St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-06
And the First Direct Consignment of
Tea from Yokohama, Japan, to
Tacoma is Made.
Low Rates by the Northern Pacific Fav-
orable to the Commercial Inter-
ests of st. Paul.
Contract Let to Build an Elevator at
Washburn For the Omaha.
Railroad.
Meeting of the Chicago Committee
on .East-Bound Traffi c--GeneraI
and Local Notes.


Inc bark Isabel, ladened with tea from
yokohama, Japan. touched at Port Town
send yesterday and took on a custom officer
ana proceeded to Tacoma, arriving there
last night The unloading of the vessel will
commence to-day and the tea will be for
Marded with all possible speed to st. Paul.
me mp OI tle Isabel was remarkably fast
one Delng only thirty-two days. The Har-
monla, running to San Francisco. which ar
rived there few days since. il being the
last arrival there from Yokohama. was thir-
ty-seven days making the trip. five days
longer than the Isabel. The latter sailed
all the way under the British Union Jack
and was commanded by Joseph Howe. The
Northern Pacific was prepared for its ar
Iival, and has all the freight cars that will
be necessary at Tacoma, $50 of them.
1t is thought that this business of import.
ing tea to America by way of Tacoma. from
Yokohama, will develop to great import
ance, and though the parties interested in
this first importation chartered the Isabel
to make an experiment, they are quite GER
tain that the first venture will be a success
full one. Much difficulty has been expe-
Tienced in executing this project owing to
the relations between the Northern Pacific
and other companies.
SHORTLY AFTER THE OPENING
of the Northern Pacific railway an agent
was sent to Japan with the view of eStab-
fishing an Eastern connection, but the rep
reSentative of the road said at the time it
was not feasible. and returned without ac-
comprising anything. The arrangement
the Northern Pacific had with the Union
Pacific and the Central Pacific, which lines
controlled the Pacific Mail line of steamers.
were such as to temporarily prevent it from
putting on a regular line of steamers, but
other interested parties sought to inaugurate
plan which would not conflict with the
arrangements the Northern Pacific had
with the companies mentioned.
The sailing of the ship Isabel with a full
cargo of tea, about %, 900 half chests, from
Yokohama, Japan, to Tacoma, is in reality
private enterprise. the success of which is
largely due to the p. II. Kelly Mercantile
company, which was chiefly instrumental
in the inception and the success of carving
out this enterprise. This company, with
its Eastern connections, controls nearly 90
per cent. of the entire cargo. For the trade
OF the Northwest they have consigned one
entire train load of 1000 half chests to st.
Paul.
This is the commencement of a new era
for st. Paul in the tea trade, it being the
first and principal point of destination. 1t
IL
an experiment. but not hazardous one.
Both the Northern Pacific and the Canadian
Pacific have had the establishment of such
q route under consideration for years, and
both 50 far as mileage is concerned have an
advantage over the Union Pacific. Earn
lngs from this traffic by the Pacific Mail
and the Occidental and Oriental Steamship
lines. which with the Central and Union
Pacific form the old China tea route, are
over $1,000, 600 annually. They land about
20. 600, 0000 pounds of tea every year. A
reduction of rates on large shipments has
already been announced by the Pacific Mail
and Occidental and Oriental Steamship
companies, which is said to be for the pur-
pose OF excluding the Northern Pacific
from this business. 1t is believed, how
ever, that the Northern Pacific
WILL HOLD ITS OWN,
as it will receive strong support from the
Eastern and English importers. There is
every indication that the Canadian Pacific
will also open out as soon as it is COM
pleted. The development of this traffic
will be Of great interest to st. Prul as it is
the center of the territory where the largest
amount of Japan is consumed.
The trains carrying this tea will be run
through as specials and will make the dis
lance in about It's hours. The Northern
Pacific has made rate of S1.75 per 100
pounds from Yokohama to New York The
rate generally by steamer is from SO to SIS
per 100 pounds and by sailing vessels 81. %.
These favorable freight rates imposed by
the Northern Pacific will enable St Paul
importers to compete for the Japan tea
trade at least as far East as Detroit, Mich.
The Isabel as soon as unloaded will load
with lumber from Puget Sound and sail for
,iVprDOOl