The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-03

and conferred with the members OF che
Chamber Of Commerce. ard upon his re-
ports 20 the home Office Of the various sd-
vanrzges and Inducements offered the
company by the ports Of Seattle. Tacoma.
Portland. San Francisco and San DieSo.
which were energetic rivals il the mat
ter, the manager OF the Nippon 1usen
Kaisha. Mr.. Twznaga, and several other
officers came 70 this country. Taen there
were delays while the other ports were
personally inspected and investigated. and
reports were teiegrsphed and published
IN the Pcsr-Inteiligsncer that San Diego
would certainly gst IL, as that was the
mos. convenient port and the cheapest
route FOR the shipment OF raw cotton. OF
which Japan was importing nearly SON
600 year from the United States by way
OF Liverpool K was also ar one time de-
elared that Portland had been selected as
the terminus. while San Francisco APP
peared a. the tine confident Of getting IL.
TIE comparatively long delay in coming
70 decision was due 20 the extreme care
with which the japanese officials inves-
tigated every important fact bearing upon
, the ests blishment Of the proposed line.
and the claims OF Tire various American
cities that were rivals for the honor. AL
the more honor 70 Seattle that, after max
ing such q complete comparison. this
great Oriental corporation should have
decided that the claims OF this port were
superior, as port OF entry 70 America al
large. 20 those OF San Diego, San Fran
cisco, Portland or Tacoma
A Needless Guarantee.
There were many conferences before the
chamber before this point was arrived at
At one Of the last OF these the company
desired guarantee Of 1000 tons OF freight
for each monthly steamer. and many
members OF the chamber were opposed 10
81 ny -qra gr0 hat
1t did not come within the scope OF the
chamber. But committee was appoint
ed. and the -four mills were induced 70
guarantee that amount Of -four per month.
That there should have been any hess-
fancy in the matter seems now almost
laughaele. for every vessel since the FIRST
which left early in September. has not
begun 10 be able 10 take the amount Of
freight that has been offered.
The Decision Reached.
After all this anxious waiting for the
decision. when IL was announced IN the
middle OF july that Seattle had been Sc
iected as the terminus, II came as JOY
full surprise. The contract had been signed
at st. PAU by Manager s. Iwanaga, Of the
company. with the Great Northern Rail-
road Company. the latter having agreed
TO bill through fre.ghts from Buffalo 10
Yokohama. There was some quiet rejoice
the president OF the Chamber of Com
merce, received several congratulatory
te.egrams upon the result of the good
work Of himself and the chamber. and so
DID Judge Burke, and James 8. Gold
smith, OF Schwa bacher Bros. & CO.. who
had also done highly commendable work.
Seattle than began to receive the larg-
est and best line OF advertising that has
ever faaen to her lot. All the newspapers
OF the country had articles showing how
this commercial alliance with Japan
would improve the manufacturing and
other interests OF the United States. many
of them incidentally remarking that this
great maritime connection would undoubt-
eddy place Seattle In the foremost rank OF
Pacific ports. This led San Francisco
newspapers into an argument showing
that Japan was stealing the commerce Of
the Pacific, and a bill has been drafted
for the present congress asking for a sub
sidy that will pace American vessels on
a competing equality with those of Japan
for this trade. There were discussions
also as to what Japan would do with our
cheap raw material and her low cost of
labor, in competition with our manufac-
eurers. and q prohibitory tariff suggested
On the other hand. articles were pub.
showing the immense new territory this
powerful steamship line opened up 10 the
whole of the United States. And in all OF
these discussions, which were kept I'D for
months, Seattle was brought to the atten-
ton OF the whole country in a way that
must bring many other new enterprises
This public interest was not confined to
this country alone. The newspapers of
Japan and China, and all the ports on
Asia's coast from Bombay TO Vladi-
vostock. had advertisements Of the sail