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Last edit about 4 years ago by StephanieJoWebb
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Seattle, W. T., August, 1885.
Remonstrance against the granting of a license for teh sale of liquor on the east end of Jackson Street:
To the Hon. Mayor and Common Council of the City of Seattle::
We, the undersigned, being either residents of the First Ward of this City, or owners of property near the place herein referred to, being informed that one Richard Pritchard has made application to your Hon. Council for a license to sell liquor at retail near the east end of Jackson Street, would respectfully represent and petition as follows,:
That in the month of May 1884, the said Richard Pritchard applied to this Hon. Body for a retail license for the sale of liquors upon his premises near the east end of Jackson Street in this City, that point being the last hill top toward Lake Washington on said street. At that time two or three remonstrances were filed with the City Clerk by residents and property holders in that vicinity signed by about 200 persons without regard to party or opinions strongly protesting against the granting of any license for the sale of liquor in that vicinity, and also setting forth that the said Pritchard had been a keeper of a house of prostitution on Washington Street in this City and that he had been convicted and fined as such by the District Court of this district, and also that the said petitioners were informed and believed that the said Pritchard intended to establish at the place where the said license was desired, a resort for prostitutes and other persons whose presence would be a great nuisance in the locality in question, which for many years to come can be used only for private residences.
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Your Hon. Body will be aware from an inspection of your records and papers on file in the Office of your Clerk, that this subject was fully canvassed at that time and decided by gentlemen whose impartial judgment in that matter, cannot be questioned upon any ground of antagonism to the liquor interest or disposition to restrict business enterprises.
Upon the occasion referred to, to wit: at the meeting of this Council on June 6th, 1884, there was a full attendance of the members and 5 out of the 9 present voted for the rejection of the application of Mr. Pritchard for a license at the place referred to, to wit: For the rejection of the application Messrs Charles McDonald, Geo. W. Harris, Otto Ranke, B. F. Day, and B. L. Northup.
We would further represent that at this time the prospect of any general business in that vicinity is even more remote than at the time when the former application was made and that the said applicant can have no expectation of making the business of the sale of liquor at said point profitable unless his premises shall be a resort and retreat for such persons as have been referred to.
[begin crossed-out paragraph] We would represent that it is the intention of a religious and benevolent institution to establish and erect, [illeg.] the present [illeg.], in the vicinity of the [premises?] of the said Pritchard and on the same street, a hospital to be known as the "Grace Hospital" which will be visited some of the most refined people of our City, and have selected this location and purchased the site for the exercise of their [benevolence?] in order to be free from all such disturbances as are now proposed. [end crossed-out paragraph]
We would further represent that it is the intention of
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the residents of that portion of the City to establish a school in the immediate vicinity of the premises of the said Pritchard for the common education of their children.
That the property in the surrounding neighborhood has not and will have for years to come, no value except for residence purposes.
That the City keeps no police officer, either in the day or night nearer than a mile and a half to the premises of the said Pritchard.
We believe that a liquor business at the said place will not be an accomodation[sic] to the said community nor to the travelling public as there is no through travel on the said street, to speak of, from any point beyond, and that it cannot be profitable to the said Pritchard unless he shall make it a resort for persons and for purposes which would make it a public as well as private nuisance in its neighborhood.
We believe that it would result in material damage to the value of adjoining and surrounding property and endanger the morals of youth whose parents have selected their homes with a view of being free from such surroundings.
Wherefore, without regard to party or opinions upon general questions of social reform or regulation, we the undersigned most respectfully pray your Hon. Council to reject the said application.
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W. E. Burgess S. E Burgess A. Wissinger E Wissinger D W Jackson M J Jackson F. G. Johnson P Holmes J. S. Holmes Charles D. Knight Mrs. Cassie D. Knight J. P. Thygsen L. C. Thygsen Thomas Howard Eugenie Howard Mrs. A. M. Sowtille H. G. Martin Mrs. Josie Martin Rev. D. Thomas Wynnie T. Homes S. B. Smith G. F. Abbott Mrs. L. Abbott Mrs E Woollen I. Woollen C. D. Good L. L. Good Marco Nilsen