, 1883-01-06

few years ago how different the aspect
of the mercantile business la Wallis Naila ,
Tnen four Or five irms controlled the entire
trade IN dry goods, clothing, hats and caps,
boots AMI .hoes, furniture, hardware. fufs,
crockery, groceries AID the staples and lax
uries Of life generally, and were practically
the only reIiances OF purchasers. Now the
business Is distributed among = hundred
c6ncerLs, ,nd Main street is lined from end
t. end with thriving II res. Whereas once
each Of the existing stores was depot for
all varieties OK merchandise, the .ari0us lines
of goods are now to u considerable aud row
inS extent handled separately and in sepa
rate establishments. In menstoning this
tendeucy. which il universal in snla and
growing places, the fact may be slao stated
that IL large cities there has been II late a
tendency tpward the consolidation 0i differ
ent departments. of business into one, result
ing ia tie establishment of vast general
stores, such now exist IN New York,
Philadelphia, Cniesgo, st. Louis AMI many
smslier cities, and where the purchaser may
procure almost snythIag on earth, salaDie,
''frOm needle 10 al anchor. The cGmUe-
tition which has arisen in Waiia Wal.a from
the Incren nse in the number of deaiers, to-
gether With material reductions cf :r-isht
charges which have taken place since the
roads and steamers came under their present
managcmant, have effected great reduc
I IL. L. I =
that 1t hds been made :. decided object to
the people OF the surrounding country TO buy
here. IL Is a tact, anomalous as it may seem,
that, with the exception Of groceries, all
varieties of store gods can be purchased III
.his city more cheaply than in Portland
The merchants Of Wails Walla express
satisfaction over the trade q. the year, and
the oldest firms say that. on the whole,
in no former y,ar mas so good showing been
made Profits have been small, but the sales
extensive anu complaint IS heard from
any quarter.
The changes to hs wrought by the open
Ing OF rail highways to the eas. are now the
subject 0: esraest consideration ty tie ,ner- =
chant. Thst the entire trade system Of
the CRY viii uaiurgo a radical revolution
cam b. d, ubssd II, asis expected and
az Mr.. Wizard Wonised two wears ago, with
r.fsrea, u ta= Northern Pacific, the policy
Of the road VII bs 70 charge 10 greater
freight rates - Interior points III tie west
than 10 the ierniI:lsls on the seaboard, In
contradistinc,i9n 70 ta- present procedure
OF the Central and Southern Pacific COM
pauie., goods vail be purchased directly from
manufsctur- rs ir the east The Incoming OF
the Short Lins aud resultant competition
must eifec, to bring about tins state Of
affairs, II there ~e:e 20 other factors IN the
-i,u.son The probability Of both highways
passing under one cOntro' - SO small as tO
be in&pprec Abe Tint the main rOsd Of the
Short Line vii run through Waila WI a,
or, indeed where Ir ~lll run IN this region, can
net be stated with any degree OF certainty,
20 closely is the veil of secrecy drawn over
the plrpoees and movements o. the company
with regard 20 this northwest. Il suthces
70 know that the line ia building rapidly in
this direction, and il Is questionable if the
city may lot derive a greater beDeIt from
being some miles off ite roIte than if the
lss.sr snail run directly through our boriiers.
A short branch 10 this place would efec:
every desired result OF the routes whereon
o. S. l.. surveyor. have been engaged none
have been reported within thirty miles from
hera The feeling is growing that Sloriou:
fstsre for Walla WslIa is assured, and thi:
impression il held abroad as well as At home
Il i aais 10 sar that the faith Of resident:
and ostsders in th,s respect was never 81
great The CONCLUSION cannot lie escape
that in the climate. soil and numerous mate
| rial advantages Of iss locality, WaIla WALL
possesses shs requisi:es ensuring her posi-
tion a. 4 metropolis.