dred nearer Singapore. It has also slightly the advantage over Portland in some of these distances, and very slightly over Tacoma. It has nothing, then, to fear in the matter of distance except from some port upon the coast either of Washington or British Columbia. And here comes in the consideration of latitude and productions, which are in favor of Washington.
These are weighty topics to discuss in a railway or drawingroom conversation, yet one hears them everywhere. And they are stirring themes, too, when we remember that Jefferson and Benton discussed them in the early part of the century, and the nation has been moving westward on the chosen line ever since. Just what point will secure the prize of pre-eminence is not for me to prophesy. Besides, the country is so vast and so rich in resources that there is room for all to grow and prosper. So let us leave the future to reveal itself, and comment upon Seattle as it now is.
The volume of jobbing trade for Seattle in 1889 is variously estimated at from seventeen million dollars to twenty million dollars. The confusion in business incident to the fire prevents a closer estimate. Seattle merchants carry large stocks of all kinds of merchandise, although the tendency now is to separate wholesale and retail business, and to segregate merchandise into special lines. Retail trade is not dependent, as in other States, upon the coming in of certain crops. June furnishes a heavy hay crop and garden stuff. The immense wheat crop begins to move in August; hops in September; potatoes in October; fruit in its proper seasons, from June to October; lumber and coal at all times; and cattle and dairy products during most offthe year.
Manufactures are quite numerous in Seattle, but are still lacking in many things. Previous to the fire it had ten saw-mills, whose plants cost four million dollars, and tributary to it, within a radius of thirty-five miles, seven great milling establishments. It had ship-yards; several sash- and door-factories; shingle-, barrel-, and furniture-factories; brick-yards and tile-factories; carriage-factories; four breweries; foundries, brass and iron, and boiler-works; soda-works; and fifty other kinds of manufactures. The capital employed in factories in 1889 was $6,285,000, and the value of production $10,407,488. It is mentioned in the press of Seattle that there is room for a large
