The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-21
PREPARING FOR EXCHANGE.
MANAGER wAsHBURy REPORTS
ON GETTING PATRONAGE.
New shipping and Mercantile Assoc
citation VIII Start with Over
100 Menbers-Doors VIII BE Open
IN Ten Days in . Good Locality.

A. z. Washburn, manager OF the newly
organized merchants exchange. who Is ar
ranging the preliminary details for me
establishment OF the institution, reports
that high success is rewarding his efforts
to enlist the interest OF the local business
men. Thus far over 100 have signihed their
intention OF becoming members as soon
as the exchange Is started. and II Is be-
lieved that the association will start VITA
100 or more.
The doors are 10 be opened In about ten
days The efiiee Will be at some conven-
tent point on First avenue. between Cherry
and James. or on one OF the two latter
streets be.ow Second. In no case will the
exchange be located outside of that dis
trict. This Is SO that ii Will be Of con-
venient access for shipping. commission
and business men generally, as well as
ship masters.
AS an aid in the solicitation for members.
the following letter will be sent out today
to most of the business men of the city.
II Is written on letter paper bearing the
heading, The Merchants Exchange Asso-
ciation.' and is signed by the following
officers: ]. S. Goldsmith, president: Capt.
John B. Libby. vice president: James D..
Hoge. ir., treasurer; Clark NJ. Nettieton,
secretary, and A z. Washburn, manager:
The heading at the top o. this page explains our
object ia writing gen this letter We believe the
time Is oppoTtgne for the organization in Seattle
at this association. the purposes Of which will read
ny suggest thsriscisss to your mind Briefly. under
the experienced management Of Mr. A. z. Wash
burn. We purpose To supply 10 the mercantile. finsn
cia and shipping interests Of this city teegraphic
sells at Puget sound and ether Pacific coast ports.
quotations from tire produce markets Of the West.
aud financial bulletins from the worlds money
centefs.
In addition this it is intended TO make the
Merchants Exchange Association commercial club
for the business men Of th. city IL will have well
val Mel
bers Of the association will be asked and expected
to drop in At any time during the day. not only
meet there ~ they would at club the difference
being that this viii be business instead Of social
affair.
The association has not been started As a money
making ins,tuiion-it is the belief Of the ineor-
pofa;ors that the city needs An exchange
based On the lines which hare made them 80 sue
ccssful in other cities aud this is simply another
illustration of the Seattle Spirit"
We want you to Join this association We believe
We can sho~ you that it viii be to your personal
advantage to Join. and cali upon your public
spritedness to help another effort to hitch Seaties
wsson 10 star whose light will lead 70 greater
things for all q
The manager OF the Merchants Exchange, Mr..
explain this matter and to enlist ycar assistance
We ask for him hearing that we feel the public
nature Of the enterprise deserves.
In discussing the objects Of the exchange
yesterday Mr.. Goldsmith, the president.
said:
Our Intention Is to have this In every
way as worthy an association as those
found In the other large cities. There Is
need for a headquarters where the ship
ping interests will be locked after and
kept account of, IN a similar way to the
exchanges OF San Francisco. New York and
other places. So we arc arranging for cor
respondents AZ all places along the coast.
where shipping news will come from, As
well as n the larger cities. From New
York. for instance, there Will be received
financial. shipping. stocks and bonds and
such other reports as VIII be of value to
any people here: from San Francisco we
shall get the same, while from other
places such as Victoria, Vancouver. Eu-
reka Eeah bay ana other points where
ships land and are sighted. will come mes
sages giving Information that is now so
difficult 10 get.
I'VE also want TO make it the headquar
ters for phipmasters in port. They may
get their mail at the exchange and hear
all the news that can be gotten about
their interests. There VIII be on file all
the financial. trade and technical journals
that will be of interest to the members.
well as shipping registers and other books.
We have not yet decided on location. but
have several in view. from which n seiec-
ton will be made in a few days. The
apartments viii be commod,oUs and with
private rooms where consultations may be
held"