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Domestic News
March 28, 1886
The Daily Morning Astorian
Astoria, Clatsop County, Oregon
What is this article about?
Sherman Heck, returning from Coal Harbor via Victoria, describes the Canadian Pacific Railway terminus as economically depressed with high living costs, low wages, bad weather, and little business prospects, advising workers to stay away.
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OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
How the Canadian Pacific Terminus Looked to a Seattleite.
Sherman Heck returned from Coal Harbor to-day, by way of Victoria, and just as he landed from the Starr was struck by a Call reporter for his experience. "Damdest place I ever saw," he said, by way of commencement: "no money there: board, $7 per week: wages, $2 per day for slashing, and you can't get your money at all, works are now closed down; rained, snowed and hailed all last week there: town full of stumps and shanties and no prospect of an improvement soon."
"Is there no business there?" said the reporter, as he got a chance to get in a word. "Not a bit! Six hotels are waiting for a chance to start up, and 600 men are waiting for something to do. Clayton Bros., of this city, are about to open a hotel there, and two former Seattleites have rented a 12x28 building at $40 per month to start a coffee house. That is what the business amounts to, and the best thing the working men can do is to stay away from there."
"How about property?"
Well, that's a terror. If you had a flour sack full of twenties and wanted a corner lot, you would have to give up the twenties and fish for more coin to put up a house. I have come home to stay."—Seattle Call
Sherman Heck returned from Coal Harbor to-day, by way of Victoria, and just as he landed from the Starr was struck by a Call reporter for his experience. "Damdest place I ever saw," he said, by way of commencement: "no money there: board, $7 per week: wages, $2 per day for slashing, and you can't get your money at all, works are now closed down; rained, snowed and hailed all last week there: town full of stumps and shanties and no prospect of an improvement soon."
"Is there no business there?" said the reporter, as he got a chance to get in a word. "Not a bit! Six hotels are waiting for a chance to start up, and 600 men are waiting for something to do. Clayton Bros., of this city, are about to open a hotel there, and two former Seattleites have rented a 12x28 building at $40 per month to start a coffee house. That is what the business amounts to, and the best thing the working men can do is to stay away from there."
"How about property?"
Well, that's a terror. If you had a flour sack full of twenties and wanted a corner lot, you would have to give up the twenties and fish for more coin to put up a house. I have come home to stay."—Seattle Call
What sub-type of article is it?
Economic
Migration Or Settlement
What keywords are associated?
Coal Harbor
Canadian Pacific Terminus
Economic Depression
Wages
Bad Weather
New Settlement
What entities or persons were involved?
Sherman Heck
Clayton Bros.
Two Former Seattleites
Where did it happen?
Coal Harbor
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Coal Harbor
Event Date
Last Week
Key Persons
Sherman Heck
Clayton Bros.
Two Former Seattleites
Outcome
works closed down; 600 men waiting for work; high property costs
Event Details
Sherman Heck describes Coal Harbor as having no money, board at $7 per week, wages $2 per day for slashing but unpaid, bad weather last week, undeveloped town, no business except upcoming hotel and coffee house, advises workers to stay away, high property prices.