The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-02

Few people. even in this state. have an
adequate conception CT the magnitude and
Importance OF the foreign commerce OF
Western Washington. and II needs the
qualification OF official statistics TO bring
the matter home TO their attention The
monthly summary OF finance and COM
nerce. prepared BY the United States
bureau OF statistics. contains some Inter
esfsng data on the subject
Prom this II appears that tho value Of
the experts Of merchandise from the GUS
toms district OF Puget sound for the eight
months ending August. 1sSs. was &.iss5se.
as compared with s.. fae. IS for the eorre-
spending period Of last year. an increase
OF very nearly 50 per cent. a better show
lng than was made by any other customs
district IN thu United States. with two
exceptions. In the v&lue OF exports this
customs District ranks thirteenth. those
which exceed II being. IN the order OF their
rank. as follows: New YORK. Boston.
Baltimore. New Orleans. Philadelphia.
san Francisco. Galveston. Savannah. chi
caEo. Detroit. Norfolk and Vermont. The
last four named lead Puget Sound b very
small figures.
In considering thi. question OF relative
rank II must he remembered that Puget
Sound IL unique In ono respect. which -
that It's exports have been made up. dur
Ing the period mentioned. almost entirely
Of commodities produced within the bor-
dera OF the state OF Washington.
In the tonnage employed IN the foreign
commerce OF Puget Sound. the figures
throw stln more light upon the magnitude
OF our foreign trade. In tonnage OF Amer
team steam vessels engaged In foreign
trade which entered and cleared from the
ports Of Puget Sound during the month Of
August. thia customs district n exceeded
BY bat one port IN the United States. that
OF New York. The American steam ton
rage engaged In foreign trade which en-
tered at the Puget Sound custom house
during the month Of August II almost ex-
aet;y equal 10 the like tonnage which en-
tered az Baltimore. Boston. Philadelphia
end San Francisco all counted together.
IN American sailing vessels engaged In
foreign trade. the figures for the same
fnonth show almost IS well. Puget Sound
being only exceeded by two customs dis
sriets. A higher percentage OF our foreign
commerce is carried ia American bottoms
than II the case with any customs district
IN the United States Of equal or greater
Importance. In the tonnage OF foreign
sailing vessels which entered during the
month four customs districts make a
letter showing than does Puget Sound. IN
foreign steam tonnage the district gets
wei down the Est. ten ports making a
better showing.
In total tonnage in foreign trade enter
snx Tor the month rnxet Sound ia the fore
most Pacific port. having a very slight
lead over san Francisco. In comparison
MIA Atlantic and Gulf ports, Puget Sound
/ tanks below New York. Boston ard Phgia-
/ aelnhlA. hat ahead Of Baltimore and New
1 Orleans. and al other ports Ia those dis
tFiess.
Altogether the showing made OF the for
eiwn commerce OF Puget Sound Is one
which the citizens OF Washington may Zee
proud %. especially IN view OF the fact
that II has Increased r. so great rata
/ dering period Of unusual business de-
preston.