The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-03

progress during the year row opsasng.
The Ocean Commerce.
The haroor improvements in progress
and contemplated VIII not be any TOO ex-
eenstvs for eshs commercs OF the port. *
e continues 70 grow as Il has grown n the
last few years. The city mas continually
reached cut further for trade and tie ex-
tensions o. tho past few years make fur
Their extensions seem possible which would
formerly have been considered the dreams
OF a visionary. The peopls began this ex-
pansion by grasptng after the trade OF
Alaska. which had until nat tine oeen
controlled by San Francisco and Port
land Seattle became the outIftung point
for prospecto-s bound for the Yukon and
Cook inies and for yearly growing meets
OF fishing vessels which went 20 the cod
and hzlibut banks OF the Alaskan coast.
Seattle mea went 10 Juneau. the Alaska
metropolis, engaged IN business there and
became customers OF the wholesaie Cfer-
chants IN their Old home city. AS develop
il,euf OF the Alaska nlles progressed ana
me army OF prospecrors when invaded
the placer districts grew yearly, the VOL
unae OF trade with thai vast territory in
creased and Seattle absorbed large pro-
portion OF 70. Last year there was great
rush. both to Cook inlet and Sne Yukon,
ali starting from and returning TO seat
tle and the city fastened It's grip nrmly
ana finally on the trade OF that region
7. Is estimated that this city now controls
Is per cent. OF Il and that proportion ii
likely 10 bs maintained Il not increased.
The enc thing Lacking in the trade with
Alaska IS some bank or business nrIn
which wii purchase the placer god
brought down by cns miners and thus
prevent It's passing on through the city
10 san Francisco. A large amount OF
trade IS lost by Seattle merchants because
OF this deficiency.
The next step was the establishment of
trade relations with Central America
THIS. like the development OF the Alaska
trade, was the resuit solely OF local en-
1erpr.se. As a result OF several visits 10
that region, ]. E. Chilberg became con-
WINGED that Seattle could build up profit
able trade by establishing a steamer line
in competition with those plying from San
Francisco and, in the face Of many Dis
couragements organized a company among
MS friends and associates In the city.
They chartered the steamer Transit wil-cn
has taken down several fun cergoes and
has brought back shipments OF ore and IS
developing a return trade IN coffee, or
(which the first shipment was brought IN
last month.
The greatest step IN the development OF
ocean commerce was taken last summer,
when the Nippon Yusen kaisha, the great
Japanese company. which owns 81 steam
SHIPS, selected Seattle as its port on the
American coast OF the Pacific and began
TO run monthly steamers in connection
with the Great Northern railroad and the
Northern Steamship Company. Every
steamer has come and gone with a fun
cargo and the demand for space has so far
exceeded the supply that an extra steam
er had 10 be sent to take the surplus and
sailed With full cargo. The exports were
mainly home products-lumber, -four,
"A v-r1
houses, while the principal imports were
tea, silk, rice. spices. curios and fancy
goods. these being mainly destined for
Eastern points.
Trade With the East.
The trade with the Eastern states has
also been growing, fostered by the fact
that three franscontinentai railroads ter
inmate ct Seattie--tiae Northern Pacific.
Great Northern and Canadian Pacific. the
last by connection with the Seattle s. In
ternationai. For years hops have been
shipped by the carload to New York.
whence they are sent to England. The
Eastern market was then invaded by
Washington lumber, the depletion of the
interior timber areas and the consequent
high pr.ces opening the way. Heavy
bridge timbers, flooring and siding have
been shipped in large quantities and red
cedar shingles by the billion, while fir fIin-
Der is fast coming into use for railroad
cars and cedar blocks are a more recent
article of trade with the East. Fruit and
fresh fish then found their way East In
refrigerator cars, Washington strawber-
RES beng counted a delicacy IN Chicago
and Puget Sound salmon having found
favor IN that section, while Puget Sound
cod and haifbut have invaded the strong
holds OF the New England fishermen at
Gloucester, Mass. In all these industries
Seattle has taken the lead; being the
headquarters of some OF the largest iunn-
Der firms and fish and fruit-shipping firms
on the Sound. The product OF the Seattle
wooden mill has also found its way into
tla interior states.
Economy with Progress.
In sts municipal affairs the city has
never been governed better or more econ
umically than during the last three years
and at the same time many valuable inn
provements have been made. Such rec
ord IS particularly creditable of q time
when the reduced valuation OF property.
united with the reduced ability of the
people to pay their taxes In shrinking the
csty's revenues. In the face of these facts,
the city has been maintained on a cash
basis provision has oeen made TO wipe out
the floating debt, interest on the bonded
debt has been paid promptly. Not only
this. bat several OF the principal streets
have been paved, miles Of suburban streets
- C4s
FIRE department enlarged and steps have
been taken for the construction of grav-
sty water supply system to take the place
of the present pumping system whenever
the requirements OF the city have in
creased to such n degree that the latter
system has become too costly to be con-
tinued. The city Is well equipped to ac-
commodate the large increase Of popula-
ton which IS sure to come with the new
ara now as wntug.
Location OF the City.
Seattle has its center on the shore OF
Elliott bay. midway OF the length OF q
narrow neck OF rolling land which divides
that part OF Puget sound from Lake
washington. this neck being no more
man TIVE miles wide ct It's narrowest
point. From This center the city has ex-
tended rs limits uorthwaTd 20 SalTno-
bay, Green Lake and Rayeane park. and
southwark &c tae head OF Elliott bay.
while tie western boundary has ocea de-
naea IS the center OF tire main channel or
The DnWamlsh river. entering the bay
from tt}e south As thus extended, the
c.rv covers an area Of 3 square niles but
outside % these limits Is has several sa-
buTAs wh.ch are essentially paris or rhs
same community, though not inciuaed
ws~-lin the municipality. s8ca are Bal
lard. > tar Vsug town % nlSay sawEni4Is.
on the rorla shore Of salmon bay. which
g connected hy an electric car lAne; Dl-
vanish al the head of Elliott bay. South
PaTk ard Van ASSET. further Up ths Du-
vanish valley. kirkland and HouEaion,
on the east saore o. Lake WHsh.ngtoTl;
East Seattle on Mercer island. 10 the cen
ter % ere aEe: RsrF0r, ~ me souta end
OF me .akS. Many residents 81 these
p,aces 30 business ~ The city and 20 10
and fro morning ard evening. thus being