Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 1.djvu/449

Rh some great national festival when all would possibly get a little flour cake; and there being so many millions of them, a feast day always makes a boom in the sales of Oregon flour. The present low price of silver, and the high price of Oregon wheat has caught the Oregon flour trade on both sides, and the result is that the demand for Oregon flour has run down so rapidly that it is now estimated by the millers that the Chinese will not buy as much Oregon flour this year, by a million barrels, as they did three years ago.

In 1870 the commerce to the United Kingdom begins to rise. In that year, in the months from July 1, 1869, to November, 1870, the exports thither amounted to a value of about $61,000.00.

The following table exhibits the exports to San Francisco:

It is well known that during each year we sent considerable quantities of wheat, flour, salmon, etc., to San Francisco for shipment to eastern or foreign ports; these were not included in the above table. The very small increase of wheat exports of 1870 above 1869 is accounted for by the fact that in 1869 we shipped but little to foreign countries direct, while in 1870 we exported to foreign countries as much as, or more than, appears in this table. The latest (1890) shipment to all destinations would show that our grain and breadstuffs export have increased greatly more in proportion than any other products. It will be seen that exports of salmon have also increased.

The exports to foreign countries—including, China, British Columbia, Sandwich islands, England, Ireland, Uruguay, and Peru, aggregated a value of three hundred and seventy-one thousand, three hundred and fifty-five dollars—mostly lumber, flour and fish.

In the year 1870 the Willamette customs district was created by act of congress, and a custom house established in this city, and Harvey W. Scott, editor of the Oregonian appointed the first collector of customs in this city.

In 1871 foreign exports rise to a value of $692,297. Clearing to foreign ports are found five foreign ships, aggregating three thousand, seven hundred tons, and six foreign barks, two thousand, six hundred tons. Of American steamer clearances to foreign ports, there were twenty-nine, and six barks and one schooner, aggregating sixteen thousand tons. Imports from foreign countries reached $517,633.

The coast-wise arrivals, from San Francisco and other American cities, aggregated eighty-six thousand, four hundred and sixteen tons.

In 1872 we find commerce rising to something like its contemplated proportions. For its purposes, eighteen American steamers and eight barks were employed, with a tonnage of eleven thousand, nine hundred and forty-six; and of foreign vessels, twelve barks and two schooners, aggregating nine thousand, one hundred and forty tons.

Imports from England, reached a value of $350,980: from British Columbia, $31,294; from Sandwich islands, $171,332; from Hong Kong, $115,338; from other points, $59,831, making a total of $728,825. The large imports from the Sandwich islands show the value of their trade to Portland, if their products of sugar might be somehow taken away, at least in part, from the San Francisco monopoly.

The exports for this year (1872) were as follows: to England, a value of $3,041,744; British Columbia, $107,508; Ireland, $187,549; Sandwich islands, $8,824; Hong Kong $33,925 making a total of $642,620.