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


reached. The treasury department has is
sued a statement of foreign commerce for
eleven months Of the year Among the
ports included those of Puget sound are
put under one head together, showing the
following values of foreign imports and
exports, which are tabled side by side with
the corresponding period of last year for
ready reference:
Imports. ...s 254,lo2 8 s5s.27I go
Exports. ............ 2,i74,S0 3,5is0si al
1t has no bearing possibly on this sub
ject. but it is of collateral interest that the
exports of San Francisco in the same pc
Rod decreased s557 ,292, and the imports de-
creased S. O9S, 627. San Diego's imports in
creased only 5000. and her exports fell
short Of the previous year by $i7O, i45. I'm
fortunately, the lgures for Portland are
not obtainable in time for this comparison
The local trade shows the same condi-
ton. Not only are stocks larger, but the
number of mercantile establishments is
greater. The city is badly in need of
wholesale jobbing houses in several lines.
This is notably the case in the dry goods
trade, where an exclusively wholesale
house would confer great benent upon
the city and reap lucrative business 1t
would need capital of $500, 900 to $3.50, co.
The retail establishments seem to be suffi-
cient. The larger ones carry total stocks
valued at between 10000 and $500. 900.
Altogether there are twenty-five dry goods
stores IN the city whose stock NAV be put
at 100000. These include say ten whose
stock range between $500 and $1,000.
The grocery trade is represented by sew
enty-six establishments, ranging from
100000 down to $780, Since last year an
other wholesale house must be taken into
account. Although it opened in Novem-
Der, its effect upon business was not felt
until this year. Ii has added about $500. 90
worth of business TO the aggregate. and
the older establishments claim that, not
withstanding this extra competition. they
have increased their trade Is to % per cent.
The stock in this line is not so valuable
for its bulk as dry goods, and although the
number of stores is so much greater, the
entire value Is in the neighborhood il NAV
be assumed, of 81, 10000
The experience of this business is prob
ably that of the entire mercantile COM
munIty. 1t is found that the increase of
traffic is connned mainly to the Puget
sound country. There has been so much
to do in that region that no special efforts
have been made to strengthen relations
with the eastern part of the state. and no
appreciable augmentation is possible until
railroad facilities are increased. Portland
is still nearer the ultra-Cascade territory
than Seattle, on account of its rail and
water connections. The down Sound
trade has been greater but the Canadian
Pacihc railroad and direct communication
between southern ports and Bellingham
bay have both had share in red ucing the
percentage of increase But what has
been lost, or rather what has not been ad-
ditionally gained from these points,
is more than offset BY a marked
development Of county and adj
jacent trade. King and Snohomish
are both ttiing up fast. and these will al
ways he tributary 20 Seattle The number
of new accounts opened in that vicinity
range from eighty 10 100, country stores
are springing mp ali along the lines of
travel, and handsome return is being
made TO local merchandising by the in
crease Of country produce. This is especi-
ally gratifying 10 the merchants because
ii keeps money in their midst To q greater
extent than when, as heretofore, dairy and
farm products had to be bought entirely in
other states.
The Gray's harbor trade has grown con-