The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-10-26
Hard Time. In sh. East.

" rhs COAST III b@rmau.
These ara trying times for the little yard
dealer OF the East. They are not 30 roseate,
either, for the manufacturer and wholesale
dealer 81 this end a. they might be. Il is
very hard matter 70 make collections,
and the daily mail Is generally productive
of some queer missives. Not very long
since q prominent Tacoma firm received
q letter from North Dakota firm, which
operates lumber yard in connection with
one Of those typical North Dakota general
stores, where everything 10 sold from dry
goods, millinery and groceries 10 lime.
lumber and hardware. The letter Is as
follows:
''Ga,tIesAen: In reply to your favor of
q recent date. will say that there is no
use being cross because we do not pay you
the note or the open account We will
anything at present. We do not get hold
of enough currency 10 buy beefsteak.
There 10 absolutely no money in this sec
ton Of the countryj we have not taken in
so in three weeks, and vet we carry q
stock Of merchandise OF about $1,000 to
$1,000. We could not sell bill OF lumber
or anything else now for 10 cents on the
dollar for cash: neither have We sold any
goods since last March on time nor
iumber since April. You say you
do not see hoR We continue TO do business
and not pay bills. Well, the fact is we are
not doing any business. although We are
here and ready TO do business il opportu-
nifty ever offers. lou folks don't know
anything about hard times; We don't have
half enough 10 eat, while you folks can
catch fish and live. We have Just taken
an invoice of the lumber on hand that w Q
received from you folks--amounting to
500, which you can have as settlement of
your claim. We know of no better secur-
iiy 10 offer, although we own about SO. 900
10 $50 900 worth OF IT in real estate, mer-
chandise and paper. but II We had half of
North Dakota We could not borrow a dol
lar on IT, There 10 no use of your threat
ening TO give US trouble. for you can't do
il for the reason that we are ready 20 turn
out all the goods necessary TO satisfy the
claim. II you have q judgment ali You
could do is 10 attach; but IL is not neces-
sary TO attaeh-you can have anything
you want or that we have without attach
ing. AS for money, there 10 no use talk
ing; we have none and neither can we get
any: we have quit trying to get any for
the present This letter Is in substance
lust what We have written all cur cred
Iiora and there is none that have or viii
molesz as. We do not owe so much bat
that we can get out O. X. If we have time,
and under the present financial conditions
We are unable TO say how much time IL
will lake"
But hard times are not peculiar 10
North Dakota by any means. A Seattle
firm recently received letter from an
Indiana dealer who is not wanting in
originality. The Indiauian was anxious
70 retrench, and went about il in this way
sGsnflemem--i received notice today from
the local bank that they have your bill of
ading for car of shingles and collection
for the same This being the case. guess
Won had better TO look to them for your
nav for the shingles. / guess / do not
need them any way. and as the bill of
lading Was sent TO them and not TO me,
lust let them have the shingles. / cannot
use them.
dealer in Missouri, on the other hand.
solved the financial question by going
fishing. A Seattle firm. who had been
sending him price lists occasionally, be-
came aware OF this by the receipt of the
following:
.ss;ensleBsea: From this date please
don't sead your price list 10 rue until fur
Their notice VIII be away for some
months, during which time | will buy
nothing and no one viii be here TO take
the list from the Office.