Directly north of the city is North Tacoma, on Maury's Island, which is not quite an island although it bears that name, an inlet called Quartermaster Bay running across the southeast portion of Vashon Island, and nearly cutting off this insular fragment. I am not at present able to see why North Tacoma exists, but have no doubt the projector of this town has an object in view.
The evident intent visible along the water-front is equally recognizable in the plan of the city, with its wide avenues, handsome business houses, tasteful dwellings, and excellent street-railway service. Nothing has been left to chance, but as one takes in the whole view its design is as conspicuous as the city itself, which being set on a hill cannot be hid. At the head of the bay the slope of the ground is such as to offer facilities for railroad, manufacturing, and other business improvements, and there we find them. Further along towards the west and under the high bluff are the wharves, to which ships can sail.
The authors of the design of Tacoma are to be found in the Tacoma Land Company, a corporation formed of certain of the preferred stockholders of the Northern Pacific Railroad after the selection of Tacoma for a terminus. This company purchased three thousand acres already secured b} T the railroad company, and thirteen thousand more. The railroad company secured a majority of the stock of the land company, and reserved enough ground for its terminal facilities, which comprise many miles of track in the yards, freight and wheat warehouses, coal-bunkers, freight and passenger depots and offices. The land company, besides laying off and improving the townsite, has looked after its embellishment, healthfulness, and convenience in many ways. A reservation was made of thirty acres in the midst of the city for a public park, which has been partially improved by the city government. Tacoma is, in fact, unusually well provided with pleasure-grounds. The six hundred acres reserved by the United States Government at Point Defiance has been recently dedicated to the city for a public park, and the city council had secured a lease of two school sections adjoining the city on the south and on the northwest (which lands could not be purchased before the admission of the State), to be devoted to the public use as parks. Taking these
