The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-19
TRANSPACIFIC TRADE
Chinese Merchants Unite to
Draw 1t to Seattle.
WA cHoNe's GREAT WORK.
Northern Pacific Steamers to Bring
Goods Here For All the North
west-Renehts to Result

Asa result Of the efforts Of Wa Chong,
the Chinese merchant, highly profitable
trade with the Orient is likely 20 spring
up here by means Of the Northern Pacific
steamers, which now stop here.
Va Chong has Just returned from trip
East as far as New York, working Up BUSH
| ness for the line. One Of the conditions
on which Wa Chong did this was that the
vessels Of the line should come in here and
handle the business he worked up through
this port. Speaking of the matter yester-
day. he said:
The company sent ne on q pass established
two stores in Montana, one st Butte and another
a. Helena These stores will carry from $500
TO 1000 worth OF stock. We just shipped ;yo
car loads OF goods 20 Butte from here. and viii
ship . ike amount 70 Helena in a few days.
! his IS just for starter. AL the Cinnamon IN
Aoutars have been getting their goods through
Fan Francisco, but now We viii Try 10 get their
trade here. RaIiroad transportation has been
and is too high The railroad gets about seven
tenihs, ;he steamship lire two;en.hs, and We
abou: one-.enth Of the profit.
/ did not arrange any definite plan OF handling
che through business here. We might organize
big syndicate, but we are afraid. We don't
know how this registration business is coming
out IL Is probable the goods Will be entered
and the duty paid here. TIE company is also
looking alter the passenger trafic. The through
fare between new YORK and Hongkong over the
Canadian Pacific line is $780, Think the North
e.n Pacific line will make rate o. SIS anyhow,
but don't know yet. In about month or two
months will probably 90 10 China for the com
Tany 10 make arrangements for the shipment of
Hour from here. We can ship flour from here -
cheap as Portland or San Francisco.
Wa Chong held numerous conferences
with other leading shippers here before
taking this step and they are all encourag-
ing him in his work. OF course the gen.
eral refusal Of all the heavy shippers TO
patronize the Northern Pacific line unless
its vessels landed at Seattle has had great
weight In inducing the company to yield,
but 1t is doubtful whether it would have
had the desired effect for some time vet
had It not been for this deal with Wa
Chong. 1t is admitted by all TO be one of
the most important moves in the interest
of the city that has ever been made. James
;. Goldsmith, Of the Schwabacher Bros.
Company, expressed the general senti-
ment IN regard 10 1t yesterday when he
said:
This step on the part OF Wa Chong means
grest deal more than il shows on the surface. /
do not imagine that our house will reap aay d.
rect benefit from IL Tor some time and il may be
fNats n hAi4s oSlOlc tue Guece OF II On
the commercial interests OF Seattle will be felt,
but II is laying good foundation for \ business
that is bound 20 grow. There is no reason why
this business should not be done here Just rs
well as at san Francisco and believe that in
very short time Seattle cen control just Is much,
II not more of it, than does San Francisco. Wa.
Chong has talked the whole thing over with
me and he knows what he is talking about
Deputy Collector of Customs D. A. Nc
kenz!e said:
It's one OF the most important. moves ever
made in the interest OF this city. II is just la.
have been urging in general way Tor some
time Every vessel coming il here leaves more
or less money, and when they make this their
principal port and discharge all their through
cargo here, as they bound 10 do in time,
every vessel coming in will be worth at least
$2,c0 TO the city. Then If the passenger traffic
amounts TO anything, and 1t is sure to in time,
1t will mean great deal more. The goods will
have to be entered and probably the duty paid
here through Wa Chong 1t will necessitate adj
diilonal customs house officials after while,
and benefit the city III q thousand ways We
never conceive Of.