Tacoma: Electric City of the Pacific Coast, 1904

"Tacoma: Electric City of the Pacific Coast, 1904" by Louis W. Pratt is a historical account detailing the development and characteristics of Tacoma, Washington, in the early 20th century. Written during the early 1900s, the book serves as both a promotional pamphlet and a guide that provides reliable information on Tacoma's geography, climate, economy, and social structure, all while aiming to attract potential businesses and residents to the city. The text discusses Tacoma's notable advantages, including its prime location as a seaport, encompassing its healthy climate and access to natural resources, which facilitated its growth as an industrial hub. It highlights the city's rapidly growing population, increasing from 37,714 in 1900 to over 60,250 by 1904, and emphasizes its booming industries, especially in lumber, manufacturing, and smelting. Pratt also illustrates Tacoma's extensive infrastructure, such as railways, electric power systems, and trade routes to the Orient, underscoring its role as the leading manufacturing and commercial center on the Pacific Coast at that time. Overall, the book paints a picture of a city thriving with opportunities and poised for further development.