The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-11

President James Hill. or as ne is famn-
iarly called out West. Jim HILL" Of the
Great Northern Railroad. has recently
written a most interesting letter to
United States Senator from the West. in
which he points out the possibilities OF
trade in China and Japan.
lie calls attention TO the fact that a
year ago last fall wheat sold for from
j. 70 q cents bushel in the country
south OF Spokane Falls and that TINS
year it IS sold for from Go to 20 cents. lie
then goes on 10 explain that about three
years ago he sent an agent TO China and
Japan 10 ascertain what steps, II any.
might be taken TO Introduce the general
use of wheat flour in those countries IN
place Of native rice. lie found that the
only difficulty was in the matter OF price.
lie then took into consideration the ques-
ton Of building large steamers for that
trade. but found that the wages Of sailors
were against him. After the war with
China. however the japanese appro-
priated q large amount Of their war in
oANhANJ
rine. The pay Of sailors he found also 70
be very low on the japanese ships, and
altogether he saw an opening for his
project He succeeded In getting a rate
Of 50 a ton on -four between Puget Sound
on the Pacific coast, and the Asiauc
ports, as against s. to S a ton, the former
price. This low rate fixed the rate for All
other lines between the Pacific coast and
Asia, and resulted IN the carrying out or
twenty million bushels OF wheat, or Its
equivalent in -four from the last crop.
This. says Mr. Hill. will reduce the
amount going to Europe about twenty
per cent, or about thirty million
bushels three times the quantity
shipped 10 Europe from tho Argentine Re-
pubic during the last crop year. AS Is
well known, the prices Of wheat this year
as compared with last are from 20 TO 20
cents a bushel higher. and he thinks from
Is to IS cents Of this is clearly due TO the
withdrawal of all the Pacific wheat from
the European markets.
This is indeed a most interesting state
inert, and comes from high source Dul
we have not yet reached the most I'M
p.rtant point. Mr.. Hill goes on to say
that the only way that he could bring
about this great reduction in the cost OF
Transportation OF -four 10 Asia was by
the diverting OF the tea and mating bus
mess. winch has heretofore gone mainly
on English ships from Asia direct to New
York, ano bringing these commodities TO
thu pa,inC coast, by the low rate OF trans
portatlon, inland by rail, TO distribute
the conn ODDITIES to points between Mime
sofa and New York. Now, he says unless
these ships can bring their main cargoes
~ merchandise 70 the Pacific ports al
rates which would compensate them for
the traffic business, they must 90 as here
tofore 70 New York, and the rates OF
nour TO the Asiatic ports will be again at
the old figure. and this grain business VIII
be Gu. off. If. therefore, the tarin shaI
Ina such as 10 call off this large Asiauc
trade in grain, the price Of wheat in All
probs biity will be reduced. 1t is clear
from this that what this country needs IS
an open market, and that any legislation
thai tends 70 choke off our trade with
foreign lands is bound to be detrimental
TO az least some classes Of American pro-
ducers. in this case. as IN almost every
other, It is the poor farmer who will get
II in the neck"