The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-30
|l@allle a1[.:.all:::::
|Raihead Cenlel:;;.I]

Hin has lately purchased laise interest.
and also through the two great compcti-
tive systems, the Burlington and the
Union Pacific. with that vast and popu-
lous area lying between the Mississippi
and the Missouri rivers
These districts furnish a market for
the staple products OF the state OF Wash
ington. which make up the large bulk OF
the freight shipments, amounting during
1870 to over $4,000 tons. and consisting OF
lumber and shingles. hops. canned and
fresh nsh. fruit. livestock. wool. etc.
In this market. Seattle merchants per-
chase the commodities handled by her
jobbing houses whose trade. as may well
be imagined from the figures already
given. now reaches an enormous annual
total. Because OF the location Of this
city with reference y the three great
transcontinentaI lines mentioned, with
their connections, goods manufactured
In the East and Central West can be laid
down here at much lower cost than at any
intermediate point, the reason being. as
is well understood that water COMPETE
ton fixes the overland rate to coast
points.
Heavy West bound Traffic.
As will be observed from the table Of
figures given at the beginning Of this
article, the west-bound freight business
bound. This II natural In new country
and Il Is not believed that the figures win
be euualixed for many years to come. As
the state grows In population, the de-
mands OF the people upon the manufae-
turing establishments In the East will
increase IN volume and with II the trafiic
over roads entering tho state.
There II no doubt that the railway
magnates OF the East, with = knowledge
Of these conditions. keep close watch on
the growth OF Washington's population
and the states development To obtain q
share OF the transcontinental trafic to
Puget sound il, II In believed. the de-
termination OF the Burlington and the
Union Pacific.
Billings. Mont. II the Westernmost
point on the Burlington system. This road
has q network of lines traversing tho
richest section OF the mississippi valley.
where II the best market for the product
Of Waahington's lumber and ahingle mills.
Under Z very advantageous arrange
ment with the Northern Pacific, the Bur-
lington now profits 10 considerable ex-
tent from lumber and shtngie shipments
from this state. Hut shrewd railway OPP
erators believe that the company will not
long BE satisfied with it, present pro-
portion Of this constantly growing bust
ness, to say nothing OF the possibilities
In the way Of shipments to the Orient.
1t II not believed, however. that the
Burlington win build from Billings. 1t Is
the opinion Of men familiar with the sub
ject that the line will be extended west
ward from Guernsey, Wye, passing
through tho Yellowstone National park
and thence through Southern Montana
and Northern Idaho into the Big Bend
wheat country In Eastern Washington
Thence the line will cross the Cascades
into Seattle.
To give the Burlington access TO tide
water at Seattle over its own tracks will
involve the construction of approximately
100 miles Of road
The Union Pacific is In a far better
position to build to Seattle, but as It has
already ono Pacific coast terminus al