The Struggle for the Hawaiian Trade
Seattle merchants fight for dominance in the island shipping trade against cheaper San Francisco freight rates.
Considerable interest centers just now in orders for Honolulu. Not less than 850 tons of flour, feed, etc., will go from here in a day or two to Victoria to go to the Hawaiian islands on the next Canadian steamer, calling May 24. These items have heretofore been supplied from San Francisco, but at the present time prices here are lower than in California, and the trade comes here in consequence. An effort will be made to retain it, although freight charges are against this point. While steamers make the same rate to Honolulu from San Francisco or Sound ports, sailing vessels going from San Francisco to Honolulu often carry freight for half price. This will be the chief obstacle against which Seattle merchants will have to contend in maintaining a hold on the trade.
“This will be the chief obstacle against which Seattle merchants will have to contend in maintaining a hold on the trade.”
In the 1890s, Seattle was hungry for international trade leverage against California, a competition that fundamentally shaped the city's port and rail infrastructure. Today, Seattle's reliance on global shipping routes remains a primary engine of the economy, though the fight is no longer against San Francisco sailing ships, but against global supply chain volatility and massive container port competition.
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