The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-10-06
San Francisco Call.

san francisco Call.
This war in the Philippines has
saved san Francisco and the coast gen
orally from serious commercial disas.
ter"
Thus declared Hugh Craig, and as 6
well-known business man. a former
member Of the chamber Of commerce
he ought to know what he is talking
about.
Why, you can see for yourself" he
continues, how this war broke out
just at the most opportune time for US.
Now don't quote me as approving OF
war; that is quite another thing alto
gether. But II We must have war, IL
would be folly to blind ourselves TO the
benefits our city has derived and is
still deriving from It. When hosalities
commenced the KiOndike boom had
just fallen through. and it looked as II
We We're going to suffer a severe reac-
uon. In anticipation OF continued
rush TO the frozen regions Of the north,
AAA-~Ag VI 09A merchants udA AAA4 III
heavy stocks, labor had fiocked to the
city in the hope OF profitable employ
ment, large steamers, such as the
Pennsylvania and the Ohio, had been
brought around from the East to
share in the anticipated profits Of the
Klondike trade. The market was glut-
ted in every way with surplus tonnage.
surplus goods and surplus labor.
"Dewey's victory at Manila and the
subsequent occupation Of the Philip
pines changed all this with magic rap
idity. Troops poured into the city and
money began to circulate freely. The |
stores and saloons were filled with po- /
tential heroes the street car lines alb /
sorDedk nickels with avidity All the
available ships were either chartered
or bought by the government and to-
day San Francisco is the home port for T,
the largest 1eeL Of transports in the
world Tie few steamers left were
hardly sufficient to keep the regular
ceasting lines going and the lucky
owners reaped large profits Why. to
give you an instance. the stock Of the
Oceanic Steamship Company has leap
ed from about $40 TO $50. where 1t now
stands"
II Is obvious thai nearly every class
Of business is Interested in supplying
tfe needs Of the small army which is
constantly within our borders. The
number Of men in camp at the Presi-
die has averaged about eight thousand,
and at present there are some eleven
thousand Each Of these men. soldier
fashion spends his pay as fast as he
gets it, while many, with private
means Of their own. spend far more
than the pittance doled out by Uncle
Sam to the men who risk their lives
ir his service. Then, Of course. the
officers have far more money to burn
thar the privates. But say that each
man srends only SIS a month, which
gees into the pockets Of our retail
dealers. The saloon keepers. am
afraid, get most Of It, but still there is
a lot Of II left over for other people.
All soldiers do not drink. but in the
case of disbanded volunteers each man
has TO spend a considerable sum in
providing himself with a complete civil
lian outfit. to replace his war-stained
uniform. This makes things lively for
the outftters.
Soldiers come and go here all day"
said big Market street dealer, as he
pointed to a string Of khaki-clad men
who were inspecting the heavily laden
clothing counters. "Other merchants.
better situated than I am, are getting
more of the trade. but still estimate
the increase in my business due to the
war at 20 per cent"
But this individual outlay Of the
soldiery. though It amounts up to quite
a respectable sum in the total, is but
a drop in the bucket compared with
the vast direct expenditures Of the
government on ships and supplies. In
accordance with the general army
practice, there are two great spending
departments-the quartermaster's and
the subsistence. The quartermaster
has entire control Of the transport
service. He buys or charters ships. fits
them out for sea and supplies them