The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-10
THE PASSING IHRONG.

Among the passengers from China on
the Nippon Yusen Kal<ha steamer
Riojiun Naru was J. G. Graf. the civil
engineer. who has been in the Celestial
empire for some time in connection with
a new railroad scheme. According to him.
the prospects OF railroad construction IN
China are not very bright. for he said.
The construction OF the line I was In
teressed in has not yet materiaiized. and
though next year may see some activity
In railroad building, that has been the ex-
pectatfon for the last twenty years. In
his official report, Sheng Taosai, the Chi
nese director-general OF railways. says
that foreigners OF all nations had Hooked
TO the empire like ducks 70 make propo-
sitions. and this fact may to some extent
account for the reluctance Of the author
tiles to make final arrangements with any
one OF them The Belgians are said to
have negotiated a loan for the construc-
ton OF one railway. but as yet no money
has been paid nor has construction COM
menced.'
Mr. Graf spoke highly OF the service
on the Nippon Yusen Kaisha steamer.
saying:
finished and placed on the Seattle-Japan
route they Will be strong competitors TO
the other trans-Pacific steamship lines.
The manager In Shanghai, Mr.. X. Nagai.
Is not letting the grass grow under his
feet. but Is using every opportunity 10
develop business with America No doubt
Seattle and the railways centering here
viii benefit thereby along with the steam
ship company"
when I left San Francisco I never
dreamed Of what the people OF Seattle
are talking about, nor that their expecta-
tons were half as good as they are" said
Z. w. Newhali. the well-known dry goods
mo
ment In trade has been quite marked
since the Alaska excitement commenced.
Things are bright and we have prospects
OF a splendid spring trade. / had a very
fiattering offer to buy my business, but
1 telephoned tonight that 1t is not for
! want to continue.
1.-The San Francisco people are working
hard to get the Alaska trade. but from
appearances since ! have been here they
viii not be able to get the bulk or the out
fitting away from here.
II received a copy OF the Klondike edi-
ton OF the Post-Intelligencer and was
very much interested in 1t. for 1t showed
a great deal of enterprise. I sent II TO
some Of my friends in the East and they
sent back a very complimentary letter.
I think that edition Will be the cause of
bringing great many people TO Seattle.
Sir William Van Horne. president Of the
Canadian Pacific railroad. is spoken of by
the New York Commercial Advertiser as
being enthusiastic over the development
OF British Columbia. from which province
he has returned East. He is quoted as say
ing:
I'VE visited the mining districts OF South
ern British Columbia and found activity
and progress on every hand. while in the
agricultural districts of Manitoba and the
Northwest everybody seemed to be ex-
caedingly hopeful as regards the future.
this years crops.
''On the Pacific coast there promises TO
be a tremendous movement toward the
kicndike as soon as spring opens. and no
doubt the two cities of Vancouver and VIC
toria will derive q great deal OF profitable
trade as soon as the fact becomes known
In the United States that they are the
nearest Quitting points. and because of
The duty to be paid on goods entering Cam
ada"
James Willis, of Baltimore, is In the
city for few days. He is on his way
TO San Francisco, where his mother is
spending the winter. Mr. Willis was for
years interested in Alaska, but sold out
about two years ago and got handsome
returns on his money. He now proposes,
he says, to come TO Seattle for invest
ment.
las a matter OF fact" he said to
Post-lntelligencer reporter last night, II
think that the man who has investments
in this city viii get better returns than
he would IL his investments were in Alas
ka. OF course l would rather own a
claim on the Klondike than a town lot
in this city, but nevertheless, l can see
money In store for the man who owns
Seattle property. I have a brother who
has made money in this city. and now I
will take hand in the thing, and see IL
/ can do the same. II fail 1t will be
my own fault