The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-01
IN HubbslI, OF the firm of Vail & Hubbell.

said:
We did Just about the same amount OF BUSH
ness We did last year. We turned out more
goods. but our profits may not foot up quite as
think things have touched bottom and Will con-
tinue to improve from now on. Collections are
very good, which of itself is a very encouraging
sign. l, is net what you sell but whatyou get
paid for that counts in the actual footlngs.
G. Nellie. head of the firm of nellie Engel.
brecht, said:
OF course, it is we'll known that the demand
for sash doors. glass, etc, in the city has been
considerably lighter this year than in former
years, but our outside trade has been much bet
ter, so the result was about the same as for the
previous year. The trouble was that after the
fire, when the city began booming, too many
people went into wildcat schemes. They We're
oVer-eonhdent. 1t was bad nndncieriug and
could result IN nothing but a reaction. II is
all over now, and look for d solid growth
henceforth.
II. E. Holmes, OF the Stewart & Holmes Drug
Company, said:
Our trade has been entirely satisfactory. 1t
was much better than last year, and We feel that
the growth Is going to continue right along.
Seattle Jobbels have large field now, and there
Is no indication OF anything to cheek the up
ward tendency.
Joseph Green, proprietor of the Northwest
Fruit Company, said:
Our business will foot up from Is to 20 per
cent more than last year, and yet this has not
crop in California and elsewhere has greatly in
teriered with it. Ii the crop next year is heavy
We vii undoubtedly do a much heavier bust
ness than We did this year. The reason for this
Is the constant increase IN population, not alone
IN Seattle, bat all over the state, aud these peo-
pie all draw more or less OF their supplies from
here, no matter where they settle in the state
George B. Adair. manager OF the Gordon Hard
ware Company, said:
The year past has been a great improvement
On the year before. and feel as though the fu-
ture looked as bright as il did ten years ago
when westarted this business The volume OF
business has increased, but IL has been done on
different basis from the previous year. Then
good deal OF the business was of speculative
nature: but this year. while sales have not been
made with q large ratio Of advance. there has
been less loss and less risk. There las been
healthy increase all along the line. The many
good residences erected have caused demand
Tor good class OF shelf hardware and tools:
the construction OF railroads has created de-
mand Tor heavy hardware; the growth OF the
shlugie business has stimulated the trade in
MIL supplies: and the mining business has
caused an increased trade. seattle has been
looking more to the trade east OF the noun talns,
and as a rule We are pleased with the result.
A P. Burwell, manager of the Seattle Hard
ware Company, was equally well satisfied with
the dying years business, for he said:
Business this year has been decidedly better
than in 1891, particularly the jobbing business;
the increase is sbouti 25 per cent We have
reached out and done business as far east as Mos
and are trying to make Seattle center for the
iobbing trade. The Alaska trade is assuming
important proportions and see nothing to pre-
Vent Seattle from becoming the main disfrlbut-
ing point for that country, If the merchants VIII
look out for IL The Great Northern road II
open up new territory which VIII naturally
come TO Seattle TO do business, INCLUDING the
"enatchee and Oksuogan country. We 1each 1t
now In limited degree, though Portland has
the best of that trade now. Okauogan ooes
business with Spokane and the British Columbia
this way in great measure az soon as
the Great Northern is finished. The increase
retail trade in tie city has been very satistsc-
tory. The increase in this section came chiefly
from the construction OF new railroads, the de-
velopment OF the shinge industry and the &C.
tivity in mining. The shingle business has
been very important element in the prosper
lty OF the country in the last year. It has put
trade. from the laborer to the jobber, and has,
in great measure, settled the question of q
good many small dealers being able TO continue
In business, besides being great help in max
ing business. The mining development has also
given US considerable business. and promises
larger things in the near future. as the lines OF
transportation ere opened.
john schram, OF the John schram Company,
also takes hopeful view of the prospects for
the opening year. He said:
Trade has been about the same as in the year
1891, but the close of 1892 has been more favor
able than that of 1921 Ne began the year with
winter business was very quiet, hnt this winter
the trade is better able TO meet its bills and is
not asking extensions OF time as il was year
ago; SO that altogether the indications for 1898
are more favorable. We have extended our
business into Eastern Washington and have not
lost any trade IN Alaska and other points. The
establishment of mauy shpge mills has
made certain branches good, and We have had
good trade with railroad contractors and in sup
plies for the mining business. The increase has
been more particularly in the wholesale DEPART
ment. The completion of new railroads will
open new districts which are now inaccassib!e;
in fact, we have already mad inquiries from
such points.
A representative Of the firm Of Fischer & Mac
donald ssid his firm had done n much larger
business than it had dreamed OF doing at this
time last year. Their sales had greatly exceeded
those of the previous year and everything was
considered favorable TO a continuance of this
growth.