Seattle’s $15 Million Gamble: Voters Decide the City’s Fate on Jan. 26
Two historic special elections converge on a single day in January 1891: one to annex vast tracts of land including Salmon Bay, and another to authorize massive bond issues for infrastructure and debt relief.
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.
Notice is hereby given that on the 26th day of January, A.D. 1891, in the city of Seattle, King County, Washington, two special elections will be held.
First, regarding annexation: The legislative body of the city of Seattle has submitted to the qualified voters residing in certain territory adjacent to the city whether said territory shall be annexed and included within the corporate limits. This proposed annexation includes Sections 1-24 of Township 25 North, Range 3 West; Sections 1-7, 14-15, 17-22 of Township 23 North, Range 4 East; and crucially, 'all that portion of Salmon Bay... within the corporate limits of said city except so much of the land above described as is included within the present limits of the town of Ballard.' Polling places for this annexation vote are designated at Nixon's Hotel on Boulevard (Salmon Bay precinct), White's Store (Fremont precinct), Cowan's Store (Latona precinct), and the schoolhouse (Union precinct).
Second, regarding finance: It appears to the satisfaction of the city that the assessed valuation of property is approximately $26,850,855, while bonded indebtedness stands at $955,000. The city proposes to increase this bonded indebtedness by an additional $61,704.60 to fund outstanding warrants on the road and fire funds, and to finance improvements for Widened Second, South Second, South Third, and Front streets, plus a public square. This measure is submitted pursuant to an act of the legislature approved March 23, 1890.
Voters are directed to various polling places across the city's eight wards, including City Hall at Fifth and Yesler, Coplin's Water-works at Ninth and Columbia, and the 'old schoolhouse' near Third and Pine. The polls will open at 9 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
This dual-election day captures Seattle’s explosive growth phase, where civic boundaries and financial structures were being redrawn almost weekly to accommodate population booms. The annexation of Salmon Bay and the push for massive bonds mirror modern debates over city limits expansion, infrastructure financing, and the tension between core urban development and neighboring communities like Ballard.
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