The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-06

The transcontinental ana other lines OF
railway having Offices in Seattle yesterday
completed their statements OF business
done In this territory for the year 1899.
Today majority win forward to the va
rious head offices reports showing vol
ume Of business done on Puget sound for
the past twelve months that beats any
thing in previous history, and which, 1t IL
confidently believed, will rival the receipts
from any other territory on any Of the
lines.
In territorial local Offices II is not Gus
tomary to make figures public, railroads
believing 1t is unjust to contrast the busi-
ness Of one locality against another. This
year the same rule will remain In effect,
and only general figures from headquar-
ters showing recapitulation OF business
at the various stations, will be made pub
lie.
The present statements show a MARVEL
Gus increase in business over any previous
high-water mark. 1t lis not confined to
any particular department. but all share
alike. One of the most significant facts
shown Is that Seattle merchants, during
the past year. have handled more goods
from Eastern markets than ever before.
On the Northern Pacific tho increase in
local business is surprising. Taking 1897
as basis, the succeeding twelve months
OF 1898 showed an Increase OF over so per
shows that business not only kept up to
the previous years increase, but surpassed
1t by about 50 per cent. The number OF
arrnE in Seattle over the
East. Local traffic In the passenger de-
partment, which is the great paying busi-
ness with any road. has been exceptionally
The freight department shows the same
increase. The amount Of incoming freight,
both for local consumption and export, has
axn q n mute
including lumber, shingles, canned goods
and other raw and manufactured products.
has been heavy. and in the volume of busi-
ness transacted foots up large Item.
Good times have been felt at every station
within the territory governed by the local
The Great Northern statements show a
no less prosperous condition of affairs in
the Puget sound country The volume Of
business done by the road is most thor
partment the sales of tickets show an in
crease for every month in the year over
1893. On the year the increase Is heavy.
proximately the same. Local travel gem
orally shows an increase.
In the freight department the average
mately 60 per- cent Within the terPtory
west of the Columbia river and north OF
Tacoma, which is controlled by the local
ceipts are about equal. Wheat shipments
have been slow in arriving, but the in
creased transcontinental freishts more
than Offset them. AS an illustration, for
the month of December the report shows
q shortage of 40 cars over last year, yet
the receipts Of the station show an in
crease OF $35, 900
During the latter part Of the year ORR
entail freight was not so heavy, due to the
difference of sailing dates of vessels. For
the quarter the territory shows a net in
crease over 1898 of $3.50 00O
On eastbound freight, to offset the fall
ing off in shingle shipments due to the
closing down of the mills, the salmon ship
ments have been heavier. Hop shipments
have been less, but heavier shipments of
All other lines report the same increase
In shipments to and from Puget sound all
of which bears directly on the business
conditions existing In this section at the
close of the year.