The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-10-13

The acknowledgement taxes pleasure N
announcing 10 lis readers that = has
completed arrangements for sending
representative 10 Japan for the purpose
OF investigating the commerce, manu-
factGres and merchandise OF TIA. country.
especially SQcl features as may De o. m
;eres, 10 the Pacific Northwest.
The Post-fnrelligencer mas not made the
slipshot mistake Of asking man who was
visiting Japan for pleasure. or bent on
some other mission. 70 send ], back an oc-
cassonal letter as circumstances might
favor or his convenience might suggest IL
sends member OF rs own staff. and sends
him on definite and special mission. he
VIII not loaf and 3awdle along the coast.
nor iosi placiily in the j.nrIl1isha. but VIII
VIII seek the central and aushort-
tatiye sources Of information in the
leading japanese and Chinese cities. He
Will not do the country after the man
ner OF the Sightseeing tourist. He Will
make no archaeological explorations. nor
VIII he undertake scientific essays What
he writes will be mainly OF the country
as X is. OF the people as they are, with
special attention 10 their trade life and
their commercial relations. drawing his
material as far as practicable from the
very springs Of Oriental supply and de-
maRd.
The plan OF travel will necessarily be
determined 10 some extent by the al
vice of men who are prominent In the
commerce CT the far East The Posc-ln-
teiigencer IS doIbly fortunate IN being
able 20 place its representative upon a
footing such as will gain him access 10
such men. bosh native and foreign. as are
IN position 20 render him he most prac-
teal and effective assistance.
When the plan OF thus sending special
messenger 10 Japan was arst suggested.
il contemplated a mere return trip. the
writer TO give as the fruits OF his visit
such information and impressions as ne
Nigh, octaia within the brief space OF
single week. Bat item after item
came forward with an imperative call for
attention. IL was felt that months. and
not days. would be necessary for such a
task as tina; of looking into the present
and prospective trade relations or japan
and China with the Paciiic Northwest
Several weeks VIII be spent in japan.
several in China. and the return yoy-
age will De made by way OF Honolulu.
Letters NiIl be 6iSpat ched 10 the PoSt-lE-
telligeEcer exclusively by every "o5sloie
mail. and the paper has already resolved
abundant assurance mat lney WIN Dc
read with eager and Widespread Interest
the pain truth IS mat seattle Has a rare
opportunity of strens thening the CONNER
ciai ties by which she IS already united
with the Orient. Japan Is perEneateo wita
q desire for the enlargement or her Tor
eign trade. This desire Is shown IN the
utterances Of the Japanese newspapers
ana In the commercial negotiations when
have recently brought more than one dis
tinguished citizen OF that wf9e-a'sahe and
progressive empire 10 America. The steps
OF the latter have been bent with singular
uniformity toward Seattle. and the estao-
iishmeni Of the new line Of steamers be-
tween Seattle and Yokohama Is but
natural result OF causes that are stu at
work.
Fostering this desire on the part OF
Japan is the large amount OF shipping
which she now contro.s, and the sii
larger amount which she Is building and
preparing 10 build. The war between
China ana Japan gave 10 ship-building.
as TO other interests, a wonderful impetus.
and many OF the vessels now hungry for
cargoes may be ascrIbed to that great
struggle. In planning its maritime ex-
tensions Japan. with her usual wise pro-
gressiveness, is adopting modtrn methods,
and is thus putting herself on the best
possible basis 10 compete with any rival
nation The Nippon Yusen Kaisha. the
company which connects with the Great
Northern al thls port for all important
Oriental ports, is alone building twelve
large. modern steamers, while negotia-
tons for six more are now fairly under
way. Such a contract was never before
let by any private commercial company
On this side OF the Pacific there IL also
a strong desire for wider markets. Amcrf-
can wheat Is hirrying outward by every
steamer. American corn Is sent 10 swell
the ratIons Of the German solder. ATe-i-
can coal = feeding smokesfacks that have
hitherto been regarded as lying within
British territory American man1ffactur-
ers looking abroad fer possible buyers.
cannot ignore the great population OF the
Orient.
But with this desire for trade on both
sides OF the Pacific each side has been
IN ccrnra raflve ignorance OF tire peculiar
demands OF the other. The best markets.
the best ports. the most saiable goods.
the most salabie grades Of goods whether
-four or railroad rails. the hes: methods
OF packing goods to adapt them 30 The
idicsvncracies OF foreign taste. these are
some OF the problems which now face the
trans Pacific shipper. alike in Seattle,
Eorrknng or Yokohama.
while not given 10 sounding its own
praises. the post-IntelMgencer cannot re-
fran from expressing some degree OF graft
acatfon at having thus laid plans which Il
has every reason 70 believe VIII be of vital
$ Enfhcance 70 the farmers. rnanufac;ur-
ers. merchants and shippers on both sides
the paper is not mistaken in supposing
that the people at large will appreciate a
policy or generous enterprise and public
spirit. tnen taere VII he no occasion 10
regret the expense attendant upon trip
which involves somewhat more than II. 90
miles Of travel