The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-14
HONG KONG MERCHANT PRINCE
CONFERS WITH NORTHERN
PACIFIC BIG GUNS.
MAY RIVAL THE HILL BOATS
AS WE'LL AS THE NEW JAPANESE
STEAMSHIP COMPANY IN
FUTURE.
Western Freight Lines Met Yester-
day In Chicago, but Reached No
Solution of the Problem.

George B. Dodwell, of Hong Kong,
China, Oriental manager of the North
ern Pacific Steamship company, for
the countries Of Japan and China left
1T. Paul last evening for London, Eng
land, after two days stay in the city
Mr.. Dodwell is a handsome gentleman
OF about so years of age and his TWEEN,
ty-f1ve years Of continuous life in the
Orient has left a healthy color in his
complexion. He speaks both the
Chinese and the japanese languages
with considerable f1uency. Mr.. Dod-
well spent the day in conference with
the officials of the Northern Pacific.
He will return from England in April,
and, 1t is said. that at that time SONS
important matters in connection with
the future development Of the Northern
Pacific Steamship company will have
been settled. and that some new boats
will have been built Asked as to this
runor. Mr.. Dodwell said: Il would
rather not say anything about that
matter until my return in April may
then be able to give some information
of more or less interest,"
Mr.. Dodwell is not only manager for
the Orient Steamship company, but he
is, as we'll, a member Of the firm of
DodWeIl, Cowell & Company, Of China,
dealers in teas and Oriental supplies.
which sells tea the world over. Asked
as to the condition of trade be-
tween the United States and the Orient
Mr.. Dodwell said:
THE attitude of Japan and China to-
ward Western countries is generally
n11n Of IT,
rms bearing, however. is not true as
concerning the attitude Of the two
great Oriental countries and the Unit
ed States. Japan is especially friendly
to the United States. There is a warm
bond between the two people, and I
am confident that trade relations will
constantly grow more satisfactory.
Japan is a great nation, and a great
manufacturing nation. They are, how
ever, 1mltators and not inventors Give
them anything to reproduce and they
Will do 1t to nicely. 1 have heard
considerable since coming to this coun-
try about the manufacture of bicycles
IN Japan and the fear that Japanese
wheels would drive the American
wheels out Of the market for the rea-
son that they can be built SO cheaply.
There is no need to worry on this
score. Japan does manufacture BIZ
cycles, but they are a poor lot The
japanese wheel is absolutely unfit for
use in this country, and the competition
talk is all foolishness.
China is centuries behind Japan in
the march Of progress 1t will take
years and years for China to catch up
with the procession. 1t will be twenty
five years before trade relations
between China and the United
States are as far advanced
as they are today between the
United States and Japan. The latter
country is DESTROYS of a reciprocal
dollars worth of merchandise into
American ports every year, and the vol
ume of imports from America is stead
lily increasing and soon the imports and
exports of Japan will be more nearly
equal"
What about the business of the
steamship company" was asked
cit is very satisfactory. We are do
ing and expect to do a large trade.
The result of the election will be felt
even in China, for American merchants
will buy more largely Of foreign goods"
Does the competition Of the Nippin
Yusen Kaisha line Of steamers now run
to the United States effect your trade
seriOuSly?'
1--WE have all we can do replied Mr..
Dodwell, automatically. 81 will say
that the Nippon Yusen Kaisha com
pany is a powerful concern, and that it
is in America to stay. The line is run
exclusively by native Japs and a brainy
lot Of men they are"
Mr.. Dodwell is going to England on
both company and personal business.
He left for New York last evening.