The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-14
BIG NEN DEAL N
AaANG RAEF|G.
German Lloyd and Transi-
berian May Combine.
SEATTLE NAY az THE PORT
Teutons Effect an Important Coup
on Other Companies.
SEATTLE MAY 6E THE PORT

Lines-Now Secures the Firas
Transasiatic Connection-Orenino
Made In the Orient to nring cenA-
merce 20 Puget souna-ChaaheR
of Commerce. Much Interestada
Special Dispatch to the Post-lntelligencer.
WASHINGTON, Dec. is-The possibit-
ity of a combination between the Siberian
railway and the North German Lloyd
steamship line for traffic between the
Asiat.c and the Pacific North American
coast has been brought out by reUore
just received from Consul General Hollo-
WHY at st. Petersburg.
Consul Holloway calls the attention at
the state department to an article recently
published IN a Russian magazine. settlnR
forth the necessity OF organizing Russian
steamship l;ne on the Pacific ocean. In or
der to establish communication between
Siberia and the United States. to connece
with the Siberian railroad. The writer
calls attention to the English Canadian
and Acknowledgements lines. and declares
that the North German Lloyd company =
merely hesitatlng where to establish ~
American terminus.
"The longer Russia remains inactive II
this direction says the Russian writer
1.-The smaller are her prospects OF occuny.
Ing the place which Is due her In the trA1ae-
continental and oceanic traflic. THIS in-
activity will greatly influence the future
we'll being OF the great Siberian railroad.
1t has been known for long time that
the. North German Lloyd. which il one Uf
the most active and progressive steamahio
companies In the world. has been coa6ia-
ering the establishment OF connections ~
some point on the Pacific coWt of the
United States Many diflculties. however.
have stood In the way of executing any
definite plans. The chief Of these dnicul-
ties has been that arrangements with
transcontinental railroads have been Inn
possible.
On Puget sound the Northern Pacific
has Its own Asiat.c line, the Great North
ern is bound up with the Nippon Ypscn
Kaisha. and the Canadian Pacific has its
own line At San Francisco the Southern
Pacific has its own line. while the Santa
Fe is completing plans for steamer servioe
from San Diego.
General Manager Wiegand. of the North
German Lloyd hne. who was In Seattle
and San Francisco recently, tried to make
pool arrangement OF some sort with the
Santa Fe, but could not do so because Of
the prior obligations of that company to
the proposed lire from San Diego.
For these reasong. 1t is presumed. the
German company gave IL out that their
visit to the Coast was merely one Of AK
ploiiation sud speculation. without any
definite plan In view. 1t s known In re-
sponsible circles. however. thar the CONF
pany IL determined 10 get foothoId ON
the Western coast OF America at what.
ever cost. Trade. rather than politics. Il
the aim OF this thrifty organization. and
they do not propose 10 be left out OF the
iranspacific competition.
Failing in making connections on the
American side. II Is now understood that
the North German Lloyd folk have decided
TO approach the proposition from the other
end. By making traffic arrangements with
the Transiberian railway, they win effect
an important coup upon their competitors
and get control OF the first transasjatic
railroad business.
How long a time will be required to gst
this combination into practical operation
will depend in large part upon the tinna
necessary TO complete the Transibersan
railway. The great Russian government
road Is progressing In slow Russian sfyls,
at the rate of only ssi miles per year, and
Is thus not likely TO be finished within
three years.
Consul General Holloway says Of the
road:
Passengers and mails can reach vladt-
fok yfu he fss
days from st. Petersburg. while II requires
thirty-five DAYS via the TransiberjAn
route, i.fsl miles OF which IL made In par.
tally closed conveyances on rough roads.
travelling day and night. By the usual
route The trip requires forty-five taxA
The Transiherian railroad viii be about
3.eA miles In length when completed; aus
are completed from the ST. Petersburg side.
and as miles from tie Pacific coast. or
viadvosfok end. leaving i,i5i miles yet 70
be built. The construction IL going ON at
the rate OF ssi miles Der year"
So far al can be ascer.ained the authors
i;lsz OF the steamship line are in 6buh&
as 70 what point on the Pacific coast IN
select for terminal General Manager
wsegana favors Eaa Francisco and II was
with viaw 10 connecting a, that point
that he opened negotiations with the Santa
Fe. But San Francisco. as usual has
manifested no special interest In the sub
t~ct. and IL is now presumed that proper
presentation Of the matter to the Russian
authorities might result in the selection OF
Seattle as the American terminus Of Z Tn
Of STEAMSHIPS thar THAI government o.
some large corporation. by ifs authorixar
tion. win he sure 20 establish.
Ths same poiatz OF superiority on tho
part Of seattle that Influenced the Janas,-
sns line 10 establish headquarters a. NJ !.
chef commercial part Of Puget SOUND -
missy - - cassfu11y opnnl19e1 hwsonn