The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-18

How 1t Will Defect Trade and
Travel to Sam Franctsco.

some weeks ago of the remark Of Prince
Hilkon, Russian minister of transpor-
tation, to the effect that there would
soon be line Of twenty-knot steamers
plying between San Francisco and Via
livestock. Since that time he has
been repeating the remark in the East
ern states, and he further says that the
line will be in operation in 1898. This
line of steamers is to be operated in
connection with the trans-Siberian
railway, which will be ready to furnish
rail service by that time. Somewhat
more than 1000 miles Of the railway re-
mains to be completed, but Prince Hill
koff declares that it will be finished
within the next two years.
The promise Of this line of steamers
will be welcome news to the merchants
= of this city. At one time San Francis
co was the distributing point for all of
the through Oriental trade. The con-
struction Of the Canadian Pacific rail-
way and the operation of the Empress
steamship line in connection with 1t,
considerably shortened the time be-
tween the Eastern states and the Or
lent, and the result has been that the
greater part Of the passengers and
much of the trade now goes by the way
Of Vancouver and Victoria. Since 1891
the trade Of this city with Australia
has decreased 81 ST. ,22S, or 81 per cent;
with Japan, 1921 1882, or 81 per cent;
with the Hawaiian Islands, $1,000, $50,
or IS per cent; with the Philippine
islands, 81, Asa, ISL, or SO per cent. With
China it has increased only $617, 237. The
trade with Asiatic Russia has been in
f1nitesimal. During the five years, 1891
to 1895, it averaged $47O,90S In 1890 the
through trade that was transhipped at
San Francisco amounted to 81, 1853, 557;
in 1895 it was $6S9,301.
This new route, when in operation,
will undoubtedly result in DETECTING
the tide of trade and travel once by
the way of San Francisco 1t will re-
suit In reducing the time between this
city and London at least one-half, and
will thereby render this the natural
port through which the greater part OF
the through trade will pass. At present
goods and passengers may go to Lon
don by taking the steamer to Hong
Kong by the Pacific Mail route From
that point the P. & o. steamer carries
them to Brindisi, and thence travel by
rail to London. This trip consumes
flfty-nine days. By the proposed trans
Siberian route they will take the
steamer to Vladivostock, arriving there
in eleven days ten and six-tenths hours
The trans-Siberian railway and the
AmoOr river steamers would carry
them to Moscow in eight days and
from that point to London in two days
more, occupying twenty-one days, or
twenty-one days for the entire trip.
By the way of New York to London
the trip would occupy only thirteen
days; but this route can be used only
for passenger traffic, and many tour
lists would prefer the other route on
account of its novelty. For trip cir
cling the globe, seventy-two days are
now required by the way of New York,
London, Brindisi and Hong Kong BY
way of Sydney, Melbourne, Brindisi,
London and New York, eighty days
are required. When the trans Siberian
railway is completed, the trip can be
made by way of San Francisco, Viadi
vostock, Moscow, Berlin, London and
New York in thirty days.
The great service Of the new route
however, will be In developing the
q trade connections between the port
and the Orient. Siberia is an unde-
veloped country with immense latent
resources. There are great coal beds
there which will require only the COM
plet1on of the railway to make them
available. The great need Of this state
Is a more extensive and cheaper SUD-
ply Of coal. Mineral resources of all
kinds are abundant. Iron, copper. and
quicksilver will be developed, as well
as gold, silver, and agricultural re-
sources. Goods from Siberia will be
shipped to the Eastern states as we'll
as to the West, and San Francisco will
become the distributing point On the
other hand, goods will be shipped there
They will need cotton and wooden
goods. Agricultural machinery will be
required. The stores of mineral wealth
will create demand for machinery.
and no better mining machinery can
be found in the world than that made
in San Francisco. The rolling stock and
rails of the new railroad are now light,
owing to the heavy expense that has
been called upon for the work Of con-
struction. But these will be replaced
by heavy and more expensive material,
and this will be purchased in this
country and transported from this
city. Prince Hilkoff, while in this city,
examined the plant of the Union iron
works, and expressed himself as most
favorably impressed by it. 1t is proba-
BILE that several steamers, both for
the transoceanic line and those for the
Amor river, will be constructed here,
and thus employment will be furnished
for many laboring men.
In addition to the advantage Of the
natural location and harbor Of San
Francisco, there are reasons why an
extensive trade should be developed
There is a long-standing enmity exist
ing between England and Russia and
the two countries are natural competi-
tors In the development Of trade. This
country and Russia, on the other hand.
have always had friendly relations, and
are natural customers of each other
In addition to this, Prince Hilkoff, who
is the minister of ways and transport
teton, has the direction of the develop
ment Of this trade He is very favor
ably disposed toward this country, and,
in fact it was here that he learned
the railroad business practically. He.
earned his living here working in ma
chine shops, and later in the Balti-
mere locomotive shops. He has at
tentively studied the railroad develop
ment in the United States, and he is
inclined to exercise his influence in
the development Of trade with this
country. The merchants of this city,
therefore, have the opportunity to re-
gain the through business rand to de-
velop a large amount ofHnew trade
How much this will amountstb depends
upon their energy and enterprise SAN
Francisco Argonaut. .hoold ~
RIVERA NOT A MhEE0. 9n1 Fl