The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-01

full share Of natural products. The cIl-
mate is not so very bad for many hundreds
Of miles up the coast. and although as coid
Wisconsin or Manitoba, il IS free from
disastrous storms Mining equipment,
supplies and provisions of all kinds form
the principal portion OF this trade, with
guns. powder, tools and all domestic fur-
uishings. The Alaskan trade IS being da-
verted from San Francisco to the Sound,
although its chief augmentation IS Que 20
increase of population
The shores of the Sound are already
dotted by embryo settlements. The
Hoods canal country, almost entirely
tributary to Seattle. is rapidly increasing.
Kitsap's population has doubled ID two
years, and the property valuation Increased
over $500 in one year. SnohoH1ish has
grown from 6.0S4 to $3.50 in a year, with
property valuations rising from si.6l0sZ2
TO 4.625. i73 in the same time: and skagit,
Gill to s.6s4, and property H.aS305o TO
$40 in one year. These counties,
with Island and San Juan alone form a
very considerable leld for the iobbing
trade of Seattle, and Whatcom county's
still greater trade can be held by providing
transportation for freight adequate to its
rapidly growing business. and so offsetting
the tendency to seek independent supply,
which cannot, with ordinary prudence,
compete with the wholesale advantages OF
Seattle.
The opening up of the Seattle & North
ern railroad, the Fairhaven & Southern,
the extension Of the Seattle. Lake Shore &
Eastern. construction of the Belt line,
completion of the Seattle & Montana and
of the Portland d Puget Sound, all tend 10
davn3rrs .,~<< - nd
country. induce interior settlement. and so
augment trade
The city affords excellent opportunities
for certain lines Of jobbing and supply.
Among these are a tannery, boot and shoe
factory and powder factory. One or two
mourning mills are badly needed, and one
which would make a speciality of corn
meal, oatmeal, ETC.. would do good bush
ness. Dry goods, mems furnishings. hats
and caps. paints. oil and glass are dealt
with in sufficient quantities to offer en-
couragement to wholesale houses in each
OF these businesses
During the past year there has been a
very general steadying of freight rates.
Competition is equaliZing these, and many
complaints of discrimination at way ports
have been met by reimbursement The arri-
val OF the City Of Seattle as an additional
carrier for the Sound trade makes quite an
important increase in transportation facili-
ties, but the oulk of trade being so much
greater than two or three years ago, the
significance Of its presence is diminished.
There Is no want of transportation on the
Sound now, with one exception, and that
Is an Important one. 1t IS the need OF
small, swift and comnodious tramp
steamers to ply between Seattle and land
ing places on the islands where fruit and
vegetables are plentiful. This traffic can
be considerably increased when the cost Of
transportation is reduced country roads
are not very good yet. and the products
will not permit of very high freight rates.
Within the past twelve months Seattle
has added very important auxiliary to
her general trade by the erection of a
wheat elevator. 1t was finished too late
in the year 10 be available except as a sue
cessful experiment, but by next fall the
arrangements for shipment viii be vastly
increased. The mere handling of the
wheat in transfer from car 10 h old does not
add much to the local prost, but the pres
ence of feet of vessels will have a very
decided effect. In connection with this
the ship chandlery business will receive a
stimulus. Spars, rigging, canvas, chains,
anchors and the other requisites of mari
time outut will be needed, and there is
nothing to prevent the manufacture of all
the iron work on the spot.
In conclusion. it may be said that there
is scarcely an article of manufacture which
cannot be placed on the local market with
certainty of ready sale. The proportion
of imports to manufactured goods is out of
all ratio, and is due TO the reader and
fully ample returns afforded by rnerchan-
dizing. a warning is not out of place that
the days are past when large pro..ts may
be expected. The experience of the Board
of Trade is that the competition now is
sufficient to call for very careful manage
ment and close attention to the details
which make the margin between cost and
proht. The tendency is TO contraction of
stocks and stricter lines of trade With
prudence, the natural and inevitable in
crease of trade will insure year fully as
prosperous, if less exciting. than the last.
r. III. GoTDIE.
Secretary Board of Trade.