The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-26
Total fnrtne weak

This was an excess of $1s,4-1.06 over the total
Tor the previous week, and s666. 46S ca over the
total for the corresponding week last year.
This does not indicate much OF a falling of in
business. though the fact remains that trade
has been rather slack with tie wholesale houses
the past week The commission houses all en-
joyed very good trade, but this week will
probably be rather quiet This is the season OF
the year for taking inventories of stock and
balancing up accounts so merchants and manu-
features can ascertain just how thsy stand be-
fore the beginning Of the new year. 1t will
probably be a month or six weeks before things
begin to pick up again, but after that there is
every indication OF rapid improvement until
trade has reached the degree OF activity II kept
up the past summer aud fall.
On the whole the past years business has been
quite satisfactory, and in some lines really
phenomenal The lumber business has been
rather dull. The outside demand was fair, but
prices have been SO low that there was but very
little profit in il, and there does not seem to be
any prospects of an early Improvement The
coal trade was also poor up to a few weeks ago.
but now there Is good demand in San Fran
cisco, ana 1t is difficult to ship fast enough to
supply it
There is every evidence that the grocery and
hardware trade will be quite as active neyt
season as it has been this The shingle business
has been constantly growing, and there is moth
ing to indicate that it will not continue to do
for some time to come, and, as the market is ex-
tended into new territory and the demand in
creases, prices will necessarily advance so it
will become more profitable.
Then the completion of the Great Northern
through the rich mining district on the head
waters OF the Skykomish river, and the Monte
Crsto, tapping one of the most extensive min
ing countries on the Coast, give assurance that
large forces OF men will soon be at work open
ing up these mines and drawing their supplies
from Seattle.
In addition to all of this there are assurances
that work will be started on the Portland & Pu-
get Sound branch OF the Union Pacific with the
return of spring and it is more than likely that
other lines will be located and work begun be-
fore the close of the year. All these are reason
able influences to count on as indications of an
approaching degree OF commercial and indus
trial activity never before experienced in the Pa
cifc Northwest
Coal shipments have been very fair the past
week, the aggregate being 6.461 tons. The fol-
lowing vessels took cargoes: keweenaw, $3.50
tons; Willamette. 2,279 tons; Walla Walla, 200
tons: barge Ajax, to Tacoma, 800 tons.
GENERAL SHIPMENTS
During the past twenty-four hours goods and
merchandise have been shipped from Seattle in
the following amounts: By raiI-Northeru Pa
cific, 42o tons; Columbia Puget Sound, s. tons;
Great Northern, 60 tons. By water-Mabei.
Multnomah, l. tons; Wasco, 20 tons; Glide, 7
tons: Buckeye, tons Total shipments, 623
tons.
MERCHANDISE AND PRODUCE RECEIPTS.
Produce and merchandise have been received
at the port of Seattle during the past twenty
citc, $40 tons; Columbia Il Puget Sound, 20 tons:
Great Northern, ll0 tons. BY ter-Monticelio,
10 tons; Fuirhaven. Is tons; Wasco, 10 tons;
Glide 10 tons; Msbe, . tons aotai receipts, 100