The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-16

HE Willapa to Compete for the
Growing Trade.
BREAKING UP THE MONOPOLY.
seattle 6rsdsaiiy wsaksafsx So. rr..-
sasse's asid On the ssr,A-Pe,..
n Her FAysr.

The proposed opposition steamship In.
between this port and Alaska in now An
assured fact and the steamer wtIlana- be-
longing 10 the Straits Steamship Company
viii be lifted out and put into condition
Tor The run IL IL expected TO mako the
nrst trip about March I, 1ss5. The rand
increase OF trade between this port and
Alaska towns within the past two years,
ana the opposition On the part OF Alasks
Aercnants TO do business with this city,
we're the prime causes of the move.
ABOUT three years ago Seattle had no
tfads IN Alaska TO speak Of, all Foods be-
ms purchased in Portland and San Fran
CISCO this being due to steam boat connec-
lions In years gone by. and also TO the fact
snaf capitalists IN both Portland and San
francisco controlled enterprises In Alaska.
An opening wedge was inserted. and
slowly but surely the trade was directed
70 Seattle. In time this city became
sucn an important factor that steamers
ceased running to Portland, and this city
became the terminus OF the Alaska line.
ina move Was 8 deathSIow TO the iobbing
interests as far as Portland vas concerned,
and u then became tight between Seattle
and San Francisco. with odds in favor of
this city. on account of the extra freight
from San Francisco. The situation at
present il that each day increases the in
nusnce OF Seattle and lessons the hold of
San francisco. due TO the natural advant-
ages OF Seattle, both as regards distance
and railroad facilities. 1t has even been
the aim of Seattle merchants to cater to
the wants of Alaska trade, this. Of course,
being brought about by the high standard
ofcredit and the enterprise Of merchants
In Alaska
fnere IS sc present one line of..steam-
ships, that of the Pacific Coast Steamship
Company. running between this port and
the main towns of Alaska, and while It's
freight rates have been high, this was
necessary, a. there has been very little
profit in the business. owing to the light
return ca-goes. A new line of steamships
is to- be placed on this route. and the
Willapa. which has been running on the
Sound. Is to be the pioneer boat on this
line. She will be thoroughly renovated,
and will be placed in hrst-class condition.
The Chilcat, which has been running on
the route for the past two wears. has been
an important factor In bringing . large
amount oftrade to this city. BY her low
rates a large number of small merchants
larger houses. The people of Alaska are
said to DO very favorably disposed toward
Seattle.
The Alaska Gamers Association. a trust
owned by San Francisco capitalists, buys
all its supplies in San Francisco and ships
them to Alaska by its own boats at .
m UGH less figure than by the regular line.
This state of affairs will probably change
in time. however, as this city is the natu-
raj shipping point for all Alaska products.
and quite saving 10 made in freight alone.
The business of the saiteries. which pack
salmon in barrels for Eastern trade ID also
gradually coming to this CITY. The Alaska
Commercial Company. San Francisco
concern which formerly controlled busi-
ness on the Yukon. is meeting with strong
opposition from the North American
transportation Company, controlled and
operated by Chicago capitalists, and
which obtains most of its supplies in this