SEATTLE’S PROGRESS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 39, 9 October 1912, Page 4

SEATTLE’S PROGRESS.

A visitor from Seattle while in Sydney a few days ago told a “Daily Telegraph” representative that the people of America were turning their eyes to Australia now as a place of good opportunities. Speaking of Seattle, this traveller, a Mr A. G, Mink, said that during the last six years there had been tremendous development, due mainly to the immense trade being done with 'Alaska. Building was going on extensively, and business sites were expensive. The price of land for this purpose had increased 200 per cent. Six years ago there were only 15,000 inhabitants in Seattle, now there were 325,000. Millions of money were being spent in the place, and this seemed to be continuing. “If the city goes ahead during the next live years as it is doing at present,” said Mr Mink, “it will bo a far larger and more substantial city than San Francisco. . The city is a very healthy place, and possesses a fine climate. Hie fish and lumber trades are the main features in connection with Seattle at the present time. All the machines and factories are kept going, and J. do not believe there is a man out of work. The timber shipped from Seattle and Washington State equals that from any other four States in America. A lot of wheat and cattle are being raised in Washington, and farming land costs from 125 L- 300 dollars an acre, but residential sites near to the centre of population realise from 500 to 5000 dollars. Some of the men who are settled on small areas—2s to 50 acres —are growing apples very .successfully. I know one man who paid 1200 dollars an acre for a 10-acre orchard, and in one year he cleared 1500 dollars an acre for the apples he gathered from it.”