The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24
He Will Recommend It as the
Terminus for the New Line
of Steamships.
SOON TO BE IN OPERATION.
Vessels May Ply From the Orient to
the Southern Port Within Six
Months.

SAN DIEGO, CAL, July 23.-Sho Ne
moto, commissioner of the Japanese Gov
ernment for the investigation of commerce
and industry, arrived in San Diego to-day
in the interests of the Togo Kisen Kaisha,
or Oriental Navigation Company, which
purposes making San Diego its terminus
on this side of the Pacific. A delegation
OF business men of this city, with num-
Der of officials of the Santa Fe Railroad
Company, met Mr.. Nemoto at Los Angeles
and accompanied him to this city.
Mr.. Nemoto has in his power to report
favorably or unfavoraDIy to his Govern
ment regarding the advantages of San
Diego for the terminus of the Togo Klsen
Kaisha steamship line, and upon his re-
port depends the Government subsidy to
that line. He said to-day to CALL corre-
spondent:
"You may be assured that my report
will be favorable to San Diego. l am
delighted with the natural advantages of
this harbor. 1t is much superior to Yoko-
hama. The line, you can say, will come
to San Diego. I consider it settled. San
Diego is the natural port for japanese
goods on their way TO Chicago and New
York. The climate and topography of
the country favor commerce through this
harbor. Mr.. Asano, president of the
Toyo Kisen Kaisha, will arrive here two
weeks hence and he will make public the
plans of the company. l am not con-
nected with the company, but represent
the Government only.
1.-The company has a capital of Sc, ,000, 900
ard has already bought six steamers
carrying from 1000 to 6000 tons of cargo
each. These steamers will call at the
Sandwich Islands and compete for their
share of the rich Hawaiian commerce so
largely in the hands of the Japanese.
''They will also run down the Mexican
coast as far as San Benito, Chiapas, touch
ing at the principal ports. do not know
positively that the steamship company as
a pany has contract with the Santa
Fe, but know it has an understanding on
rates. The Santa Fe is prepared to give a
through rate for Japanese goods TO Chi
ca-o and New VI ork, and it will land cotton
and -four here at rates that will make it
profitable for the steamship company to
handle these products. Weneed iron also,
but 1 believe it will be found in Lower
California in the Tepustete fields, which
my Government has investigated some
what. I am much pleased with the result
of my VISIT
Toraji Kusakado, representative of the
japanese Colonization Association, is the
companion of Mr.. Nemoto, his object being
the purchase of large tract of land in the
State OF Chiapas, Mexico, where colony
of Japanese will be located, and which ill
be the Central American terminus of the
steamship line.
The japanese were guests of a company
of San Diego business men. who took them
out on the bay in the lighthouse tender
Madrone and beyond the Government
ietty at the mouth of the harbor All pos
sible information touching the advantages
OF the harbor, as well as wharfage facili-
ties. was sought by Mr.. Nemoto, who had
numerous confidential conferences with
the Santa Fe officials regarding rates for
landing raw cotton from Southern States
at San Diego. Mr.. Nemoto intimated that
the line would be established within six
months.
The Japanese will be shown over the
city tomorrow, and will leave in the
afternoon for the City of Mexico and
Chiapas and to inspect the Tehuantepec
Railway. Mr.. Nemoto will then proceed
to Chile and Peru in the interests of his
Government