St. Louis Dry Goods Tycoon Eyes Seattle Expansion
A representative from a massive Missouri firm scouts the city for a new wholesale branch.
L. L. Adams, the Northwestern representative of the dry goods house of Samuel C. Davis & Co., of St. Louis, is making an examination of the city with a view to establishing here a wholesale branch of that house. Mr. Davis himself, who is worth probably $25,000,000, came out here and was delighted with the country. After my first visit, and on my return to St. Louis, I determined to get up a company to engage in the wholesale dry goods business out here somewhere. I am satisfied that both Seattle and Spokane will become distributing centers of great importance. The more wholesale houses locate in a city the better it is for a city. In fact they are the making of a city. It is a queer fact in trade, but two houses in the same line in a city will both do better than one alone. Competition makes a market and develops trade.
“The more wholesale houses locate in a city the better it is for a city. In fact they are the making of a city.”
This reflects the era of Seattle’s aggressive pursuit of 'jobbing' status to challenge established regional hubs, a precursor to the corporate presence that has long defined the city's economic landscape.
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