The Port of Tacoma's Race for Global Trade

In the initial number of the Pacific Marine Review appears a discussion under the title, 'When Will Mr. Hill Anchor?' The question involved is one of the relative merits of Puget Sound ports as a point of operation for the mammoth vessels which Mr. Hill is putting into commission to handle Oriental commerce. This again resolves itself into consideration of the comparative merits of the ports of Seattle and Tacoma for Mr. Hill’s particular purpose. It is assumed that the considerations by which he will be influenced are: Which port is the nearest by rail to the shipping point of the freight handled? Which port controls the greatest bulk of cargo? Which port has the best terminal facilities and the most reliable coal supply? The Review notes that Seattle’s facilities are limited, while Tacoma currently holds a greater advantage in warehouse capacity. As 85 percent of the wheat, flour, and lumber reaching tide water originates along the line of the Northern Pacific, the city that offers the most economical dispatch will be chosen. With operation costs upwards of $1,500 a day, every hour in port counts, and while Mr. Hill may initially serve both ports, the pressure for efficiency will likely force a final decision.