Evening star., 1896-12-21
Demn n dr. OF Commerce.

Demands of Commerce.
1t is the outside parties having interests
In this ocean who need a cable to Hawaii
much more than we here do. The govern
merits of the United States and Great Bri-
tain are both liable at any time to find such
a cable of material n,ecessity for naval pur
poses Mr. Cleveland would have found one
quite useful three years ago. when poor
Minister Willis was afohis wits end be-
tween Dole and Liliuokalani and might
have come out less -aw kwardly from those
&C Implications. In the event of the annexa-
tion of Hawaii, such a. cable would often be
much needed. 1t will ,hacome nearly in
dispensable necessity whenever the United
States shall actually occupy its proposed
naval station at PeArlrHarBor.
To the owners and consignees of the
rapidly multiplying fleet of steamers anI
sailing vessels crossing the Pacific it
would be of the most vital service to hear
from them by cable at this general place of
meeting. There are dozens of contingencies
occurring here every month when a word
to and from the coast. or to Australia or
japan, might save hundreds or thousands
Of dollars to parties residing at those points
who are interested III ships calling here or
in the freight they are transporting. To US
doing business here. there is far less need
OF prompt information from abroad, al
though that would often be convenience
AT present, and for some time to come, a
cable to Honolulu only, and extending no
further. could not become a paying inyest-
nent. unless heavily subsidized. The -busi-
ness to be done here alone could not meet
its expenses for long time 10 come It's
profits must come from its forming a part
of through lines to Australia and Asia
Either of such through lines would i'm
mediately enjoy richly paying business
That to the Asiatic empires would, of
course, be the heaviest. The traffic be-
tween Asia and America is growing So fast
that direct cable communication will soon
become an impe1ious necessity. At present,
all kilograms have to take the long route
via India and Europe at cost from Japan
OF two dollars word. This cost would be
reduced at least one-half to America by
direct cable across the. Pacific And the
same reduction of cost would take place in
teiesrams from Australia to America, in
Wnlch circumstance however, the United
states are at present perhaps less interest
ed than Canada. For Japan and China II
Is likely that telegraVs will soon be some
What cheapened by the overland wires
along the Siberian railway: but this will
trans-Pacific cable by which to con,mun;-
cate directly with America.
New Ships Needed.
On the Australian route the traffic he.
tween the southern British colonies and
British Columbia, Puget sound and Oregon
is rapidly growing. The present steamers
on that route are unable to carry all tho
Ireisht Offering, ard more ships are about
to be added. Three millions of the active
Engllsh race at each end of the line are
creating a large and rapidly growing COM
merce with each other. for which the use of
direct cable is becoming necessity. Aus
traiia and New Zealand already nav a
handsome revenue to cable lines connecting
Win Europe across the Indian ocean, Their
Gemana Is growing urgent for competing
lines IN the other direction. recent ON
Ventlon in England of Australian and Can
adian representatives indicated a very de-
ciaed eia,i purpose % to proceed promptly and ac-
.lveiy Tor the accomplishment of cable
communication across the Pacific between
the British colonies on each side Such
nne would be heavily subsidized by the
british government for, military reasons
usefulness of the proposed cable to the
Dhited states In connecting with the north
Pacific. as the line-wiff probably not be
permitted to touch at any intermediate
point not under exclusively British control
It is likely to pass by Honolulu, which is
the natural terminus OFF the first stage of
any Pacific cable, and 70 600 miles far
tner to Trainings Island. which is British
or commerce. Such ii lf1e could be of little
service In any way to the United States
government. although 1t might answer the
needs OF traffic between the Pacific states
and Australia. !Sa.
Japanese Activity.
The expansion Of trade and consequently
increasing need Of a cable between Japan
and China and the Nos3h American coast
Is very much greater than between Aus
tralia and the latter, which are vast and
highly developed empires. The number of
steamers crossing from Asia to America
has more than doubled in three years. The
new line Of Japanese boats from Yokohama
to Seattle is leaving behind nearly
half the freight offered. The power
Iul Japanese company has ordered in
England SIX new and large steamers for
fortnlghtiy service on that line, via Hon
oiulu. The line OF tramp steamers, which
mas carried freight for year past from
Portland to China Ia having a similar ex-
perience. Japan and China are rich and
popuious empires. with large demand for
american products, and, a vast return trade
from their own manufactures The regu-
lar lines of English steamers to San Fran