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While comparisons are more op less odious, yet a
brief comparison between the colored man and the .Japan
ese living in Seattle at this time might more fully il
lustrate the point at issue. In Seattle there are about
8,000 Japanese—.just two thousand more than colored
citizens—and while the figures as to the actual number
of Japanese engaged in commercial enterprises in this
city are not at hand, yet it is quite safe to say that
there are not less than :*,()()() distinct business firms under
control of and directed by Japanese, and among them
are six banks. Twenty-five years ago there were not
to exceed twenty .Japanese business concerns in Seattle,
but their business concerns have kept pace with the
growth of the city in the way of increase in numbers.
While it is alleged that the success of the .Japanese lies
in the whole standing together, yet this is doubted as
there are not enough Japanese here to maintain a hun
dredth part of so large a volume of busness. Tn the
commercial world the Japanese is a cosmopolitan and he
conducts his business in such a way and manner as to
make it an object to the purchasing: public, whatever
their color, complexion or nationality may be, to trade
with a Japanese. In other words, the Japanese are es
sential to the present prosperity of Seattle and her sur
rounding cuontry. As with the Japanese so with the
Italians and to an extent even so with the Chinese. All
Bhowing the trading- spirit.
Say what you will or may to the contrary there is
a silent bond of sympathy between all the darker races
in the United States, and where the colored man comes
in contact with other darker races, as in Seattle, each
one of whom is forging to the front in commercial lines,
endeavoring to follow in the footsteps of the white man.
it would appear that their spirit of business enterprise
would attach itself to the colored mmn and he would be
no less enterprising than all the others. What moves
one man should move another, and it does not appear
that on general principals the colored man differs very
materially from other men.
But while the colored man is not making much of
CAY TON 'S W EBKLY
a business showing in Seattle it can not be truthfully
said that he is completely asleep at the switch, as a
very heavy percentage of them own valuable homes,
splendidly furnished with attractive and inviting sur*
roundings, and still a smaller percentage of them own
speculative tracts and parcels of valuable real estate,
which they are holding for a future increase. Jt is al
most impossible to give the number of colored persons
owning homes and other real estate in this city, but
county officials, who have given the subject some
thought, are of the opinion that more than a thousand
are so fortunate, which, if true, would mean that the
6,000 colored citizens of Seattle own real estate and ap
purtenances thereunto belonging, valued at two million
dollars. The situation could be worse. It may be a
bit inconsistent, yet in this connection, it might be
added that, the colored ctiizens of Seattle own a half
a million dollars worth of automobles.
CX.ASS A
Of The Mt. Zion Baptist Church
SEATTLE'S COLORED BUSINESS FIRMS
The Alhambra Cash Grocery Company is said to be
the largest mercantile concern in the West operated by
colored persons. Harry Le<™- is its proprietor and W. 11.
Banks its general manager.
The Douglas Apartment is the most extensive
apartment house exclusively owned and operated by col
ored persons. It is an incorporated institution with E.
R. James, president: Harry S. James, secretary, and S.
11. Stone, treasurer. This concern must have a gross
income of $20,000 per year.
The Chandler Fuel Company, with William Chand
ler proprietor, who also operates a well established apart
ment house, is a thriving business concern which owns
auto trucks and auto run-abouts in sufficient numbers
as to do a vast volume of business each year.
The Woodson Apartments with Z. L. Woodson pro
prietor, has two large and comomdious buildings in con
nection and the whole is a splendid paying- investment,
which perhaps has a gTQSs income of $10,000 per year.
The Stone Catering Company, with Samuel 11. Stone
sole proprietor, is one of the largest concerns of its kind
May 22, 1910
