The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-18
GOOD THING FOR THE U. $.
Is the G. N. Arrangement With the
Japanese Steamship Co.

The traffic agreement which has just been
entered into between the Great Northern rail-
way and the Nippon Yesen Kaisha or Jap
anese Imperial Mail Steamship company, is
regarded in ST. Paul as of the most i'm
portant events of it's kind that has ever been
consumated. general idea of the arrange
ment was given in the G o b of yesterday
but the Importance of such traffic agreement
will not be realized until its results are SEEN
not only in st. Paul but the entire United
States. The arrangements by which the in
terchange of commerce between two great
countries shall be materially increased is a
big thing. And when the fountain head of
one of the two great agencies, by which this
is done, is located right in St. Paul it be-
comes matter of local pride and local benefit
WELL Nations usually secure the service
of steamship lines through the aid Of liberal
subsidies but in this case the United States
becomes the beneficiary through the enter
prise of one citizen, and he a st. Paul man,
James ]. Hill.
The people of st. Paul are acquainted with
the Great Northern road. They have watched
its growth until 1t has become to be regarded
as the strongest of the Transcontinental roads.
Its financial standing Is said to be unequalled
by any railroad in America, in the money
centers Of Europe. AS a transcontinental
solely it is one of the best and add to that
the latest addition, the line of steamers to
Buffalo and its territory outreaches that of
any other line. On top Of this comes ar
rangement by which it secures direct con-
nection with Yokohoma or any port in far
away Japan and it can be seen how it's bust
ness is stretching ut. Today, early in
August when the first steamer leaves Seattle
the Great Northern practically covers. dis
ance of $500 miles.
The Japanese Imperial Mail Steamship COM
pany was founded twenty-five years ago. 1t
began in a small way and has grown to be
one of the most powerful steamship compa-
MES in the World. It has a capital of % 000-
600 yens, equal to S13, 900 in gold. It has
already. as stated in the G / o g of yester-
day, sixty-two boats in service and eighteen
more under course of construction. Most OF
the steamships are of English build. These
steamers control the shipping of Japan, and
ply between all ports of Japan as well as of
the Malay peninsula. For years the owners
Of this line have had their eyes on this coun-
try; in fact, when the Great Northern was
In course of construction representatives of
the steamship line came to Mr.. Hill with a
view to some such arrangement as has been
entered into this week. That was before the
Great Northern had reached the coast and
Mr.. Hill did not feel disposed to enter into
any traffic agreement at that time. He
however, sent agents to Japan to look over
the big company's business, and found that
it was satisfactory. These agents also re-
ported that the outlook for building up
trade with Japan was good. Consequently
when the gentlemen from Japan reached st.
Paul they found Mr.. Hill willing to listen to
any propositions they had to make, and later
to accept one of them. This arrangement
will put st. Paul and Minneapolis directly in
the goods manufactured in Japan which can
not be made or are not manufactured in this
country. can be brought here directly and
the people of the Northwest will send their
machinery and -four and wool to japan.
The Japanese have just begun to eat American
modites it is expected that a trade viii be
developed. For the time there will only be
two steamers put in this service, but as trade
develops others will be added.