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Tacoma: Electric City of the Pacific Coast, 1904 cover

Tacoma: Electric City of the Pacific Coast, 1904

Chapter 45: HOW TACOMA GROWS
By Louis W. Pratt
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About This Book

The pamphlet presents an early twentieth-century promotional overview of Tacoma, describing its mild maritime climate, low mortality statistics, and sheltered harbor. It outlines transportation links including rail and steamship connections, electric streetcar networks, and port facilities that support trade with Asia, Europe, Alaska, and domestic ports. The text highlights local industries such as lumber, flour milling, furniture manufacturing, and railway repair, notes abundant natural power resources, and emphasizes civic amenities including parks, educational and cultural institutions, and rapid population growth. Historical origin, geographic setting at Commencement Bay and Mount Tacoma, and practical information for prospective residents and investors are also provided.

HOW TACOMA GROWS

(Compiled from latest obtainable statistics. “1903-4” refers to the fiscal year ending June 30, 1904.)

Population of Tacoma and environs, July 1, 1904; 67,405. Increase in four years—25,094, or at the rate of 59.3 per cent.

Post Office Receipts, 1903-4, $113,598.66. Increase—14.7 per cent. in one year; 28.2 per cent. in two years; 53.7 per cent. in three years; 77.4 per cent. in four years; 132.1 per cent. in seven years.

Bank Clearings, 1903-4, $102,301,272.42. Increase—9.6 per cent. in one year; 64.6 per cent. in two years; 77.0 per cent. in three years; 97.3 per cent. in four years; 316.7 per cent. in seven years.

Building Permits, 1903-4, 1,429. Increase—37.0 per cent., in one year; 80.8 per cent. in two years; 134.5 per cent. in three years; 238.6 per cent. in four years.

Cost of Building Improvements, 1903-4, $1,691,105. Increase—9.5 per cent. in one year; 94.5 per cent. in two years; 144.3 per cent. in three years; 304.7 per cent. in four years; 855.8 per cent. in five years.

Realty Transfers, 1903-4, $6,302,837. Increase—21.1 per cent. in one year; 79.0 per cent., in two years.

Customs Receipts, 1903-4, $301,039.32. Increase—148.3 per cent. in four years; 356.7 per cent. in six years.

Ocean Commerce, 1903-4, $37,362,782. Increase—2.2 per cent. in one year; 28.0 per cent. in three years; 63.8 per cent. in four years.

Cut of Lumber Mills, 1903, 361,522,766 feet. Increase—19.0 per cent. in one year; 65.0 per cent. in two years; 96.6 per cent. in three years.

Product of Shingle Mills, 1903, 376,935,500 shingles. Increase—94.0 per cent. in three years.

Output of Tacoma Smelter, 1903, $7,059,397.30. Increase—188.7 per cent. in three years.

Daily Capacity of Flouring Mills, 1904, 5,550 barrels. Increase—146.7 per cent. in four years.

Number of Telephones in use, July 1, 1904, 6,192. Increase—250.4 per cent. since Jan. 1, 1900.

Miles of Electric Railway—Urban, Suburban and Interurban—in operation, 1904, 138¼. Increase—100 per cent. in three years.