The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-31
NEW STEAMSHIP LINE
Regular Trips Between Puget
Sound and Central America.
LOCAL COMPANY ORGANIZING.
First Vessel VIII Clear October l.
Prospects of Trade With the
Spanish Republics.

One of the most important pieces of
news to the people OF Puget sound and
the Northwest generally is the announce
ment of the formation here of a steamship
and trading company TO engage an busl-
ness with the Central American republics.
1t indicates not only that good times are
returning, but also that the Pacific North
west is beginning TO feel them in a way
which means much for the commercial
interests of the state of Washington Al
ready direct communication has been
opened with the Orient, and with the es-
tablishment of line of steamships 10
trade with the Spanish countries to the
south, il would seem that another impor-
tant step is to be taken towards building
up a fiourishing foreign commerce from
Puget sound ports.
The Puget Sound G. Central American
Steamship Company has been organized
for trade between the larger cities of Pu-
get sound and the Pacific coast ports of
Guatemala, Honduras. Salvador. Nicara
qua and Costa Rica. The attention of
good many business men of the United
States has been called TO the republics of
Central America within the past few
years. and an investigation of trade con-
ditions there has proved conclusively that
there are immense possibilities in a com
mereial intercourse between those repub-
lies and our own.
Among those who have of late given
considerable thought, time and attention
to thoroughly looking up the Central
American trade is j. e. Chilberg. of this
city, whose recent thrilling experiences in
connection with the Colima disaster have
made him to some extent notable Det-
sonage along the entire Co1->. ~. Chill
berg has been on several trips to the
southern republics, has made very care
full business canvass in the larger cities
there, and is convinced that an immense
trade he hl1ilt between Central
America and Puget sound. The latest
venture of himself and associates was the
shipment recently on the schooner Eureka
of a cargo of Washington product, in
Guiding flour, lime and lumber, all of
which arrived safely and found a ready
market. Mr.. Chilberg is now on his way
home to assist in the organization of the
new steamship line and perfect arrange
ments for increasing the business already
begun.
The Puget Sound & Central American
Steamship Company will be a Washington
corporation. with ample financial backing,
and among its incorporators are John
Barneson, of Port Townsend; Richard
Chilcott. of Port Blakeley: two of the lead
ing Sound shipping agents; Ben Hazeltine,
Edwin Hughes and j. f. Chilberg, of Seat
tie, and Steeb G. Bartlett, shipping agents.
of Tacoma. Davidge & Co. will act as
agents in Victoria, while Mr.. Chilberg
will serve in Central America repre-
sentative of the company
The new company does not propose to
start in on too large a scale, the business
to some extent being at an experimental
stage, but the service offered will be such
as the conditions warrant. The first yes
sci to be dispatched will be the Norwegian
steamer Transit, with carrying capacity
of 1880 tons and probably such passenger
accommodations as may be required on a
new line. The Transit is expected 10 ar
nv IL L. -
viii clear for Central America not later
than October l. A good part of her first
cargo has already been secured, and care
full calculations lead the company to be-
lieve that the vessel can probably be dis
patched regularly from Puget sound every
two months.
Aside from maintaining steamship
line the company proposes conducting a
general trading. merchandising and COM
mission business, selling for Washington
consignors and purchasing such Central
American goods and products as may
be in demand by Washington merchants.
Recent shipments to the republics from
this country show that their wants are
varied. and that this state should be
able to supply not small part of them.
Among goods in demand there are -four,
lime lumber, shingles, groceries, canned
goods, crockery,. glassware, machinery,
drugs. beer, art materials, liquors. sad
en- and willow ware, tallow, lard, fish.
pork products. soap. boots and shoes,
dairy products, petroleum, hardware
rice. cigars. cereals, Oriental goods and
products, electrical machinery and sup
plies, household goods and kitchen uteTl-
sils. potatoes, hay, dry goods and notions
The return cargo is not expected TO
be so miscellaneous, including as IL does
only few of the staple products OF the
country, such as coffee, cocoa. bananas.
pineapples and other fruits hides, salt,
ores and cabinet woods. The promoters
say they do not expect the return cargoes
to be large at first, but predict they will
increase as the traffic becomes regularly
established. AS II is, all OF the above
| Central American exports are used extern
sively in the Northwest, and the ship
ments this way are expected TO be quite
considerable. The passenger trade Will
OF course. be light, but will probably in
crease as trade grows, and would If
work were inaugurated on the Nicara-
qua canal. probably become an important
part Of the company's transportation
business.
The people connected with the new line
say their steamer, or steamers If trade
calls for them, will probably touch at
two or three Puget sound ports regular
~. and at others should the shipments
require il. Where the Transit will dock
while at Seattle was not stated