The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-29
II Is Being Played by
Japan Over Hawaii.
Our Trade With China and
How II Can Be Increased.
Grand Wheat Market In Asia--Ne-
csssity For Reciprocity.

on the Pacific ocean. Many years ago one
of our eminent men, William A. Seward,
/ think IL was, predicted that the time
would come when the commerce OF the Pa
ciic would equal that Of the Atlantic.
This prophecy is already in fair way 90
be verified. A good deal Of our national
policy and our trade efforts now lie In the
direction of tho setting sun. We nre about
60 take in Hawaii if present plans be car
ried out Naval authorities have recon-
mendcd that we establish coaling and
outfitting station on the Alcutian islands
In Alaska. 1t is IA remarkable fact not
generally known that the Alcutians are
really the key 10 the north Pacific. We
often hear IL said that the Hawaiians con.
troll that ocean, bur the Aleutians-home
Of tho fur seal-nre really nearer the line OF
command. ships in crossing the ocean do
not go straight across, as many land lub
bers suppose Instead they follow the great
circle, which is the shortest way across.
The great circle sailing line between Puget
sound and Japan and China passes within
90 miles of tho Aleutian group. A naval
station there, away up within the arctic
circle, would he near both continents and
therefore an admirable thing from the
strategical point of view in case of war.
Ambitious Japan.
At this very day thero are people In off,
cial life in Washington who think we are
much mere likely 70 have war with Japan
over Haweii than with Spain about Cuba.
Whether this supposition is or Is not well
founded only tin c will tell, but il Is GER
tain that tho Japs are rlayinga rather bold
game, and find In official circles an un-
comfortable euspicion that they have some
plans which they do not disclose. They
protest over and over again that they have
not now asd Eeycr had any designs upon
Hawaii, hut IL il suspected that they pro-
test too II: ,ch. It would not surprise any
one famillar with the situation IL the Japs
were 10 make trouble for us before the
Hawaiian business Is on. of the way. They
arc exceedingly ambitious, they bayo abun-
dant confidence in then Eselves, and their
navy ranks well Up with our own.
When the mating items Of tho tariff
bill were up fer consideration in the sen
ate. there was sCme surprise that num-
Der Of Rcpub ans from the far west
should con biic 10 strike out the rates of
duty carried lsy tho bill on mattings and
similar goods. The secret Of this is rather
interesting. During tho past few years
the A static rCoLlc hnvo been buying more
and more Cf or wheat. There used 10 he
a commercial tr.Giiio1 that the black
man ard the rcd man preferred corn TO
wheat and that the yellow man preferred
rice. But the yellow man has learned to
eat whoat. in China there is n vast mum.
ber of we'll 10 Go families who live well.
They are fond II dainty pastry. Their
cooks arc among the best pastry artists ia
the world.
Our Wheat In China.
Until recently the Chinese depended up.
on Indian wheat for the flour. But Indian
wheat Is not 70 be compared with Ameri-
can wheat. II is grown upon old ground,
and 10 is not sound and hard like our
wheat. IL is full Of in1nitesimal holes,
made by insects, and the -four bakes up
into soggy bread. In China they DO not
make bread as VIC mako 1t. All their bak
Ing Is Of hard tack or crackers, and the
Chinese cooks hnvo found that American
wheat Is much better than any other that
comes to their market
So much do tho Chinese value our flour
that the sales have increased very rapidly
of late. Last year practically the entire
wheat product Of the Pacific coast went to
Asia. 1t had formerly been shipped to
England. Last summer English ships
could not get return cargo of wheat in
San Francisco and were compelled TO take
barley and corn, which does not pay near
ly as well An important feature of the
wheat export trade is the return cargo. III
ships cannot get return cargoes. they can.
not carry the outward freight oheaply. IL
has been found that with return cargoes
Of mating, rice, tea, napkins Of paper and
other products of Japan and China, we
can send wheat to those markets in COM
petition with India, Australia and all 9th.
er rivals.
Consequently when tho mating provi'
sions Of the tariff bill came up the western
senators who arc anxious To promote the
Asiatic market fer the wheat crop of their
section Joined together To cut down the
duty. They wanted the products of China
and japan 10 come in our ports in great
quantities In order that the wheat carrying
ships might lo sure Of return cargoes.
They carried their point.
Farmers of the Northwest.
IL am for the farmer Of the northwest"
said Senator Hansbrough of North Dakota
to me in explaining this mating item.
"We want a better market for our wheat.
For years wo have been depending upon
England and Europe. There we come In
competition with India, with Russia. with
the Argentine Republic and now with
South Africa The people of these coun-
tries. with their cheap labor can raise
wheat at prices which our farmers cannot
touch and make a living, but II we Will
establish reciprocal trade relations with
China and japan we can control their mar
kets. Think OF the output OF wheat China
can consume II her people only learn 10
use 10 generally Vhcrcar 400, 900, 900 of
people IN China or some such number, and
ms Colonel Mulberry Sellers used to cay,
every one of them has u hungry stom-
ach. IL we can get our wheat going IN
that market, IL will I've worth millions
every year tn tho farmers Of the northwest
and the Pacific coast. Already wheat grown
In the Dakotas has been shipped to China.
"Mr. Hill, the president of the Pacino
Railroad company, told me he had made
arfnn ..vmcnts by which wheat could he
shipped by rail to Puget sound and then
by water to China ~ S3 n ton cheaper than
u would cost to send tho same wheat to