The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-25
ITS MANAGER HERE.
Mr.. Griffiths Talks About the
Nippon Yusen kaisha.
FIRST STEAMER DUE AUGUST 80.
The Origin and Marvellous Growth of
the Big Steamship Line-The BAN
Quet at st. Paul.

JAMES SEAlE11T1s, recently appointed -
aser az Seattle for the Nlppoa yusen
katSha, arrived fron S. Paul yesterday
morning at o'clock. and spent most es
the day In consultation with Hon. Thou,-
as Burke, counsel for the Great Northern,
General Western Passenger Agent R c
stevens and Western Freight Manager w
L Benhan. He has established an afFca
on the fourth floor OF the Burke block
and expects 20 move his family next week
from Port Townsend 70 make this city
their home He has been for twelve or
thirteen years member of tho firm of
Grffhths, StetSon & Co, shi, brokers ana
to~ooat managers. Port Townsend. ami
Il was no doubt his thorough knowledge
or his business and OF general trade rela-
tons that commended him for his present
position. he Is very practical man en-
TREY unassaning in his manner He
practices no nnesse in conversation h,,t
speaks right out in a plain, straigntfor-
ward way, and when you get TO probing
after trade secret he tells you in so
many words that he is not al liberty 70
talk about Il.
Il left ST. Paul Tuesday" he said 20 A
reporter yesterday. and reached Seattle
TINS morning Yes. the negotiations az
81 Faul were satisfactory TO all psr4ies
concerned The Nippon Yusen Kafsha
was represented by Mr.. s Iwanaga, mar
ager or the company. and Mr.. Nsseiinaa
as counsel, while Vice President W. w.
rlnley acted Cor the Great Northern. In
reality an agreement had already been
reached, although up to the time of the
conference al ST. Paul Il was only oral
stu. the details had TO De settled and the
contract signed The people in ST. Paul
look great interest in the matter and
wnen the contract was signed there was
rejoicing on every side. The Japanese
gentlemen were not to be outione in ex-
pressing qualification that the great deal
had been successfully closed, and they
gave banquet In honor OF the occasion.
Among those present were s Iganaga.
X Masujima, r. Kafuku, A Macmillan.
Mr.. Ward, Ir. Footner and the follow
ing of'.cers Of the Great Northern: Pres
ldenI James j. Hill, Samuel Hill. J. y.
niil. Louis Hill, Vice President w p
NIough. Vice President W. w Finley, Gen.
erai Traffic Manager II. L. Shute General
Manager c. II. Warren Treasurer Edward
sawyer, Comptroller r. I. harrington.
General solicitor NJ d. Grover. Purchas-
ing Agent j. W. Blabon and General Pas
senSer and Ticket Agent F. J. Whitney.
also had the honor OF being a guest. and
| must say that the occasion was a de-
nshtIui one, and aggured well for the
idtnFe OF the new enterprise. The ban
quet was spread at the Hotel Aberdeen.
TX was marked by the utmost congenIaiity.
ana did much TO strengthen the new com
mercial bond Just entered into. The jap
anese spoke in the kindest terms OF this
city, referring gratefully TO the kind
treatment they had received here. One
OF them proposed the health of Judge
Burke. Mr.. Finley proposed Seattle as a
toast, and spoke warmly in behalf of the
city l had the honor OF proposing toast
20 Inc success of the new steamship line
ne Japanese party separated at ST.
Paul. Mr.. Masujima has already sailed
from New York on the Doric. and Mr.
MACMILLAN will sail on the Gaelic. Mr.
iwanaga. accompanied by his private sec
rotary. Mr.. kafuku, went TO the Eastern
states on a pleasure trip. Ii is possible
that he may return to Seattle the latter
part OF next month to meet the first
steamer OF the new line.
The first steamer will be the Mike
Maru. which is TO leave Kobe August
and Yokohama August s She will can at
Honolulu, and should be due in Seattle
about August 80. She will leave this city
on her return voyage September (.
Whether or not she will take In Honolulu
on her return voyage, or whether that
place IS 10 be made permanently a port OF
call for the new line. depends on the busi-
ness which may develop. The Mike
Naru Will be followed by the Himeu
Maru. The third vessel for the new line
has not yet been selected, but will be in
due time. New VESSELS will be pat on as
soon as they can be gotten ready, and the
number will be increased as rapidly as
the trade may demand.
These vessels will carry freight for
Yokohama. Kobe. Nagasaki, Hakodate.
Shanghai. Hongkong. the Korean ports,
Nlaiivostock. Penang Singapore. and as
far as Bombay, giving through bills OF
Il ~
other traas-Pacific line.
The steamers VIII land for the present
a the Schwabacher dock. where there will
be ample room for handling the cargoes
My own office will he on the fourth floor
OF the Burke block
General Western Passenger Agent r. c.
Stevens Is preparing a pretty bit OF deco
ration for the big front window OF his Of
fee on Pioneer place in honor OF the new
line. IL will be IN place Monday. and vii
consist Of two flags with STATS crossed.
one bearing star with the letter ~. the
other two red stripes on white field
The word 'maru," which forms part Of
the title OF each OF the Nippon lines
steamers. is about equivalent TO our
packet" or carrying boat. As nearly as
Il can be translated literally. il means
going" The frst part OF the name az
each vessel Of this line Is that OF some
Japanese province. as Kobe MARI.
Yokohama Naru. Hiogo Maru. Tokyo
Maru.
The company was really founded about
twenty-five years ago By Mr.. Iwasaka
enc OF the greatest men Japan has ever
produced II was az nrst called the Nitsu
Bichi. taking ifs nazae from the TVasaki
family crest consisting Of three diamonds
Like Vanderbilt. Aston and other Ameri-
cans who have built up great fortunes
from humble Beginnings. fwasaki for 4
tine operated on a small scale. His feet
rapldly increased. however. and ~ the
time % the Satsums rebellion he rendered
valuable service % his country. bis ships
being used 20 transport troops ard mu-
nitionz OF war. Al various times rivals
spranx up In his path, but one by one
they have Withdrawn. One of these. a
local company formed II fSs4. was consoIi-
dated wish tho afitsu BiCh3. AMI the tgo
constitute the Nippon Yusen Kalsha.
wsieh row, with a capital 81 Sis.o ef'a,
practically controls the carrying trade %
the island empire.
The 81 Paul papers are suggesting q
ceiebra ton in that city. even u nothing
more than a display of japanese bunting.
commemorative Of ;he arrival % the arst
stsarner OF the new lice IN Seattle.
+. {. e c. a. STEAMSHIP Co