The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-21

Total for the week. ..-....-.-....$ llll,-9l ~
This is an excess OF $ls7.55i63 over the total
for the previous week and $275,S29,27 over the
total Tor the corresponding week last year.
There seems to be considerable apprehension
on the part of capitalists that the certain reduc-
ton in tariff duties under the new administra-
ton will greatly reduce the profits OF m.nuisc-
turers. They are consequently disposed TO De
very timid about investing in new manufacture
ing enterprises until the adjustment has been
made and they see its effect. This view OF tho
situation is beginning to impress itself on busl-
ness men in nearly every line of trade or indus
dustry and they fear il will seriously impede
the development of the West, especially where
so much depends upon the investment OF out
side capital in new enterprises. Dwelling on
this question at considerable length. Henry
Clews, leading banker of New York, In his
last financial review had this to say:
The new situation introduced is very wide
one. 1t means coming change in the position
and prospective value OF nearly everything
bought aud sold within our domain, and first
thoughts therefore afford very imperfect indi-
cation of what the aiterthoughts may be. kadi-
cal changes are impending i'll every branch OF
business, and national reconstruction IS before
US. The next two years, therefore. must be a
period of anxiety to some. but perhaps equally
Of hope to others. The misfortune is that manu-
facturers may have to wait for at lesst eighteen
months (unless an early special session OF the
new congress is called, which does not seem i'm
probable) before they can know what are to be
the conditions OF tariff under which they Will
have to conduct their business, which is OF
course calculated to create decentralization. On
the other hand, there must be on wide range
OF products o disposition 10 defer pur-
chases until the lower duties aud lower
prices take effect. Manufacturers, however,
have generally one certainty before them--that
duties acin be reduced; and il is therefore to be
expected that they will useevery endeavor to
anticipate the future conditions by producing
at reduced costs and thereby encouraging con-
sumption. The situation will have its encour-
agements as well as its disbursements. Con-
sumers of imported raw materials will have the
near prospect of getting them free of duty, and
openings for extending our export trade may be
expected to throw open to us important new
markets for wide range of manufactured prod
ucts Still, balancing in the most favorable
sense the disappointmeuts aud apprehensions of
one class with the hopeful expectations of an
other and even concedirg that the final out
come of the great change may prove as bene-
fetal as its promoters predict, 10 Is not to be
concealed that the best We can reasonably eX-
pect for the next eighteen months or two years
is unusual caution in every branch of business,
the deferment of new enterprises, the
cessation OF extending Industrial plant, a
continuous pressure on prices and hand-to-
mouth condition OF business 1t is to be
membered, however, that these conditions will
be mainly confined 10 the industrial portion of
our population: the agricultural half in the
meantime will reap the benefits of two success
sive years of great haryests and, it is to be in
ferred from their votes will be exhilarated by
the prospect of cheaper living and cheaper
labor.
Under all the circumstances, while We see
nothing in the new situation to encourage
active buying of stocks: neither, on the other
hand, do we advise any haste TO make sacrifices
in realizing. The commercial conditions remain
healthy: the railroads doing prosperous
business: the foreign markets are still buying
securities: and the money market, though
still active, affords all required facilities for
carrying stocks. 1t will be prudent, however,
to keep near the shore and watch the temper OF
the market under the new conditions.
Coal shipments for the week aggregated 1867
tons, four cargoes having been shipped as fol-
lows: Steamer Ai-ki, $40 tons steamer Una
tlla, 3lS tons; steamer City of Puebla, 705 tons;
ship Two Brothers, 1000 tons.
GENERAL SHIPMENTS.
During the past twenty four hours goods and
merchandise have been shipped from Seattle in
the following amounts: BY rail-Northeru Pa
cifie, AIS tons; Columbia 81 Puget Sound. 30
tons; Great Northern, 80 tons. BY water-Fair-
haven. II tons; Monticello Is tons: Mabel, 50
tons; Henry Bailey, 40 tons: Puget Sound Il
Alaska Steamship Company's boats. 81 tons;
Angeles, 20 tons; Wasco, 80 tons; Buckeye, 5
tons: Glide. ) tons Total shipments, S25 tons.
MERCHANDISE AND PRODUCE RECEIPTS.
Produce and merchandise have been received
at the port OF Seattle during the past twenty
four hours as follows: By rail-Northern Pa
cifc. 635 tons: Columbia Puget sound IS tons;
Great Northern, % tons. BY water-Fair-
haven, 20 tons; Monticello, Is tons: Puget Sound
Il Alaska steamship Company's boats, Is tons;
Angeles 30 tons; Glide, tons. Total receipts,
cfS tons