The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-07

SEATTLE Honox1o A11AR
wh~svsr tAs tsss - ssD,lsd statise1cs
rpona to aa.sw how great has been the
ax3vance OF seattle during tho past two
years. not only Of herssH but in comparison
with other cities The bank clearances for
the past year show that. although there
was an absence Of the Klondike rush OF the
previous year. the entire volume Of ousi-
ness was greater than it had ever been be-
fore by about % per cent
During three months OF the previous year
the business Of this city had been phenon-
email Although We benefited by that condi-
ton, 1t was known to be temporary and
afforded no criterion Of the general advance.
We are far enough on from that time to
have Quieted down. There Is activity on
the water front due to the arrival and
departure Of ships to Alaska. but 1t has
become as regular and methodical as the
trafic between Seattle and San Francisco.
Although the city has only its regular
condition than during the most feverish
days OF the Nondike excitement. The
bank clearances for the year ending June
30, 1882 are actually greater than they
were during the previous year. OF course
the percentage Of increase II not a. great.
and indeed the greatest percentage Of gain
had already been made before the news
came OF the gold discoveries. To make
q very fair comparison It would be best
to skip the twelve months covering the
Klondike rush. and to go back to about
the year 1896. The bank deposits on No
vember 1. 1896. amounted to $e,7lO,37l. as
compared with Als7.leo. ON April 1 1889
The bank clearances for the year which
includes that date were only $26, 7s6, 07s.
while for the corresponding months OF
1sss-9o. the total was s7o.Osl. ~. This b
.4o1 over the great year 1sso-sl. when
the city was being entirely rebuilt on
practically borrowed capital.
This - where the magnificent increase IL
shown. Fully half Of the Indebtedness Of
this city has been paid of. and the money
to the citizens Of Seattle. The same COM
ment applies to bank deposits. Passing
over the period when money was lying In
the bank for building purposes We md
thet. in 1893, they amounted to 2,S7S.3ss as
against A.127,4eo. on April I. 1889. There
fore We have on deposit nearly s2.0oo.ooo
more than at that time.
Two very astonishing facts are brought
out BY comparison Of Seattles banking
business with that of Tacoma and Port
land. Less than two years ago Tacoma
was ahead Of Seattle In the volume Of
clearances. and we have not only passed
her in her beE days, but that city has
fallen OF 80 that our clearances for the
first six months Of 1899 amount to s7,6S.-
GA while those Of Tacoma are only u.s.
75s,557. The other equally astonishing fact.
which is more gratifying. : that we have
steadily crept up to and have almost over
taken Portland. which was for many
years not only far beyond us, but had by
its long supremacy In the Northwest Sc
cured what looked like q permanent hold.
Portland has for many years been strong
ly intrenched. Her money was made In
early days when she had a monopoly of
Northwest trade and when profits were
immensely greater than now Measured
by the standards set up by Portland itself,
her cleamnces should be now at least $751;
0oO 900 for the first six months. or SIS. 900
more than Seattie's. where they are only
A,1si,7e4.
We have now passed the stage when We
need worry very much about the relative
position of Seattle to Portland. The growth
Of our trade is SO steady that we have only
to pursue the same course of watching
for every opportunity to extend our COM
merce in order. within twelve months, to
be in the lead. The advance made since
confidence was restored Justified the pre-
diction that In another five years Seattle
viii be so far ahead that comparisons win
cease to have any interest for VA