Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1896-11-18
THE ATcHIsoN,s GREAT SCHEME
A Plan TO Run a Line of Big Ocean
Steamers to Japan.

A gigantic business project at the
head of which are President E. p. Rip-
ley aud Third Vice President Pau
Morton CT the Atchison has been
sprung on the business world, and is
now attracting the greatest interest in
New York, Philadelphia and Chicago
in the east, and San Diego and San
Francisco in the west. The project is
the establishment of a superior line of
steamers to ply between the United
States and Japan, which are 10 con-
meet with the Atchison system lines at
either San Diego or San Francisco.
The project is original with President
Ripley and has been urged by him
since his election as president Of this
system.
The following information concern
ing the g steamship line has been
sent out from San Francisco:
"One of the greatest projected en-
terprises now attracting attention in
both the east and west is the heavily
backed proposition of q number Of
American capitalists to establish IN the
Pacific a magnificent steamer line,
with such railway arrangements in the
United States and such connection with
the new trans Siberian line, as will
make 1t q vital and effective part OF a
great round-the-world system of CON-
munication.
"This new proposition, which has
long since passed the stage OF prslimi.
nary discussion, bids fair to be in full
operation before any Pacific port has
welcomed the first of the much talked
of Pacific liners. The project had its in
ception in Chicago, aud among Its most
enthusiastic supporters r Marshall
Field, the millionaire dry goods man,
and other Chicago millionaires. The
New York end of the enterprise is
being cared for by 4. G. Potter G. Co.
La Philadelphia. the has the
interest and support Of William Cramp
& Sons. the ship builders.
sit is the intention Of these capital
lists to establish a new trans-Pacifc
line superior to any afioat. Their plan
calls for the construction of q number
of steamers of not less than 5000 tons
burden, and Of twenty knots speed,
which will make them eligible to the
benefits of the United States mail sub.
sidy OF 81 per travelled mile. The dis.
lance from the California coast to
Hongkong is 1000 miles, and thus each
steamer would be entitled to a bonus
Of $685. 900 for q single trip.
sit Is proposed to begin the enter
prise with four twin screw steamers,
capable of carrying $500 tons Of
freight, 200 first class passengers and
200 Storage passengers. As origi.
nally proposed, the line was to run
San Diego to the ports of China
and Japan, but sinceEthan. an SCENT of
The company has como tothe coast and
has opened negotiations to make San
the termipus on this coast"
Should the proposed steamship line
be established and it it now reason
able to expect that 0such will be done.
i will give to the Atchison railway the
heaviest traffic of any railroad in the
States. Japanese trade with
States IS now greater than the
.rade OF any other Asialic country, and
greater than the trade of many Europ-
san countries, and with q direct car
rier line from Chicago to the ports of
the Atchison would practically
the whole Of the Japanese
The effects Of the establishment Of
he proposed steamship line would be
'elt along the entire Atchison system
rom Chicago to San Francisco. The
prosperity of the railroad, due to the
increased freight traffic, would
mean prosperity to The communities
through which the road passed. Care
# the rolling stock would demand in
'reased shop forces, additional trains
would mean additional trainmen, and
be clerical forces would necessarily be
,nlarged. In addition manyaimprovs
nents, depending entirely on Increased
would be made, and iii this
way thousands Of dollars expended and
Employment given to hundreds ofamen
Here in Las Vegas anything that
7ill increase the business of the Atchi.
10 Of vital interest to all the ,citi-
ems, and 1t is to be hoped that the big
will 90 through.
None Ruf Avars~ - en- W.~ras- u~s~, III