The herald., 1896-08-18
FOR THE COMMON VEAL
Merchants and Manufac=
turers Meet
INTERESTING SUBJECTS DISCUSSED
Trade With the Orient and
Good Roads
JAPANESE STEAMSHIP LINE
San Diego's Prospects for Getting 1t
Are Good
An Hmissary to Be Sent to Japan to Drum
Up Trade
The Santa Monica Boulevard Project-Two
Lines Proposed-Expert Opinion on the
Cost OF the Work--No Definite
Conclusion Reached
San Diego's Prospects for Getting 1t
Are Good
An Pmissary to Be Sent to Japan to Drum
Up Trade

The Merchants and Manufacturers
association, at well attended meeting
last evening, discussed two subjects OF
great interest to Los Angeles-trade
with the Orient and boulevard to Santa
Monica. There were present besides
many members of the association, a
delegation of wheelmen, State Commits
sioner of Highways Maude, Supervisor
Field and several other notables who
took part in the proceedings.
Immediately after the meeting was
called to order by President Frank,
Gen. Charles Forman reported progress
made by the committee in charge of the
Japanese steamship project. He said a
partial canvass of the situation had con-
WINGED the committee that Southern Cal
ifornia could easily furnish the portion
Of the return cargoes demanded by the
steamship company, irsthe event of San
Diego being selected as the eastern tir-
minus of the propose steamship line.
Local millers had assured the committee
that they could furnish 5000 or 1000 tons
of flour monthly for shipment to China
and Japan, provided a market could be
found there for 1t and the freight rates
were low enogh to make competition
with northern mills possible. The Jap
anese steamship magnates who were
here several weeks ago had given the as
surance that there was always a market
for American flour in China and Japan,
and they promised to make big cut in
the existing ocean rates between this
nrfn In To
representatives also thought there would
be market for about 1000 tons of brew
ing barley per month a considera BILE
quantity of beans and 400 or 500 tor. of
canned meats. Southern California
could furnish all these commodities in
the quantities desider. President Asano
and party were very favorably impress
ed with San Diego harbor and the pros
poets of securing sufficient traffic
through that port to place the proposed
line or steamers on paying basis from
the start. General Forman thought with
a guarantee of 5000 or 5000 tons of freight
per month it was almost certain that
the ships would come to San Diego. 1t
was only a question, therefore, as to the
ability to market our products in Japan
and China, and the proper way to ascer-
tain that was to send a capable man
over there to work up trade.
General Manager K. H. Wade of the
solution of the problem depended very
largely on the ability of the merchants
in this country and those in Japan to
bring about an exchange Of commodities.
This will come if the proper effort is
made. individuality makes city more
than geographical location. He always
maintained that Los Angeles owed its
growth more to the energetic business
men who have settled here than to nat
ural causes. He believes that trade be-
tween this country and Japan was ca
pable of very rapid development, and il
once started 1t would be permanent. If
the people of Southern California work
together they can give this proposed
steamship line very good support and at
the same time greatly benefit them
selves
Z. White Mortimer, British vice consul,
VINO was present by special request
when asked for some expression of his
views, said as soon as he learnd of the
proposed steamship line he wrote to the
British consul at Yokohama, assuring
MIN that Southern California had suit
able ports for the purposes intended and
asking him for any information in re-
gard to the proposed line that was avail
able. Mr.. Mortimer said: II have al
ways had an abiding faith in the future
OF Los Angeles. We who have witnessed
the substantial and resplendent progress
In the belief that the future will bring
still greater prosperity
The next speaker was George S. Matz-
mura, young Japanese business man,
who was educated in this state. Mr..
Matzmura said he had been consulting
with some of the members of the Mer-
chants' association with regard to the
establishment of Japanese consulate
mere, but the principal object of his visit
was TO offer his assistance in the mat
ter or promoting trade with his native
country. He quoted statistics showing
mat trade between the two countries at
present was about at the ratio of 16 to |
III ravor of Japan. England, on the
other hand, had a much larger volume
of trade with Japan and the balance was
almost at the ratio of 16 to in favor Of
england. The cause of this was that the
English took their goods to Japan AMI
made systematic effort to sell them.
The Americans neglected to do this and
We're losing glorious opportunities. "You
must have representatives there with
samples OF your agricultural products,
fruits. canned goods, ETC.; then you can
sell them. Japan has plenty of money
since war with China, and you will do
good business IL you try now. A steam.
ship line from Yokohama to San Diego
VIII bring great 'fiourishment' to South
ern California"
AsAA' Ahat1iHuid Lneil explained that he
nad associated himself with two other
Japanese gentlemen in New York to in
troduce American goods in Japan. They
proposed to go to Japan in October with
a line of samples and would begin an act
I've canvass for trade. He offered the
services OF his company in assisting the
merchants of Los Angeles and con-
cluded by saying: II am willing to sac
rifice myself for the interests of Califor-
mia in which was educated"
MIR. Matzuma received round of ap-
plause and vote of thanks for his sage
advice.
J. r. Newberry said in part: "Our
labor will just have commenced when
we get this steamship line. 1t is not a
merchandise corporation but transpor-
tation company. The business part is to
be done by us. We have the products
here,we have the freight; butit devolves
upon us and not the steamship COM
pany to sell those products. Mr.. Asano's
proposition is to give us .s3 rate to
Yokohama and all Chinese ports. The
subsidy will amount to $4,000 month
for steamers of 5000 registered tons. A