The San Francisco call., 1897-11-09
BIDDING FOR
ALASKA TRADE
Local Merchants Keenly
Alive to the Coming
Situation.
This Is the Best Outftting
Point on the Western
Coast.
Will Make Tempting Offers for the
Patronage of Travellers to
the Klondike.

The Alaska trading committee of the
Merchants Association is to hold big
meeting to-day in the rooms OF the City
Board of Trade, at 202 Market street, at
which there will be present representa-
tlves of the other leading bodies and oi
the transporta companies. 1t was not
until the association took hold of the
matter of saving to this city the trade
that is going to Alaska that anything was
done. The cities of the north saw their
opportunity and made great bid for all
OF the Alaska business that their citizens
knew would surely go to the far north dur
ing the coming year. Alter money had
been raised am the advantages of Seattle,
Portland, Tacoma and other points in
oregon, Washington and British Column
bla had been magnified so as to make the
kiondIke travellers believe that these were
the best outtitting points the Merchants
Association OF this city began to wake up.
since then the com mlttee OF this body
has been looking after the trade in a man
ner that indicates that no further tricks
Will be lost. The other commercial bodies
OF San francisco have Joined in the move
ment IN way that shows their sincerity.
Support also comes from several shipping
companies tha are interested in the
nortnern trade. Aside from the vessels
now afioat other are TO be built. AT pres
ent 1t Is known that SIX companies are to
construct steam vessels that will enter
int 10 the com petition for this trade. One
company will build three steamers and
tie others at least one each, and may
more. These will have a tonnage from
10, coo and upward. Nearly every proml-
nent merchant and outtitter in the city is
interested in the movement TO secure the
n M m n tran 10 nd in bar
meeting some means will be devised to
accom- plish the desired end. +. J. Par
sons, the VIC president OF the City Board
OF Trade in discussing the matter says:
There can be no possible question as to the
deslrability OF this movement for the purpose
OF securing the immense traffic that is sure to
go 10 Alaska during the coming season. In
order TO do so, however, 1t IS absolutely neces-
ssrv that the business men OF san Francisco
should move quickly. There is not minute
10 lose. Other places are working as they
have never worked before for any purpose
We may reasonably expect to draw at least
70, 600 people TO San Francisco Ell route for
the KlondIke, If proper measures are imme-
dlateiy adopted. Few realize the immense ad-
vantages 10 the city that this means. Each
person Will spend $3.50 or more, thus
making the enormous sum of SIS, 750,00O
would suggest as one way OF spending the
money secured by the Committee that OF send
ing men East with stereopticons, or better
antmatosco also the opening OF a bureau
OF Information that will furnish information
concerning accommoda tiOns In the city as
we'll as where 10 purchase, what to purchase
and how to outfit. would also have men meet
parties on the road before reaching San
Francisco
There viii certainly be thousands of people
that will start Tor the Klondike who, upon
reaching San Francisco, Will learn of the i'm
possibility of getting through owing to the
congested conditions at ST. Michael. These
will remain here and many OF them perma-
nenly locate in the Safe, going into our
m OVn ia Wp aiy,iu n
better advantages in California Tor maxi lg
money than can be found in Alaska, and the
committee should properly present them.
Our mines are ready for work and no prospect
ing IS necessary. 1t remains to be seen
whether our business men will meet the emer.
gency.