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Newspaper Page Text
HIDE AND FI R TRADE A Market in Which Seattle Ranks Well to the Front OOOD OPENING FOR TANNERS. BKk Eitr*ci of tictptloniil g S e«llcoc« AO(l Omutlty la EmII? Procured. The iesthei' industries of Puget Sound in their infancy are quite active, M Qiere is every reason to believe th-at ,n fhe n«tr future they w ill become very Seattle is the chief of this industry on the l J «fillc ■ Hgt outside of Sau Francisco, and tiKfe is good Ntsis for the belief that in timeil will outsttlp that city ;n this line, gw wnly advantages p.«<sesseil by Siin Fm r 'ci-c>b ing hr more numerous pp uUtivn making a larget home market. *ad her Ijetter supply of oak bark. On •Jie other hand Seattle has superior g»Mi frtl lakouftteturiiig and shipping facili fih 'Wti elsewhere is this edition, vlKsper power, a larger and more varied supply f 'f hides, a larger tributary re ltn>n which In linn will bee-/me snore populous than tha* adja>•» nt t>» the <J -id er. 04te, and the greatest and most con venlent supply of tie* finest hemlock !*ik In the World. As a hide and fut market Seattle ranks a* one of the most important In the coun ry, and her trade in .1. * line Ii rapidly growing ai'd extending A 1 most all uf the fine furs and skins of th felt ifame regions of Alaska, llritixh CnJumbla, Montana, !d ill » and the en tjrr Northwest tegi- n as well as the '.sltiable catches ..f tie .seal hunters are niarketed either in Victoria or Seattle, they are exported dlr *t to E »n- 111 ItTtA tt I • .v VoltToN s I \.\ Mll.\ dolt. TIM-ing tl. Site early est ihlirfilllle-nt "fthe Hudson I lay C • s !i< ad-iuartei s at Viotorta, that city at present luads S»'- 4ttk> an a tur nwrk< t. but this city 1> i*|4dly gaining upon her Hritish neigh fc'r. and is but slightl> Inferior. As a fiirkvt though for beef hides and sheep ivlts Seattle ha< no rival on the coast <*it»lde of Sati Frail'sico, and the rapid wttlenient of the Northwest region is Jdly increasing the supply this pro i.i't. Nearly aft tie- hides and p<-ll- vfT in tiiis region are ship|«*d to strong hhle-buying houses in tiiis Ity. sheiuv they are siii direct to 'he tanneries or are h- re converted into leather It is estimate*! that r\sll\ 10n.- bvf hides and '»> m s'he t ],. Psp s are annually taken off in the region trlbu ur> to Seattle. ( tid find their market on y S( """i Being farthest from the ultimate p »int of leath.-: • oi.snmptl >n Iti thf |f) ,j n;(t „ nt!h |HUvhs«ible at pri e S hover than " Prevailing in the 1»\ the dif f-ntice ! n <x>st ~t The h-m'o k f Ms Of Western Wa*Hngt<m ar of vast e Vt( „ t atul lie "h««res of tidewater, rendering -<*> l easy of a - The mpp|\ of 1# pra -ticalh .. .upl and .nb ••'Oer»\l iit tnanuf t • '-tng p>ints for T c «*vved fi ~.r ord is .gainst $7.50, n '" matk- t »••• la the INc it !, r., n .id ■ i th it . -ord of Mvw('if- rated Hi favo. Uii.ilng sole i | hitrnejw leather on ' rn ..,.1 Inde I, !. " f nh " k ' H<; oi- Tit. !**».fcwrsver, an tinually .ud rap yjWeHa, • lt >U to the lo ; 1 ' Un w Th- ••' ■ • ■„r Hf ., M u!,;. tn *'- MMde flealtl i i fnr ... , , I'' mai ke 'Upplies at-.- ■ Pnuviv. Th» mos: r. Ma',',. . . . ,' , THE SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER. ther about 5,000 pounds per month Of upper lathers and rough leathers, it is difficult to make an estimate of the quantity which could l>: manufactured here, but the quantity of sole leather used will afford Borne notion to experi enced m»«n. Little or no manufactured harness leather is shipped into this »e > tlun, but immense quantities of Eastern and Callf'_»riiia made boots and shoes are brought here for Hale, and with the growth of the shoe manufacturing In dustry Uie home market f<>r «<>!e and upper leathers will c.w resportd ingl v tri crease independently of an increase in population. Hut before leaving the tanning brunch of thi« subject, mention should be made of the splendid sneeess a<*hl»ved here In the matter of tanning glove leather ami linings. One firm has fur two ye&i* <mhi ducted such an industry in this city, turning out 10,000 sheep and deer skins p.*r iriont*h, and is now about to increase its capacity. Tho making of this product here affords an opening for another in dustry in the matter of glove making. A large manufacturing company in this city has met with such success that it has been obliged to w«»rk night an>l day to ftil its* orders and will soon be obliged to In.Tease Its era pacify There are three houses which do a jobbing business in ?»ole leather, harness leather, findings and shoemakers' and shoestoiv supplies, and two of the houses are also manufacturers of shoe uppers. There being no hemlock leather tannery west of Wisconsin, there certainly is a splen did opportunity to establish such an in dustry here, especially as California re quires a large amount of that kind of leather in addition to her own manufac ture -if oak leather. In addition to the grow ing home demand for leather, Jap an Is a large importer of leather from tliw country, and China will become on.' also as the civilization of that countrv progresses. Besides there is always a large market in the East for pjugh lea rher tanned on this coast, and th ■ -heaper co*t of production here would ••nal»!i» f'ugwf Sound tanners to compete with tTT»- "Eastern tanneries. The hides of this region now fhi<i their way to tii• - lvtsi l>> b ing shipped from here to Call fornia to be expensively tanned there Lilt' aftirwards shipped to manufactur ers. tiie leather coming back to this re iri>»n in the shape of boots and shoes w loh in ghi as w 11 an ! far more cieap iy oC uiauu£acluieU li«j«. ftmililnvtiin Sh«» Maniifurtiirhir •'«» A busy liivw of working folks is the fa t ir\ ..I the Washington Shoe Manu ' 1 turing Co.. N.»-. 2ft! b. 211 Jackson s' r->et a nil P>o and H»2 Smith Second, where the\ <> cup\ over 12.W«i feet of tl »>r space This industry was estab lished som-- four \ ears ago, with quar ters .u >O7 West street, where under the guidance of Mr E. M Allaln on the In side and Mr T. J on tEe cut side their business, notwiihstaiullng the hard times, showed a continuous and gratifying growth About a year ag they removed to tlieir present quarters and Mr L. J Kvans was admitted to the company. The present officers are Mr. E H Allaln. president. who has charge of the office business; Mr. I. J Evans, vice president, who Is at the head of the manufacturing department and Mr. T. J. Thoi'sen. secretary, who manages tiie sales department. Thej have a finely equipped fa't«>ry. containing all the machinery, and are making a line of g*«>ds that for styh and fini>h compare favorably with the best Kastern makes, while for solidit\ ard W Mt ing qu illtl s they ares rpased in nothing on (he mark't Added to this, iwing !• tea ted "n the ground. the\ arc the h.-st situated for knowing the v\ utts of their trade. to meet whose re quirements their leathers an especially selected and th - pa*terns and styles of thefr sr.«ods ad ipted. It is well worth . poison's while to Step Into this ft fof> and see there some se\ent> hands rapid ly turning out shoes for the states ■>{ Washington. Idaho M >ntan i. Oregon. Callforni i a :d A Task i .1 «, i t'tiiu.. Mr J M Hemiss is the pioneer liar n--s man of th' ' fty of Seattle. »nd i't fa< tof the Sound country In tiic yeai a harness firm w ts <stabllshed un der tiie name of C. E. Mitchell «K* C> which <"T>ntltiued f<>:* three years The sreat file of swept th' »h-d» st>»- k f s; Htd> and n a. hinery « at «»f ♦.\ist«-tn-. ititl In the re-«ni;an!zation Mr. Mitchell retir d. leaving the entire business to Mr Hemiss, who has since placed his es tabliKhment on an equal footing with the best on the Pacific coast. From a small concern, by energy and honest dealing he has built it up to its present slae Mr Betniss deals in harries# of all kinds, «4tllery, saddlery hardware, vrhipe, etc., also carrying a full line of iogslng, expr. sa and earn,.re equipment. He not only supplies the bulk of the lo cal demand but has an extensive trade with all [tarts of the state, also with Oivpjn Idaho, Montana and British Co lumbia. Only first workmen are employed and being an expert hltnseli ♦•wry piece of goods turned out is guar antee* to be of the best. The wtablish ment m located at llti South Thir l street, under St. James hotel. K. i'«lkoir|li. The largest fur manufacturer an 1 dealer in the Northwest today is R IV.- kovits, w*hose wholesale and retail sales rooms are at 110 Marion street. Mr Petkovits first went into business in Se attle in lvs»> with a limited capital. In a few years' time his business has in creased to TTs "present magnitude. H ■ imports and manufactures all kinds of furs and fur garments, makes a special ty of Alaskan sealskins, keeps «<n hand the latest novelties in furs, also a large assortment of rugs, rubes and mats Spe cial attention is given to renovating and repairing fur garments. Mr. Petkovits has had 25 years experience in th" business, a great part of the time witn some of the best furriers in i'aris, Lon don, New York and Boston. To his lady patrons he guarantees latest designs, correctness of style and perfect tit in sealskin sactjues, capes and dolman? hats, cape, muffs, etc. By buying skins direct from the sealers he Is In a posi tion t . give his patrons the benefit of at least -•> per cent, over any other house <>n the c«>ast. Only skilled workmen ar• en ployed As a result of the above Mi. IVtkovits' trade has extended not onl> to every part of the Pa. ific slope, but to the Kastern states and even to Hol land and France. llihhard & Nurlmi This firm's operations an* <>f great Im portance to Seattle. They have made this city a great hide and fur market, and thee manufacture products whi h are ffiarßeted entirely abroad. Thus through them a large amount of foreign money is expended h«re In wages and supplies. The house was founded l.»y Oharles L llibb.trd in l>iS7. II >m<r I* Norton joining him in 1*92 They im p >rt and < furs, hides. >kins and pelts. They make a specialty of Miska furs and sealskins, exporting to I. indon worth inr .war The> handl .•O.uOO hides and kips, pull UO.'.HM) sheep polls per year and tan sheep and deer skins lut > glove leather arid linings. Their wooT protlUOt Is the finest sh p|n .| from this coast. Their field of opera tions em >rs (he entire N rthwest region and their ousiness aggregates JJ'MI IM>H por year, over ? 15 . 000 being paid in wages to thirty employes Otiuiig Turk Co. Tin- tirin of ijuong Tuck Co . «jf vvh. - i «'hin <..ee li -e is the manngiiiK partner is the owner "I the line brivk building at ""7 l-_' ani \Ya.sbin.;ton slut"?, ing his j»ortlon of the Wa. Chong t'u.'s holding when he b*ft the firm mx or eight years .IKO. Tin Tuvk <*o. «tt the present time have a standing order from China for !,•>»> tons of Hour per rub I"! .V-ttis» i! r.»« tru- St«Mni.>hu ('nail .iii> < >itNirm*t s ha\e 1.-t-n uiuMv t«' tak»* only ul»j '* "•<«> tons j-t month r;'»Wi»nt Mills la.st v; t h«-r» <'hir. (jet- Itf- h.i'i a long talk with h;rr .u- to >upp!>ins the demand by putting on a line uf stt'.-nicrs iavet ft in Smttle t > China. The Novelty flour mill at West Seattle ha> ;i large portion M Quong Tuck Co. s consignments by ran nutg day atjd night Chin Gee Hee wa.> one of thy prineHoU flounders of thv \V* Chong CO. over twenty-five y«.ir» ag-.- That company now owns three large brick blocks* tUther lirolhrra. Thi# li: :n ;s composed of Mesti>. Geo . ai*l 1". T. Fischer, and is the succes sor of the well-known wholesale grocery ttouse of Fipchrr 4c MaeJonald, which #•« established in ISB7. The energy and in tegrity of the nnn have gradually placed them anion# the most prominent of t Pacific Coast importers and jobbers. i'p on the six floors of their main building and in two outside warehouses tli y car ry a mammoth stock of staple an I fancy grocer:, s, cigars an t tobaccos. They are exten«hv importer* of tea*, coffee-, spices and rice fr.iin Japan. China. India and tile l'a''i!lc islands. They uiv as nts for the |*>pular Criolla" bran I of lv<*> Wt st cigar* <in<l ,ils<» for the faiiiniH "<ioldt*n Chop" smoking tobac ■• >. The\ HiTc the tirst cru< cry house t eiiga.:* in the rdiii.iile business in thi> state and this product :it y listribute ;•!! over the country They are also large handler of >alt. "riinkfl and canne I Ala-ka »»t --tr.oii and ship Mast large qiiantititu'. Pu(«t Sound codQak. la addition t » tliese specialties tiny maintain an e.\ tensive manufacturing department it, which th\v prepare ail their own Ilivot ing extracts, bluing, et> . roast their coff.'es, cle.ii. and pact fruit--, et A t- t importers they have met with marked sucvesw. Their coffee department ha now become one of the great features ol their business. Selecting the best growths in the fori ign markets. Jolng their own blending and roasting fresh daily, they secure for their trade the full strength and d licious aroma of the b« r ry. The Messrs. Fischer are wide awake and up to lato in all their methods, and their well regulated system of conduct - ii;g their buslwtw is winning for them large and steadily increasing patron age. Seattle ( omuanjr. Ituring the three and a half year this iriHtitutioti has been under the man agemont of \V. J. I laniard it has enjoyed i most prosperous career and it is now the largest factory north of San Fran cisco. Two millions pounds of -map art tunse-i out antuinlh, worth s»"<«♦.<**t ]t : ! ill! on W -st street Is one of the t« St quipped ''a the coast. Moduli appli ri' es ire used, modern ideas govern the --tabli aliment and it j*»ss.'sse> evry con \eoi"i,e ■ for the quick at id economical manufacture and marketing of its pro duirt o\.t sio.«m worth of manufactured stock j«» constantly carried and th« pro duct is thoroughly dried when put on the market The veral brands of thi fa iorv have he.-ome literally household \v.»rds through< ot 'his "Blanch"" ;ii i "Krr erald" d»»mestic yxi;» are gum ar»(e«d ' » be e.jiK.l to the highest grade-- i l >mest!c gra lesiinidf anywhere In th* world an 1 yet th<-«» home-made pp<duota ,re - >id , t f t than the profusely adver tised eastern soaps The j«.pular Wash ingtor pound "S.-po" is als>> rnano faeture ! I>y this I'omiwny The toilet atid fancy s>«aps made by this factory hav not l>een so well adverti**ed as the do meatle brands, but they maintain an equally hf»rh rank. Among thfwe which nx»e! w *h the favor are the "Toilet Roqnet." the and the "Moun tain Flower*" In 'he«e urvtrvs only the highest grade vegetable oils and the purest floral perfumes are used. I I mi • o\ I-a K