The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-12
A Factor In Seattle's Growth.

uStOT III SCuttfC ofoWtHs
That Seattle is destined to outstrip
San Francisco In commercial import
ance has ceased to be vainglorious
boast. and is now believed in sober earn
est by thoughtful, clear-headed BUSH
ness men. The signs of the times all
point that way. We have referred many
times to the forces that are pulling us
ahead and holding back our rival, but
not all OF them lie upon the surface.
1t is true that the trade across the Pa
cific must gravitate to this center, be-
cause we offer the shortest line of COM
munication Commerce cannot disre-
gard that and it is the cornerstone of
our present and coming prosperity.
But it is not the whole truth. An
other consideration is coming to light,
as trade through this port increases and
presses more fiercely upon the agencies
that conduct 1t. Seattle Is better port
for shipment; II handles goods more ex-
peditiously: the terms are more rea-
sonable; it is growing in favor with the
shipper, and its advantage Increases day
by day. We quote the opinion express
ed publicly by an Eastern man on the
relative merits of the Sound city and
that by the Golden Gate:
Seattle il much the quicker port for
the handling of far Eastern business In
years gone by San Francisco was used
almost exclusively. The delay in getting
shipments away from there caused manu-
facturers to welcome the growing import
ance of Seattle. The Great Northern and
Northern Pacific have done much to build
up this trade for Seattle by pushing
through Oriental shipments with the least
possible delay. Both these lines are now
giving an excellent freight service to the
Coast and one that is appreciated. This
trade will within a year or two be con-
troled almost exclusively by Seattle and
will furnish an industry in itself that will
be a great factor in the upbuilding of this
section of the country"
This. being interpreted. means that
San Francisco is suffering the inevitable
disadvantage of being a one-railroad
town. That, Notwithstanding its age,
its size, its Importance and the strug-
giles of other railroads to gain a foot
ing, 1t is today. The Southern Pacific,
which dominates California. is master
of the destinies of San Francisco.
Whether its policy is better or worse
than that of other systems matters lit
tie. 1t has a control of the situation
in the California city that nothing can
break. The rivalry of the Santa Fe
makes no essential difference, so strong
ly is the other road entrenohed in the
advantage of position that 1t has pos
sessed from the beginning And woe
betde the city that depends for its life
and progress upon the favor of any sin
gle corporation.
We may see how large factor i'm our
present and our possible future is this
fact Of ample railroad facilities. II is
the key to Seattle's prosperity and
growth. Most of the great railroad sys-
tens are here already. The others are
pointing this way. and negotiations fer
their entrance are in progress As long
as We retain this position. can invite
every railroad TO enter our market. pos
sess the inestlmable privilege Of com
petition and of abundant connections
that reach out TO the most distant por-
items OF the country, nothing can
weaken our grasp upon the situation.
This, as well as the strength of our To-
cation and the short line across tha
Pacific, Is telling nightly TOR us and
against san Francisco It Is an inilu-
ence n our favor that no power outside
Of ourselves can n'utralize or destroy.