The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-11


Industrial conditions on the Pacific
coast were talked Of yesterday by Sig
mund Schwabacher, Of San Francisco.
president Of the Schwabacner Hardware
Company, and Interested In other large
mercantile and banking institutions in
Seattle, who Is guest of the Butler. He
Is on his annual visit 10 look over his
interests in this city, all Of which he
characterizes as being in the best possi-
BILE condition. In San Francisco MT.
Schwabacher is engaged largely In the
flour business.
1.-THE general prosperity-that Is. all
lines taken in the aggregate-for the
past year has been greater than In any
like period within the past six years" ne
says. 1.-THE advances made on various
articles Of trade have resulted In bene-
fit to the wholesaler and retailer alike.
The agricultural classes are the only
ones who are not participating In the
general good times, but with the ex-
pected advance In the price OF grain
their condition will be greatly improved.
There IL no prospect OF any further big
increase in prices other than whatever
difference the rise in freight rates VIII
make on all commodities.
''In flour. for 1899, we have had a good
trade. Our export orders are increasing
every year, due. in my opinion, to a large
The exploiting of the rice-eating coun-
tries is the one thing that will Increase
this trade. The field Is there, ana It
IL held on our Oriental flour trade by
high freight rates charged by transpor-
tation companies. There are not enough
fore we are compelled to pay just what
the companies demand. IT Is they who
are reaping the benefit. What We want
is q greater number Of freight bottoms
with the turning over by the United
States of the large number OF vessels
now being used as Transports . the situ nd
this will be an incentive to develop the
Oriental trade.
,obbsrs c oP les M Hdns Vest anI the Pa
cifc coast, through the interstate COM
merce commission, Is one OF interest to
wholesalers and retails alike. l think It
probable that the commission will sit In
San Francisco in March. when 1t VIII
hear the Pacific coast side of the ques-
tions brought up by the Middle West
rates to the Pacific. coast that will en-
able them to sell the retailers here on
the same basis az the home 1obbers.
rates to this territory should be main
tained. Under other conditions the. re-
tailers would, In many instances. be fore
plies being remote. AS 1t is now their
jobbing house is close at hand. They buy
from day. to day in proportion to what
they need. They turn their money over
quickly, are able to pay cash aud get
more money out of their business. The
Coast jobbers. being remote from the
markets. must buy in large quantities.
and therefore are in a position to give
the retailers a benefit they could not
otherwise secure. 1t is always to the
interest of the jobbers to buy in large
quantities at the best figures, and it is
the retailers who receive. the benefits. In
other words, the Pacific coast Jobbers'
ability to buy is given to their custom
ers.
"The railway companies like large
shippers. and consequently are willing to
make the best rates possible. and 1t
would be unfair to ask them to make the
same rates to Eastern jobbers for small
shipments to the Pacific coast retailers"