The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-17
OUTFIT COSTS IN THREE CITIES.

TIE Post-Inteingencs recently published
a lis, comparing Seattle and Portland
prIees, or such staple articles for tia
kioadIker's outfit as saeas. gs5a pans.
Sleeping bags. saws and rope. 10 the un-
doubted disadvantage OF sae latter city.
The Seattle figures were furnished By
wei known local merchant and repre-
s=-ted the bona n9e selling price OF the
articles mentioned. In It's zeal for thu
welfare o. Portland. the oTegonian has
come cut with list intended 60 counter
att tire effect CT the article IN the Post
intelligence. The writer evidently made
i list Of prices for Portland and doubled
his figures fer Seattle
Il leads of with sieds, putting the price
n SeattI- at 81 20 SIS AS a matter Of
fact slsds cost here from sz~15 TO S. ac-
coEding 10 quality. though a prospecTor
who desires sled 90 mahogany, with
brass runners and velvet cushions, can
have il il he so wishes and is willing to
pay for Il. Gold pans sell In this city for
3 cents each, Notwithstanding the quota
ton Of S 10 50 cents given in the Gre
gonisn. Aluminium gold pans are us
and net e. The latter figure was based
on an imagination, the vigor of which
commands admiration. Nails retail at /
cents q pound, net cents. 4 six-fcot
ritsaw, with complete tilisr and box, Is
$40. not $50. Rope retai!s at cents.
instead Of u cents. Sleeping bags can be
bought from s5.5e 10 80.
The table printed In the oregonfan quotes
copper boilers. Portland merchants may
foist q copper boiler on the guileless Alas
ka prospector. but he will probably throw
It away before he has progressed a mile
On the trail 10 Dawson. Copper boilers
have never been included in the Alaska
outfits prepared in this city. In consider
Ing hardware prices IL is q significant
fact that Seattle firm was awarded the
contract for all such articles to be taken
north by the government relief expedi-
ton.
San Francisco has also taken occasion
within the last week to compare Its prices
on kiondike outfits with those charged In
Seattle. Beside showing a ludicrous ig-
norance Of what should compose an outfit,
the figures accredited to Seattle are in
correct San Francisco quotes apples at
cents; peaches, cents. and prunes. Sia
cents Seattle prices are: Apples. 7ds
cents: peaches. cents: prunes, eGs cents.
Canned fruits are also quoted. These are
not used by Alaska miners, nor are fresh
fruits.
In view OF the disastrous experience Of
San Francisco merchants with evaporated
onions, 1t is rather astonishing that quo
tation Is offered on that vegetable. Quite
recently a shipment OF onions was re-
They are put up in twenty-five pound
boxes. enough to supply the average man
for seven or eight years, and not having
been properly dried are useless save to
add weight to the Kiondiker's pack.
Cabbage Is also quoted. Not one miner
In fifty would think of taking cabbage.
Granuiated potatoes are set down at 10
cents. A Seattle firm which recently pur-
chased some granuiated potatoes in San
Francisco would gladly return the ship
ment for cents a pound. Butter beans
are mentioned as part OF an outfit. These
are not taken. II is the small white bean
which puts Drawn on the arms of the
Alaska miner.
II Is plain that San Francisco and Port
land merchants are novices in the outfit
ting business. The long experience Of Sc
attic dealers qualities them particularly
for business with people bound for Alaska
There can be no question as to the entire
superiority OF this city as an Quitting
point, The merchants know just what Is
wanted and supply 1t from their large
stocks at prices lower than obtained In
any other coast city.