cessation of work upon the revisions of the designs of the new cruisers, as the plans were prepared and adopted by Secretary Whitney and the Democrats in the Navy Department. While they may believe that the products of British brains and British hands are always to be preferred, this is strongly felt to be truly American. The design, however, was regarded as all right as long as the Democrats had control of the government. The homes of the cabinet members have been provided for next winter, and the style is expected to far exceed that of the Cleveland regime. Secretary Tracy has bought the large house occupied by the secretary of the late administration. Secretary Windom has returned to his own home, but it is not likely that he will occupy the same one he had when senator. He has purchased the house on Massachusetts Avenue formerly occupied by Minister Lincoln when secretary of war. Secretary Noble is the last cabinet officer to settle. Monday he leased for three years the fine house formerly owned by Ben Holladay. Taken altogether, the cabinet is well provided for.
“Taken altogether, the cabinet is well provided for.”
In 1889, as the Harrison administration cabinet members struggled to find elite housing in Washington D.C., the burgeoning city of Seattle was simultaneously advertising street grading and sidewalk construction projects. Much like today, Seattle's growth was driven by an obsessive focus on real estate development and infrastructure, with the same tension between local civic building and national political winds.
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