The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-01

Ing n kAtS fAtfn Ii Seattle ETaBEa~
sWhzs vii BE- she making Of shis part -
the terrisogy i tbs large namber o. peopze.
he savs, swho have small srncfs Of land. It
was great detximeus 20 California and
SEINE other parts Of the West that their
lands were bed ID extensive tracts The
eozlud country does not suffer from ary
saeh draxhaek and il vii be densely papa
lated with men w1o will Cultivate every
inch Of ths soil ard nake Seattle prosper
While they enrich themselves.
Il find my trade very diversified. Sport
Ing goods are sought here By Victoria. gem
eFal hardware goes rs far north rs Var
couver and builders materials are In de-
inand Everywhere. 4 large number Of
small orders from every point made SoTenl-
Der, usually a dnA month. one OF The best
81 the year.
We have not benefited IS much Is we
should by the opening OF the road 70 Grsy's
Harb0r. Freights are againStus Aas1er-
enee even OF one cent pound tells against
rs IN some cases. and the business is notex-
tensive enough 70 overcome IT, The local
trade in buibiers' hardware mas been ina
meuse in hulk, Of course, bat not so profit
able because nearly every merchant laid in
. stock Immediately after the FIRE. Some
of their stock az all hazards. but | know
Seattle too weIl. know the trades bound
70 grow and there is no need 70 do business
at loss.
'.The Alaskan trade is growing. and il It
Is properly taken care of IL will stay with
Seattle. The trade east Of the mountains
is growing. but steadily and comparatively
slowly. The Portland merchants with
their reader railroad facilities. had an adj
vantage over as. but their method of doing
business, with which every trader in East
ern Washington is familiar. while IL kept
custom by stress of circumstances. has
sent business 10 Seattle as soon as some
could transfer their accounts.
Zone good feature OF Seattle business,
continued Mr. Adair lis the habit of
prompt settlement. Thirty days time
means just that here. and not IS in Port
land. an interminahle extension at exorbit-
ant interest
John b McDougal, OF Toklas, Singerman
a Co., finds business vastly increasing.
The local trade is particularly brisk. and
country trade the full length of the Sound
shows marked percentage Of increase.
The delay In reaching Gray's harbor,
amounting 20 as much rs tour days, and
rarely less than three has prevented any
active development OF trade in the Che
halls country vet. Eastern Washington
merchants are taking greater interest in
Seattle and when they realize that with
competition q decrease IN profits is newt
able. they win be compelled to give up the
Portland method of doing business. aban-
don long credits with heavy interest and
adopt the liyelier Seattle method OF turn
ing over stocks more rapidly and collect
ing up from customers more closely. It is
healthier method Of business altogether,
and Of generally greater benefit to the re-
tail customer. Mr. McDougal is satisfied
that the trade OF Eastern Washington will
turn toward Seattle. Credits are gener-
ally good. and the prospects undoubtedly
encouraging.
Il C. Miles could only tell since the fire
as to his own business. but be Is convinced
that the entire trade in bis line has
doubled. He cannot make q comparison,
because so many new houses in the same
line have started since the fire; bat his
business for the past two months was equal
TO that OF the best previous six months.
He has put in forty carloads OF goods since
the fire, has paid out $4,000 in freights and
now employs forty-fiye hands as against
fifteen TO eighteen last year. The country
trade has shown a general average OF In
crease, bat he has not observed any spe-
cially notable section development
RIsdon. Calm 4 Co. could make no intel
ligihie comparison with last year. bat they
have had all the trade they could handle,
and are perfectly satisfied with the outlook.
Battin. Lee h Co., who do . general COM
mission business. say that their trade has
not increased in bulk to any appreciate
- I.
as there are three, and perhaps four.
houses in their line now 10 one before the
fire
Fisher 4 Mcdonald find their trade fully
one-third better than last year, notwith-
standing the loss Of time occasioned by the
fire. Ii has been mainly increased in Seat
tie, but ali along the Sound the demand in
creases. They find inquiries coming In
| from across the mountains and are sure
that IL is only question Of time when ii
will all be diverted from Portland. They
are in accord with the Seattle system of
short credits: the old custom OF long cred
its and high profits is disappearing with
more rapid connection with the East, and
| the fast increasing competition. They ex-
| psct tightness in money as usual after
| the Christmas trade. but it win only be tor
/ s month or two.
Kellogg & CO., dealers in hides and pelts,
report an increase OF 100 per cent Baker.
| Racon e Co, find the trade along the
| northern shores OF the Sound. especially at
| Fairaaven and Whateom. rapidly inereas-
ing. 5. Baxter & Co, declare the traffic in
| hay. grain. feed, hops and wool 20 have
/ trehled during the past twelve months.
| Iowman & Hantord trading Ia pianos.
/ fancy stationery, etc. have added fully 50
/ per cent To an already large trafic, but
/ have mainly confined their dealings 10
Z Western Washington.
/ Hyams. Pausen & Co have only been in
/ business q tew months, bat express them
/ snlras az delighted With ahafr err,arsnrna