The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-29

The statement made by General Man
ager l.. s. Miller, OF the Seattle & In
ternasionai Railway Company. upon the
amount OF money which might be Sc
cured by the farmers Of Washington
should be very fascinating reading for
them. They have been told very fire.
quentiy that large sum Of money Is
annually sent away to Eastern centtrs.
and even to California. for staple arti-
cies which can be produced In this state
better both in quantity and quality. but
SO specific an arrangement has not be-
fore been made. The figures given by
Mr.. Miller apply to the lumber and
shingie industries alone. but they viii
suffice because the market they repre-
sent is OF itself worth reaching out for.
It is shown that the boarding camps
In the mill towns and logging centers
are supplied to q great extent with
products. which can be raised In this
state. but which come from Eastern
and Middle Western states, and Mr..
Miller roughly estimates the loss to the
Washington farmer at $4,000.
The farmer Is not entirely to blame
for this condition. It IL partly due to
poor roads. and partly due to railroad
freight rates. The better roads In East
ern states make hauling economical.
while In this state during a large part
OF the year 1t would scarcely pay to
travel from the farm to the nearest
railway station. Railroad rates are
higher because the traffic Is very small
compared with that In more thickly set
tied districts.
One drawback Is the greater uncer-
tainty. probably due to sparseness Of
ton. OF the supply. Orders can be
placed with a commission house in Sc
attic for a certain article In specified
quantity. and delivery is reasonably
sure. While due allowance is made for
this lack, there liz some reason to sus-
pect that, II the commission men and
the farmer work together little bet
ter. they might keep In the state the
money now sent away. 1t is fair to
assume that the commission men would
prefer to buy of the Washington farm
er. provided the quality were equal to
that OF goods purchased elsewhere. and
the price were no higher. The wealth.
Ter the state the better for all mer-
chants. There is a difference OF opln-
lon on the matter. which arises from
the conflict OF interests. The farmer
maintains that. the quality OF his prod
ucts being superior. he is entitled to a
higher price. while the commission mer-
chant replies that ne can as easily dis
pose OF the good qualities Of Eastern
products, and that the lower price COM
mands the buyer.
The raising of vegetables and poultry
is not conducted upon as good a system
as In some OF the older states. There
are very many market gardens and
chicken ranches which Will compare
favorabIy with those anywhere else, but
often these important money making
branches OF ranch are left TO take too
much care Of themselves. Chickens are
healthy enough, but they are not care
fully fed, so as 10 insure tender flesh,
meaty limbs and the right proportion Of
fat. Celery Is raised Of an excellent
flavor. but the taste Of the public is for
the bieached article. and that takes
both skill and most patient labor.
The earnest remarks OF Manager Mil
Ter should have the attention OF COM
mission merchants and farmers. 1t is
10 the interest Of both to keep half a
million of dollars q year in the state.