The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-15

FIJI Orders From the Far East.
Doubtless there never was q time In the
history OF the state when its various In
dustries were In such . profitable condi-
ton as at the present Reports made
by the great commercial agencies show
that during the past year the various
industries Of the state have added heav
lily to their store OF wealth, represented
in assets and increased plants and grow
ing business II il tho opinion OF the
business men who are in q position to
tries that they are now enjoying season
Of unparalleled prosperity and develop
ment
While this gratifying condition exists
In nearly every department OF industry. 1t
Is especially true Of the flour milling In
terests of the state, which are now busy
day and night In supplying orders for
their products. The mills that are do
Ing an export business are finding their
capacity overtaxed. while expansion is
the constant policy OF the majority OF
them In order to meet the constantly in
creasing orders for domestic and foreign
shipment.
A Seattle business man, who has spent
several months In investigating the con-
dition Of the Touring mill industry OF the
state, said yesterday regarding It:
For the last year or SO capital has
been invested in various enterprises Of
the Northwest, but in no branch has thi.
interest been shown more than that OF
the Touring mill business. The Touring
business on the western coast was al
most entirely confined to the limits OF
the state of California until 1850. where
even at that time IT had assumed quite
large proportions. and during the follow
ing ten years 1t was gradually developed.
first in the state OF Oregon and then later
in Washington. Although the industry
In the latter state Is of more recent origin
II has. owing to natural advantages.
fair to outstrip that in either of the states
to the southwark. A careful study of
the situation shows the reason for this
and the marked advantages which Wash.
ington has for the cheap production OF
-four. These advantages have resulted
in larger profits 10 the millers. and con-
seauently have stimulated much more
rapid growth of the industry. Wheat
costs al San Francisco about cents per
bushel more than 1t does at Seattle and
Tacoma.
at the present time the California
mills would not be able to compete At
all with their more northern competitors
in the Oriental trade were 1t not for the
fact that their brands are now so we'll
markets that they are able to get price
Of from g to 50 cents per barrel more
for their -four than can be obtained for
the newer brands Of Washington, This
Is not due to any superior quality In their
-four, as 1t IS largely made from Wash
ington wheat. but simply because their
brands are known by large number OF
the Oriental people. This will not be so
In few ysars. and 1t is obvious that at
that time this Oriental trade will be in
the hands of the northern miller. and
that the California exporter will be un-
able to compete on account of the in
creased cost of his raw material
las an indication OF the very rapid
and profitable growth of this industry
OF one OF the largest mills located on
the Sound. which has been in operation
for the past two or three years. and
which. under able and progressive man
more than 80 per cent. on its entire capl-
tai stock. This mill has steadily in
creased it's capacity from 800 barrels per
day to nearly $500 barrels, and has in
is paving dividends Of II per cent. and is
rolling up large surplus fund.
''One OF our smaller mills. OF capacity
of about $40 barrels daily, and doing both
a domestic and export trade. earned a
profit last year Of q per cent. on its
capital stock, and has regularly paid
capital. and has regularly paid dividends
THE profits In this line OF business
seem TO be increasing, a. the dividends
paid by the various milling companies
years ago. This Is because the demand
for -four In the Oriental countries has
increased faster than have the American
milling facilities.
1.-THE trouble. in fact during the last
year OF two has been not in selling The
-four. but In securing ships wherewi'h
10 transport IL, and our mills have had
to refuse many large and profitable or
ders because they could not secure ship
ping space. This condition Is, however
looked upon as very temporary one. AZ
arrangements are now being made To put
In new line Of steamers to the Orient
from the Sound and the present trans
portation companies are planning TO In
crease the carrying capacity of their
lines, An inquiry some few months age
for stock In several OF our leading -four
ing mill companies showed a condition
which must be extremely satisfactory to
the stockholders in such concerns. The
assistant secretary Of one OF the largest
companies having mills located on the
Sound and at Spokane. wrote that there
was no stock tn his company for sale
The president OF the same company YER
haiiy stated at the same time that he
believed ne could dispose Of ali his stock
IN the company at sra per share. IL he
wished TO.
'One of the smaller mills located in the
southeastern part Of the state. over the
signature OF it's owner and manager
stated that since 1885, they have been pay
inw 81 per cent. per annun on the invest
ed capital and thar they intended very
shortly 20 double the capacity Of their
mill. as only In this way would they he
able 10 fill their Oriental orders. The
same condition seems TO exist with the
other large Touring n1il companies. A
close study ~ the Dun's and Brads.reet' 3
reports from the various mills located
throughout the state show large IN
compa miss The great growth Of the
Touring trade means much 20 Seattle