Tacoma Outshines Seattle in Customs Race
Despite a drop in imports, Tacoma's port activity and export volume substantially outpaces its neighbor to the north.
The story, cleaned up
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While imports for the district of Puget Sound fell off $111,204 and exports decreased $628,495 during the month of March, as compared with February, Tacoma held its own better than any other city in the district, according to the report of Collector of Customs Clarence W. Ide. Imports entering the port of Tacoma during the month were valued at $365,477, as against $84,839 entering at Seattle, or about four times as much. Exports passing through the two ports were valued at $808,244 and $434,919 respectively, Tacoma again beating Seattle, and by nearly double the amount of business transacted at the latter port. The principal imports were: Copper ore, $123,802; matting, $114,870; silk, $106,450. Principal exports: Flour, $330,870; lumber, $224,200; salmon, $271,373; iron and steel, $116,922.
“Tacoma again beating Seattle, and by nearly double the amount of business transacted at the latter port.”
In 1904, Tacoma and Seattle were locked in a fierce rivalry for dominance of the regional shipping economy. Today, while their ports are integrated under the Northwest Seaport Alliance, the echoes of that competition persist in the ongoing civic debate over maritime infrastructure and urban economic identity.
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