10
THE DALLES TIMES-MOUNTAINEER.
A. M. WILLIAMS & CO.
The Dalles has cng been recognized as the center of in
dustry and commerce in Eastern Oregon. Among the
establishments that especially contribute to her promin
ence Is that of A. M. Williams & Co., dealers in foreign
and domestic dry goods, notions, clothing, hats and caps,
furnishing goods and shoes, whose salesrooms are at 154
to 162 Second street. In 1888 this enterprise was inaugur
ated and met with immediate success. Each year has seen
the trade volume increase and the hold upon public favor
grow firmer, until to-day the patronage comes from all
parts of the Inland Empire. The premises occupied con
sist of a substantial brick building 78x100, two stories high.
A representative of the Times-Mountaineer was shown
MANUFACTORIES.
As yet but little attention has been given to manufac
turing in Wasco county, it being confined to a few
flouring and lumber mills. This is owing, not to lack of
facilities, but to the fact that local capitalists who have the
means to establish manufacturing industries have their
capital tied up in other enterprises that are bringing them
good returns, and to the fact that no foreign capital has yet
been induced to invest here. Nevertheless the facilities
and natural resources are such that The Dalles is destined
some day to become the greatest manufacturing center in
the northwest.
The immense amount of wool received here naturally
suggests that it would be an excellent location for a scour-
Markets for green fruit are such that the fruit raiser often
finds himself with a large stock of perishable fruits on
hand just at a time when the eastern markets are dull, and
this fruit could always be held at a price that would be
profitable for a cannery to handle. Such an industry could
be established with a capital of $10,000, and would be sup
plied with vegetables on which to operate as early as May
15th, and could run steadily until late in the fall.
The natural facilities for manufacturing at The Dalles
are cheap freight, this place having terminal rates both
east and west, tne rate either to or from the Atlantic coast
being the same from The Dalles as from Portland, Seattle,
Tacoma ami San Francisco; cheap fuel, fir wood, in large
quantities, being supplied at two dollars a cord, and be-
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SHOE DEPARTMENT.
siaes excellent coal has been discovered within three miles
of the city that will ere long be developed; and the low cost
of living here makes it possible to get labor at low wages.
All these favorable conditions offer unmistakable induce
ments for the investment of foreign capital in manufac
turing industries and cannot be overlooked.
FRONT MAIN
over the large and elegant establishment by the junior
member of the firm, Mr. Ed. M. Williams, who is the great
motive power of the concern. He is the personification of
energy, of promptness, and of versatility. He has a
genius for management, understands the markets, and is
so in touch with the people that he anticipates their wants
and supplies them with an instinct that never errs.
Their main dress section, under the management of
Frank Cram, ably assisted by a number of clerks, who
take pleasure in showing the rare attractions offered by the
firm, is replete with the latest dress goods, the finest pro
ducts of the best looms of the largest factories. Here the
delighted lady customer can revel in the contemplation of
fabrics of every shade and hue, of every pattern, the latest
products of specialists in all departments. Then there are
the corset and hosiery department, under the management
of Miss Elizabeth Schooling, in which are to be found,
among others, such standard brands as "Royal Worcester,"
and "P. N." corsets, and "Peerless," "Y. S. F." and "Match
less' hosiery. The fancy goods department is in charge of
Miss Annette Michel and Miss Jennie Young has charge of
the notion department. The cloak department is under
direct charge of Miss Story, and judging from the crowds
of handsomely dressed ladies that throng this department
from day to day, it is among the most popular ones of this
large institution. On the left of the main entrance is lo
cated what is perhaps the largest and most complete line of
gentlemen's furnishing goods in the city. A casual ob
servation shows the judgment and taste displayed1 in its
selection, the key note of which is fully expressed in the
words "Up-to-date." On the upper floor, which is reached
by ascending a wide and spacious staircase, is located,
among others, the clothing department, in charge of F. D.
Sampson, and I am satisfied they can fill the wants of any
possible customer, as the selection runs from that adapted
to four year old children to that adapted to the largest
sized man, as they are the agents for the "Pickwick" brand
of right shape clothing for odd shaped men. It has always
been their aim to keep three things in view in selecting
lines, and these are durability, style and fit. On this floor
are also to be found complete lines of trunks and valises,
draperies and portiers, and also hats and caps. Of this
latter line we can only say it occupies more space than
the ordinary hat store, and includes many of the well
known makes, such as Stetson's and others. Their shoe
department is on the main floor, and comprises all sizes,
styles and grades of ladies' ana gentlemen's boots and
shoes, also a very large assortment of rubber goods. Mr.
A. Ii. Good has charge of it, and is assisted by several
competent clerks. It requires twenty-five people to handle
the immense stock under the roof of this store, and wait
upon the customers that daily crowd the building. The
firm has built up a large trade and it is constantly increas
ing. It may also be mentioned that the firm' has a large mail
order department, under John WIgle's management, which
has grown to such dimensions as to demand the exclusive
services of several clerks. The country customer who can
not come to the city to purchase goods can, by sending a
mail order to the firm of A. M. Williams & Co., have the
order conscientiously and satisfactorily filled. People have
.often expressed astonishment at the extremely low prices,
almost passing belief, at which this firm sells first-class
goods. The explanation is easy the firm of A. M. Williams
& Co. deals only with the best factories and importers di
rect, are wholesale as well as retail dealers, and buy strict
ly for cash. They are therefore in a position to offer their
customers the best articles- in their line at the lowest prices,
and this is the secret of the firm's wonderful popularity
and success.
STORE.
ing mill. There is every year received in The Dalles from
7,000,000 to 8,000,000 pounds direct from the growers, and
a wool scouring plant located here would handle the great
er portion of it. And no other city on the coast offers
greater natural advantages for the establishing of woolen
mills than The DaLes. Writh millions of pounds of wool to
select from, the manufacturer would be able to choose the
choicest fleeces to be worked into cloths, and would never
be placed at the disadvantage of buying wools not suited
to his use. There is also a splendid field here for a wagon
and carriage factory. The climate is especially adapted to
seasoning timber to be put into wheeled vehicles, and there
would be a market at the very door of the factory for its
output. The same is true as to a factory for making plows,
harrows and seeders. A broom factory would no doubt be
found a paying investment. Broom corn of fine quality
can be raised throughout the surrounding country, and a
factory to manufacture the straw into brooms would as
Kn as established find sufficient raw material on which to
operate; and a soap factory would be readily supplied with
raw material and a good local marKet for its output. One
of the most pressing needs of The Dalles in the line of man
ufacturing industries is a fruit and vegetable cannery.
THE CLIMATE.
The climate of "Wasco county is delightful, as is shown by
the article furnished by S. B. Pague for this issue. The
seasons are distinctly marked, but run neither to the ex
tremes of heat nor cold. The west wind, sweeping down
over the Cascades, reaches us laden with the odor of cedar
and pine, making it of peculiar benefit to those who are
troubled with weak lungs. Generally the climate is con
sidered a remarkably healthful one. It is not true that we
had to import a corpse to start a graveyard, but it is true
that persons do not die often not more than once. Many
wno find life unbearable in the wet climate of the coast,
find relief at once on coming to the dry climate of Eastern
Oregon. Another peculiarity is that diseases absolutely re
fuse to become epidemic. Diphtheria comes; it is an iso
lated case. Scarlet fever; it claims seldom more than two
subjects, and neither is often fatal. Several times within
the past thirty years smallpox has found its way here, but
in nearly every case it was confined to the person who
brought it, or, at me worst, to those who were in the house
with him. The death rate shows that the percentage is as
small here as anywhere in the United States. The nights
are aiways, as elsewhere on the coast, cool and conducive
to refreshing sleep.
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INTERIOR MAIN STORE.