The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-07
A MAKKxr FOB GRAIN.
Reasons why Seattle shouid Have
Wheat Elevator.

that the site can De oOt2ineu on sven Dca-
ter terms than were first proposed by Mr..
BIewett, and that the capital required IS
so moderate and the success OF the busl-
ness so fully assured by promises OF grain
shipments that be feels confident that it
would be paying investment. be has
been investigating the need ofsuch ware
house and states the facts and arguments
forcibly in the following communication
to the Posr-IsTELLIGEScE:
80 TIE EpIToH: Will you kindly allow
me to lay before the citizens of Seattle
some of the reasons why Seattle Is not
more of grain market and why grain
dealers do not locate hereT
"First-The present facilities for the
handling of grain are not OF suthcient
capacity for large business.
"Second-The present elevator IS To-
Gated on the wrong side of the bay TO &C
commodate the local city trade. For ex-
ample: One of our local grain dealers
chicken and other feed purposes averages
seven cars q week. The extra cost or
charges for placing this wheat from the
present elevator TO local dealers on West
street, where nearly all Is handled, IS IS
per car, as follows: Seattle Terminal
Railway Company, a.: Northern Pacific
RAILROAD Company, 81; Seattle, Lake
Shore d Eastern Railroad Company, -.
This amount of cost could be saved by
having house on this side, or on the old
barrel factory site, which of itself is
greater profit than is realized on the aver
age car of grain.
"Third-The condition of the water
front of the city today Is such that
through rates to San Francisco via Seat
tie are IRON 80 to 80 cents per ton more
than from either Tacoma or Portland,
fnf i'm, N rfq
Oregon or Idaho. This absolutely pro-
hibits any San Francisco business in
grain via Seattle, and is a very serious
matter when We consider the magnitude
OF the business. as fully one-quarter of all
the wheat of Washington, Eastern Oregon
and Idaho goes to San Francisco each sea-
son, as does nearly all the surplus oats
and barley of the above mentioned locali-
ties The Northern Pacific Railroad Conn
pany controls its own docks and wharves
at Tacoma, as does sthe Union Pacific
railroad at Portland. AT either Ilacs
grain is transferred from cars to steamer
without either transfer or wharfage
charge No railroad company in this city
has any such privileges, but they are COM
PEELED to paw both transfer and wharfage
charges, which accounts for the discrimi-
nation, and is very much against the
grain business of this city. 1t can be'oyer-
come by the building of house and
docks ON the site referred to
by the Great Northern Railway Company
joining in constructing docks on that site
for the privilege of making transfer on
through San Francisco business from car
direct to steamer. Representatives of said
company have at all times expressed a
willingness to meet this proposition fairly.
and il goes without saying that SO soon as
any one railroad company entering the
city is in position to make through rates,
and as low as any other competing city,
all other roads TiH meet them These are
few of the conditions as they exist and
that should be considered, and something
must be done to change them at once.
"Shali Seattle prepare for the hauling of
the grain crop Of 1894, which is now as
sured and is much larger than in any
former year2"
THE question of building an elevator
on the old barrel factory site has been dis
cussed for the past month and does not
meet with the support that was contem-
plated. We believe the reason for this is
the large amount of money necessary to
carry this project through these very hard
times. We feel sure that every business
man, as well as every citizen of Seattle,
fully appreciates the Importance of greater
facilities for the handling of the grain
product OF the state, aud that the import
ance of the building up OF the grain BUSH
ness of Seattle is fully appreciated.
THAT Seattle has more and better rail-
road facilities for the bringing of grain to
US than any competing city is fact. All
that is needed TO secure 1t is to provide
sufficient and favorabiy located ware
houses or elevator TO handle 1t, and We
have assurance that if this is provided one
of the largest exporting firms of the Pacific
coast will locate here and will at all times
provide tonnage for oil that can be brought.
This would enable grain to be handled
rapidly and would require much less stor-
age capacity than would otherwise have to
be provided. The season is far advanced.
and, if anyt hing is done for this seasons
business, 1t must be done at once.
"The site that has been talked of, owned
by Edward Blewett and associates. is one
of the best on the Pacific coast very
handy to the commercial parts of the city,
we'll provided with streets, and all the
railroads coming into the city running
terms that can be afforded and TO the
profitable operation OF a warehouse. or
say. piece of ground 500 feet water front
by 40 feet deep, ali inside of meander
line, which carries with II ali tide land
privileges, or a lease with the PRIV
.lege of buying at any time within
FIVE wears for 100000 and to pay
an annual rental of 7 per cent.
on said $i00. 600 till such purchase is made,
this would enable a company TO build
warehouse that would accommodate, say,
four cargoes of wheat, for a cash outlay OF
not to exceed $4,000. Such house as |
have in mind would be 3o0xl2o feet, two
stories high, with necessary conyeyors in
the house and from the house to the out
side of the dock Ii would also build a
dock sufficient TO accommodate the grain
business. This does not provide Tor any
elevator. but as fully 50 per cent. OF all
the grain comes 20 terminal points on this
Coast sacked the elevator can be dispensed
with this season and can be built IN
future.
The benefits to be derived from this
project TO the business interests of this
city are incalcuiable, and nc investment
could be made that would pay better. The
matter should be taken up, public meet
ing should be called at once and the mat
ter fully discussed. These are only the
ideas OF one citizen. and quite likely if the
question was fully discussed other plans
o. ideas would 10 offered that would be
better and more feasible. 1 am assured
by responsible parties that at least 90
OF this mount will be taken by one firm
OF grain dealers Of the city. Such house
can be built in forty days, which Will be
IN time 70 take care Of this seasons BUSH
ness.
''In conclusion, my fellow-citizens, beg
OF you to answer for yourselves these
questions; Shall the rity OF Seattle. the
future commercial and money center of
the state OF Washington, refuse 10 handle
the product of our own stateR shall We,
IA the frantic effort Ia map out plans
that would surely he large enough 10 hold
our great future metropolis, forget 10 take
advantage 81 present opportunities that
would give as Immediate relief, and allow
neighboring cities 20 take the business
that should be oars
n. ffx~a1