City of Seattle Records

To the honorable, the Mayor and theCommnCouncilof the City ofSeattle:-- Gentlemen;: The undersigned, John Graf respectfully says; that he is the owner of Lots 5 and eight in Block 36 of Boren's Addition to the City of Seattle, being the North-east corner of 5th and Terrace Streets; that said Lots are all the property he has and from which he has been supporting himself and family and been paying taxes, and that upon said lots were valuable buildings, towit: The Terrace House", one large dwelling house in rear thereof, and six smaller buildingsl that said buildings yeilded a rental of $350. permonth; that the City of Seattle caused said Terrave Street to be graded and for many years had been attempting to grade 5th Street between Jefferson Street and Yesler Ave; that said 5th Street was cut 12 feet below the Eastwick Grade legally established by the city, the undersigned having built four houses on said lots in conformity with said First grade; that said City caused said Terrace Street to be graded much below said Eastwick Grade and by so doing removed the lateral support from said lots and other property; that every since October 28th about the time said Terrace Street was completed, the greater portion of the property of the undersigned has gradually slid down into said 5th Street; and that three of said buildings on the said lots have been wholly wrecked, including "Terrace House" which had just been completed at an expense of $3000.00 That petitioner has suffered loss on said lots amounting to at least $6000.00 and that the loss by reason bo said slide to the lots is at least $4000.00 making a total loss to said buildings