Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-04-13
o., WPI,. W,~H!N..roN rER.
OLYMPIA. FRIDAY EiLl!NG. APRIL. T.. tSNSS
High Prices.

\ c"rr,>l"ndrnt oi The Portland News.
writing from Port Townsend. under date
o.' the "sth nj, nlluG,~ a. Whrt h. STYLES
tlIt >cl iing-uUt mania" which prevails
at The ,."ri q: ,iifry. aud .ivc> ~"lnr v,.ry
suggestive reasons Why that place ht~
been kept in The back ground while "'H,r
communities nave in;r,r rapid strides il
the steady march of improvement Whirh
set III many months ago. He >.ty- tint 4:
iicir> which have hitherto Old al from -
To- s. are now nlicrt q for 81 or "co>f." a., i,
o>tcn,a,iou>iy announcri by The Gralcr-.
He thinks hat the m,rha:.i~ have been
rilng up too mach profit, when they
make 81 earn 81, an opinion which h''
will find no difficulty IN cory!ucia@ Ii"
purchaser i cmincnily sound Thc>r
figures doubtless represent s.mr unusual
commodity and of course cannot apply To
staples, or even articles included in the
general line of business; Int there is no
question that some of the old-ime mcr-
chants on Puget Sound very reluctantly
accept the new order of things which close
competition has inaugurated. The time is
past when 100 per cent profits can he
charged. There WAS some excuse for il
when, thirty Years ago, the farmer. who
was the principal customer carried his
butter home unless he could sell it to the
s,ore-keepcr for 81 per pound. 1t might
have been endured, As a matter of ncccssi.
ty, when the fare on the Sound was SIS TO
Victoria, and corresponding rate be
tween ports, and when three DAYS stage
route was the only means Of communica-
ton with Portland. But times have
changed. Freight can now be brought
from Portland at reasonable rates, and the
reduced cost of transportation on the
Sound, places the heavier stocks and com.
petitive prices of Seattle and Portland, in
direct conflict with the large profits of
ten or fifteen years ago.
While matters remain in transitory
state, this condition of times is unfor.
tunate for the smaller communities. 1t
requires time for facts to teach the local
dealer that he must adapt his business to
these outside influences, which each wear
come in closer relation to his trade. We
have seen the business of Chehalis county
absorbed TO great extent by Portland
without the means Of preventing it. until
better means of communication are pro-
vlded, but this will not Apply to the loss
OF the trade. formerly flowing to thi, place.
from Lewis county. We have equal facil
tiles for transportation of supplies to, and
products from, this thriving district of
country, as are enjoyed by our State neigh.
bors, the only difference against trade be.
ing that our prices are higher and our
business men unprepared to handle the
large yield of staples from that country
which always find a ready market in
Portland. We must not shut our eyes tn
painful truths. We must not STAY the
hand which would remove the covering
from an ulcer, although its contemplation
may afford pain. We lop off branches TO
promote the thrifty growth of tree. as
we cut the flesh to remove the poison
which otherwise would spread through
the system. The first step towards relief
Is IN realization of cause of decline,
Inc sklllful physician diagnoses IA case
before he can ascertain the precise remedy
to apply. These truisms apply with force
to the subject under consideration. The
remarks of the Port Townsend correspond
ent have wider application than in his
own community. Every day orders are
sent to Seattle and Portland for goods in
Jobbing lots, to supply the logging camps
and families in this county; every steamer
brings goods from these rival points which
might just as well have been bought from
our merchants. Why isit? Can ANYBODY
give tenable reason? The small adj
ditional cost incurred for transfer of FREIGHT
at Seattle is much more than balanced bv
the higher rents in Seattle, and still some
classes OF goods are sold at prices which
justify the payment of freight from Seattle
BY the purchaser. 1t is just as true that
commercial values will equalize them.
selves as it is that every atom must obey
the law of gravitation. When this is
admitted and liberal policy begun, the
greatest gamers will be those who, at first
thought, will feel most disposed to find
lault with us for disclosing these unpal-
atable truths.
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