The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-16
THE RECORD OF A YEAR.
Secretary Ling Makes His Re-
port for the Chamber.
seArTLe's GREAT PROSPERITY.
Facts and Figures Concerning the
Business RefnS Done by the
Queen City-yaiunb1e Informal
ton Presented IN = Caucus aad
Interesting Way for the Cfty's
Commercial BOdy-The Population

There are great many facts and figures
OF interest in the annual report of Ernest
f. Ling. secretary of the Seattle Chamber
OF Commerce. which has just been pub
Dshed. BY reason Of the important work
done by the chamber this year in con-
nectlon with the kiondike trade. the or
ganization mas come into great prominence
and its fame on the Atlantic. as well as
on the Pacific, as q combination or
hustling business men, has been estao-
llsiled.
Secretary Ling's report gives extracts
from the minutes of the chamber during
the year. history of Seattle by Thomas
Prosch, write-ups of the city's water
plant street lights. the new army post.
Seattle's government canal, the state uni
yersity. the public schools, the street rail-
roads, banks, postoffiee, jobbing trade.
coal receipts and shipments, lumber out
put. Seattle exports and imports. Seattle
shipping. and contains a long statement
from the klondike committee.
air. Ling. in opening his remarks. says.
'In the compilation of all statistics an
effort has been made to give accurate fig
ures, and where any doubt exists or est-
mates have not been made. it is so stated.
Though several efforts have been made
TO procure monthly reports from the whole
sale and jobbing business houses during
the past year. these have been only par
tally successful.
1T is essential, In order to ascertain the
exact growth OF the city. that some pro-
vision be made to secure statements from
what !s known as the mosquito fleet the
numerous small vessels carrying merchan-
disc and produce TO and from Sound ports.
all more or less tributary to Seattle, wnicn
trade is very considerable.
.'T desire to thank the various city OF
ficials for the ready and courteous assist
ance rendered me. in furnishing sta,is,, Nc.
from their several departments. and Mr..
Ilovett " Wood editor of the Trade Regis
ter whose Jealous work has done so much
towards obtaining valuable statistical In
formation which Is printed from time 10
time In his journal.
'"rhe scope and work of the chamber has
Increased during the past year. and The
numerous matters which have come under
it's consideration are briefly set forth in
the extracts from the minutes printed here
after. The membership has increased and
a greater interest in the work is main
tanned by the members AT large"
MFR. Ling gives the estimated population
of the city at the present time as o. ESQ
people and says:
1.-THE population Of the city is increasing
rapidly: especially has this been the case
since the arrival Of the steamship Portland
with her several million dollars Of gold
from the klondike. Letters received by
the Chambe of Commerce Indicate that at
least Ib.ooo people viii pass through this
city en- route for Alaska I'm the spring
Many immigrants will establish bushes SEES
In Seattle. and engage in agricultural pur-
suits In the surrounding country"
The Jobbins Trade.
Probably the most interesting figures In
the report were prepared by Loyett NJ
Wood. They hear on the jobbing trade Of
this city for 1886. The year 1897 will show
an aggregate increase Of about % per cent.
over 1896. Mr.. Woods figures are as fol-
lows.