The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-12-21
THE NEED OF BUILDINGS.
Mr.. Bailey Gatzert on the Press
ing Public Question.
s.xen Wholesale Houses are Needed
Sow-short-s sighted Policy Of
Property-Owners.

80 manager Of the large wholesale
ho,.e oil sohwabacher Bros. & 20.
and president OF the Chamber
:. Commerce, in the course or
an interview with Posi- Is
rrrI1GExcFa reporter yesterday, ex-
dressed himself upon the need Of
hn;ldings for business purposes in the
following plain language:
at Is essentially necessary" said
Mr. Gatzert, that we have buildinG
n accommodate our growing trade.
The ouenfng for business men in seat
IL i second b. that Of no other place
an the coast, and what We want j. ia
s-Iities TO do business and the business
will come.
a number OF other men OF capital who
have come TO Seattle for the purpose
~ establishing wholesale houses, and
xho. unable to find accommodation
have gone elsewhere. | say | have
heard only of few OF these people.
for thew had in view the establishment
~ grocery or hardware houses, and
they did not come to see me because
tbey thought would not be
likely TO extend them any encour-
raneement, as my firm Is itself in
these same lines OF business. Never
theless. acquainted as I am with our
facilities for this jobbing trade, I am
well aware that our wholesale houses
are insufficient TO draw and accommo-
date the trade that can be secured by
reaching out for ii. II were to make
an estimate OF the number OF whole
sale houses that are just now needed
in Seattle, ! should say that there
should be at least seven-two grocery,
one mems furnishing goods, one boot
and shoe. two dry goods and clothing,
and one drug.
while il is true that we have
number OF iobbing houses, that are
maintaining heavy stocks and
are fully able to carry
large accounts, trade that
can be induced to come here is OF such
magnitude as to leave the field open
for, at the very least, the number of
wholesale houses | have named, II
not for twice that many. The increase
of immigration during the past year
has been so enormous as to make the
demand for goods at least five times
as great az IL was two years ago. I'M
less we can induce these branches in
the wholesale trade to come here, we
cannot expect to outstrip Portland in
the jobbiHg trade: but | am confident
it can be done, If the proper facilities
are provided for the accommodation
of those who are willing and anxi-
Gus to embark In these enterprises.
The natural central location of seattle
and the fair treatment which outsid-
ers always receivd at the hands OF
merchants here, have made Us many
friends, and IL will be no trouble 10 in
duce purchasers to buy here, so long
~ we can be certain OF supplying their
wants and carrying their accounts in
the manner customary on this coast.
Il say again that IN order to hold
our supremacy, and control the job
bling trade of Washington, Eastern Or
egon part OF Montana and Idaho. and
Alaska, our property-holders must
provide such accommodations in the
way OF brick buildings as may be
required One Of the great evils that
now exists ia this city is the policy OF
landlords renting their premises TO
the highest bidder, regardless of the
kind OF business located therein, and
che custom Of cutting up their build
ings into such small rooms a. 10
render it impossible 10 place large
stocks in them. For these reasons
We have an ample supply OF retail
stores etung-h0u~eA. har-rooins. etc,
while We are suffering for q want
oil wholesale huusea | find this im-
providcnt policy 90 he lamentahly
common ON Commercial, Wash
lngton, Main and South second
streets. Property there seem
TO be impressed with the idea that the
heavy rentals thew are receiving are
completely satisfactory and profitable.
losing sight of the fact that property
is depreciating Ia value az much
heavier ratio than the gain made in
big rents. consider the streets men
toned 10 be much the best adapted for
heavy mercantile business. being most
accessible Ia wharyes and railroad de-
pots, ! deem il shOrt-sIghted policy
on the part OF the G pr1perty-owners
not to improve their holdings hy erect.
ing large, councillors Hrt-proof build
ings for the especial accommodation
Of the wholesale trade
Many OF our real estate owners
have made IL an excuse heretofore that
material for brick buildings has been
so high a, 20 make Il next 10 impos-
sib'e 70 erect such buildings. bat they
forge; thar the more numerous
are improvement OF that nature. the
greater are manufacturing industries
stimulated Demand tor material will
create competition n manufacturing
line. AND we viii have more BRICK
iaejo-ics, more iron ioWudfies, and
whatever other Industries may be
needle Manufacturers viii come
here when they find they can dispose
o. their productions aud secure all
necessary Labor
When ! first came 10 Seattle,
in 1859. considered Sl0opu1
yearly business quite large for one
establishments bat now. when our
Transaction have reached even mil
lions. think our trade is vet
IN its infancy. Business men
tTom abroad can see this as
well as L. and many seek
to come here on that account, bat ~
away for want Of accommodation for
their business We can make Seattle the
largest iOhtiuG renter this side OF san
Francisco, within very few wears, 1t
We can SO arrange il as u facilitate the
establishment oI wholesale houses,