GENERAL The port of Seattle with its natural deep water harbor holds an important place among the ports of the United States when consideration is taken of its location in relation to important trade areas, such as oriental and Alaskan points. Seattle is the closest major port in the United States to oriental countries and Alaska, and as such is in a position to handle a large part of the commerce to and from these points. The port is also a focal point for transcontinental rail traffic moving through the grain areas of the Northwest territory, which contribute outbound tonnage and distribute inbound tonnage. Distribution of inbound cargo to interior points is effected by means of four important railroad systems which serve the large agricultural areas of the United States and, through connections, the industrial centers of the East and Middle West. Rail freight rates are the same to and from all Pacific coast ports, there being no port rate differential on export, import, or domestic traffic. Seattle has coast-to-coast, Alaska, and coastwise air services, and 60 auto freight lines in intrastate and interstate transportation. During the 10-year period 1927-36 the water-borne commerce of the port averaged 7,860,679 short tons annually. During this period all classes of traffic showed a general decrease in volume. The coastwise receipts averaged 3,865,202 tons, or 49.2 percent, while the coastwise shipments ranked second in importance by volume, with an annual average of 1,425,776 tons, or 18.2 percent of the port's total traffic. Imports averaged 370,855 tons, or 4.7 percent, and the exports averaged 527,911 tons, or 6.7 percent. Local and intraport traffic comprised 21.2 percent of the total. Petroleum and petroleum products, logs and piles, and fish and marine products were the principal receipts, while the principal shipments were lumber, logs and piles, grain and grain products, and petroleum products. The commodities handled at the port of Seattle, as shown in the statistics on the commerce of the port, tend to provide both package and bulk freight in sufficient quantities to make up a well-balanced cargo for vessels calling at the port. At present the port of Seattle has adequate terminal facilities for handling the commerce of the port, there being 166 piers, wharves, and docks located in the port area that are available for water-borne traffic. There are 95 facilities located on salt water in the outer harbor, while the remainder are located in fresh water on Salmon Bay, Lakes Union and Washington, and their connecting channels. This |