The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-09-23
GREAT WHEAT SHIPPING PORT.
Seattle May Handle 100000 Bushels
Portland Out In the Cold.

TACOMA, Sept. %. Especial. -"0ver
1000. 900 bushels of wheat will be shipped
to Seattle this season. Yes, fully that
amount; may be 4,0o0, 000."
Alexander Baltic, the local manager for
BaIfour, Guthrie & Co., said this and con-
tinued:
There is no reason why Seattle should
not handle the wheat. il they handle the
matter properly. The recent bad manage
ment of their elevator will be felt for year
or SO, but after that the prejudice will wear
Off We expect to handle all the wheat
that goes there this season, bat cannot
say how much of il viii come over the
Great Northern or the Northern Pacific"
Mr.. Baillie practically confirms a state
ment which has been quietly circulated
that Manager Tyler, of the Hunt system,
had stolen march on the Union Pacific
by agreeing to furnish the farmers with
grain sacks on condition that they sent
their grain To the Sound. As result, 1t
is said the officials of the Union are camp
ing ont in the wheat fields. trying to Sc
cure some grain for shipment to Portland.
In view of the interstate commerce laws,
it is not believed that Manager Tyler
would confess any knowledge of the trans
action, but Mr.. Baltic says:
Eyes, We have sent forward the sacks,
on condition that the grain Is sent this
way. cannot say how many of the sacks
will go to producers who have been ship
ping their grain to Portland. but it does
not matter much; the grain will have to
come this way in time"
"Whas proportion of the estimated in-
crease in shipments this season to Puget
sound will be due to furnishing grain
sacks to growers. or to the disadvantages
of shipping via Portland. or to the esti-
mated increase in the yield?'
II taink." said Mr.. Baltic, "that large
proportion of 1t will be due to the increased
yield"
He did not care to admit that the send
ing of the grain sacks did the work, or
that il was due to the superior advantages
OF the Sound over the Willamette. He
| said he had sent forward sacks enough for
over 100000 bushels. In fact he in
timated that sacks enough mad been fur
nished for 100000. Regarding the adj
vantages of shipping grain via Sound
| ports, Mr.. Baiilie said:
There is difference today of over
three cents per bashel. At Portland
| charters are worth 3ss 81. and here they
are worth 35s. Owing 10 the superior har-
Dor facilities and less towage charges. ship
owners are willing to charter vessels for
Sound ports at this time over IS 81 less
! than for Portland. Nevertheless the Union
| Pacific is securing some grain from Eastern
| Washington"
| Under the circumstances Mr.. Baltic ad-
mitted that there must be something
| rather strange about the matter. 1t is
limited that the Union Pacific is rebatinr
on the sly, and as result some of the
| local shippers are trying TO have the
| Northern Pacific investigate. The North.
ern Pacific officials say the merchants of
| Portland are assisting the officers of the
| Union Pacific to secure grain from the
Eastern Washington farmers, which is
more. they say. than can be said Of the
| merchants of Tacoma.
Everybody except Mr. Baltic, engaged
| in the wheat business here, credits the iur-
nishing OF grain sacks 20 farmers, with the
understanding that their grain is 10 be
| shipped 20 the Sound. with being the win
| ming card which will bring several more
millions Of bushels here this season than
| could otherwise have been expected. Mr..
| Battle estimates that the aggregate ship
nents of wheat 20 the Sound this season
viii he 10000 or more bushels. Last
year he SAYS the aggregate Was 5.0o0 90.
/ o'her shippers say 1t was nearer = es0 0oa.
Ia Tact, other shippers place last year 3
shipments a, 4. 600 90 bushels. and say the
aggregate this season witi be s.ooO. o11
Thus lar over twice IS much grain has been
shipped 10 the Sound tkls season as TO
/ Portland
Ihe agreements sent 10 farmers 10 sign
/ on behalf of the Hunt sxxtens nroxida Ia,
tue sale o. leasing Of sacks 81 the option
OF The farmers, and that the grain IS 10 be
shipped TO the Sound il that road and the
Northern faciae provide rs cheap rates
10 tide~sser as aay other road