, 1873-04-03
iron THE PUGET SOUND DgspATcH.l
Business.

NV anu 11uidtlOtto 1tlt IllC Ck1tS Ol
dull times-merchants, farmers and
mechanics complain that money is
scaTce-and the obligations that they
owe their neighbor or others, can
not be Cancelled, unless change
takes place soon. Is there a cause
for this and what is it? Where
has all our money gore? How is it that
there is not the same amount in circula-
ton here in proportion to our trade, as
there is in other cities on the Coast?
These Questions, require little con-
sideration. Where, on the Pacific Coast,
is there a city, town or community of
any note, except on Puget Sound. that
has not the interest invested by her own
citizens to retain the wealth, that justly
belongs to them? The cause of these
complaints is simply this: Our busi-
ness men are SO blinded in the pros
perity Of the little that they can gather.
from our midst, as to lose sight of the
vast amount that is yearly exported
from among us, and which in other
cities, to a great extent retained.
What are these interests? Means
whereby they save vast sums of money
in interest; companies that bring back
into circulation in their respective places
the vast sums, that as from here, are
yearly exported in payment of freight
and interest.
What is OUR position?
Every year there is from thirty to ffty
thousand dollars paid ont in interest;
great portion of which can be saved, by
the proper manifestation OF public en-
terprise. Freights cost our merchants
from seventy-fve to one hundred and
twenty-five thousand dollars more,
which to certain e. tent is dead loss
to the community. There is no reason
why at least three quarters of those vast
sums should not be kept in circulation
in oTIr midst.
Possessing a country teeming, with
every element to foster commercial in
tercourse with the outside world. we
have been for years subject to the mer-
ciless dealings of grasping monopolies
whose entire interests are foreign to that
of ours, in so far. that they give US very
little for what they get.
In the matter q transportation by
steam, we have for years been subject
to the viii and pleasure of the owners of
such steamers as the George S. Wright,
which has al last proved as was often
predicted, a floating coffin for many
valuable lives.
Now, at time when the people of
Puget Sound seem cut off from all in
tercourse with the outside world, it is
time that they madea move in their own
behalf. The Government has prohibit
ed our receiving by the Prince Alfred
those goods of which we stand in i'm
mediate need. Our steamship inter-
course with both San Francisco and
Portland is broken, and it is perhaps as
well that we are rid OF class of vessels
in which the owners thereof are afraid
TO trust their own lives. But what we
want is home-interest oceanic COM
munication with San Francisco. Port
land is an after consideration. We want
that means of transit on which every
business man on Puget Sound can de-
pend, and on which their self-interest
will demand the accommodation so
long denied us.
We want the means whereby we can
save some of the vast sums of money
that are yearly taken from US by these
soulless monopolies. Interest, to GER
tain extent must be paid; and when our
business men consider the vast amount
of money expended for freights, which
can be retained in our midst by the in
vestment of few hundred dollars each,
in an enterprise such as the Merchants
Transportation Company-giving them
the benefit of their own investment, as
well as benefting the community al
large-they will hardly hold back from
furthering an undertaking SO adyanta-
geous to, not them alone, but the whole
Sound country.
With large and growing commerce,
we certainly are able to sustain local
Steamship, manned and managed by
Puget Sound people. We have skiliful
men, who are navigators OF acknowledge
ed ability, and who are alive to the in
terests of the people on the Sound. Let
vessel owned by Puget Sound people
and sailed by them, return your freight
to you. and let it circulate here and not
as heretofore, in Portland, San Francis
co, or any other place. Hereafter carry
your own freight and pocket the freight
money yourselves. If the profits are
good to them they are better to you.
Now is the time for action when the
Stock books go around, and don't fail
to subscribe literally. We have money
in our midst and suitable vessels can be
bought for money. A great sum is not
required. Our trade at present. does
not require Leyiathan. Steamships
of two and three thousand tons are not
what we want. A steamer with carry
ing capacity of 1000 tons, is amply suf-
icient for our trade for the next two
years at least, and larger one would
only be an expense. An enterprise Of
this kind has never been attempted on
this coast. to our knowledge. Companies
on the Atlantic Coast representing large