The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-06
Why Seattle Leads.

The Historian Is the one Oregon paper
which does not attempt to gloss over
the fact that year after year the cities
of Puget sound are gradually taking
away from the Oregon towns, particu-
larly Portland. the trade which they
once controlled. 1t points out that the
recent agreement by which the Clear
water country has been abandoned by
the Union Pacific to the Northern Pa
cific in return for trackage privileges
to Puget sound, means the inevitable
fact which the Oregonian has persis-
tently attempted to ignore.
In its comment on this subject the
Historian says: IF that great paper
(the Oregonian) had been as vigorous IN
guarding Oregons commercial inter-
ests years ago as it will be a little later
in denouncing the combinations which
are existing against her, Oregon and
not Washington would now be the
greatest state in the Northwest, and
Portland. not Seattle, would be the flu
ture greatest city on the Pacific coast"
The mistake of the Historian Is in i'm
agining that any newspaper action
could delay the inevitable trend of COM
mercial development. and in Its theory
that the railroad combination referred
to Is dictated by desire to discrim-
mate against any particular locality.
Nature has fixed the site of one of the
great commercial cities of the world
on Puget sound. Between rival cities
of equal natural advantages the one
whose citizens have superior activity
and enterprise will gain the advantages;
direction It win speedily gain such
lead that its rivals can never again ex-
pect to overtake il. Like attracts like.
The city whose Inhabitants are active.
enterprising and public spirited. who
are swift TO take advantage Of every
opportunity to extend their trade and
bHiu up eitti sVNhs - SURE 10 attract
to It the most enterprising and far
sighted newcomers. After its posi-
ton is once established. its further
growth is due to the cumulative
effect of the same agencies which
gave Il the original lead over its oppo-
nents This is precisely what has built
up Seattle.
Railroads do not enter into combina-
tons which In their results injurIously
AFFECT the trade Of certain towns out
Of any spiteful desire to injure those
localities. Cold business reasons are the
sole actuating impulse. So In the case
at hand. The trade OF Lewiston and
the Clearwater country has gone in
great part to Portland and the o. r &
y. Ia the past. when the Northern
Pacific started TO build its lines in that
country q naturally brought on a con-
dict with the Union Pacific. which con-
trolls the o. r. s. y, system. That con-
dict has been compromised on busl-
ness basis and the concessions made
on both sides are squareiy in the in
terest Of Seattle, as they are squareiy
opposed TO the interests OF Portland.
The Union Pacific. with sound bust
ness judgment considers thar an or
porIunity TO secure trackage facilities
10 Seattle and other Puget sound cities
IS 81 infinitely more value 20 II than
the trade Of the Clearwater country.
for which Il would have 20 fight with
the Northern Pacific and expend sew
eral millions IN railroad building. The
Northern Pacific secures its desider-
alum. an entry into the new mining re-
gions. and future ore tonnage to be
carried 20 the smeiters on its line. Sc
attic gains an opportunity to secure the
trade 81 Idaho and the whole country
tributary TO the o. r. 6 " system ana
become the tide water terminal OF the