The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-17
THE GREAT ORIENT
AND ITS FUTURE.
J. r. Kerr Discusses Japan and the
Progress 1t Has Made in
Recent Years.

Progress Ii Has Made in
Recent Years.
One Of the best-informed men on Orr
entail matters TO visit Seattle recently IL J.
T. Kerr, O. Forest, Ontario, who arrived
Thursday from Japan on the Yamaguchi
Maru on his way around the word. He
is i nephew Of Alexander Proctor. Of Suo-
hosnish. He is making the Journey in an
eccentric fashion. having thus far spent
but sloa though he has almost circumnavi-
gated the globe. To PosI-Intelugencer
reporter Mr.. Kerr yesterday said:
'One OF the things that surprises an
American on visiting Japan is the won
cerfui advances she Is making in COM
nerce with other nations The people.
who few years ago were looked upon
"a heatheRs. and whose influence was con-
fired within their own torders, are now
rapidly becoming one of the foremost ma
tions OF the earth. This extending lnfiu-
ence IS largely due 10 the enterprise OF the
Nippon fusen kalsha. or the Japan Nail
steamship line.
This company commenced business
some thirty yeatS ago with half dozen
vessels In the coasting trade. few
years later, when the military expedition
was sent 10 Formosa. the ships OF this
company did such excellent service that
the government not only handed over its
own vessels 20 the company but also as
sisted the company 10 buy the Yokohama
Shanghai service of the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company, and 10 employ the
steamers hitherto employed In that service.
Tn 1876 the company found Itself owner
OF twelve steamers of over 1000 tons ca
nj asl 4,rya. L..
besides six sailing vessels. In 1892, when
the rapid development of the eotton-spir-
ming Industry in Japan lent Importance 20
the question of procuring a supply OF raw
cotton, the company established lire OF
steamers 20 ply between Japan and Bonn
bay. Vessels flying the ". Y. X. flag also
made frequent voyages TO Australia and
Hawaii. carrying immigrants. Through
out this the company received from the
treasury yearly subsidy. in cons!dera-
ton OF which IL was pledged to maintain
several special mail routes. and 20 place
It's boats at the disposal OF the govern
ment as transports should occasion for
such an emergency arise.
In 1894. when war broke out between
China and Japan. the latter had 10 trans
pert large numbers Of troops TO Korea,
Manchuria. China and Formosa Such an
effort severely taxed the shipping re-
sources OF the country. Nearly all tho
large steamers Of the Nippon Yusen Kai-
sh1 were detached for public service. and
1t became necessary 10 purchase many
others. not only 10 augment the fleet of
transports. but also 10 obyiate auy pro-
lonGed interruption Of the regular mari
time carrying trade. Many of the newly
acquired steamers remained In he hands
Of TIE Nippon Ynsen Kaisha. Tie COM
pany bad 10 less than tifty steamers en-
gagged, throughout space Of nine months
III transport service. that required the
constant navigation OF dangerous and un-
familiar seas In winter Most If these
ships were Differed and manned by Japa-
nese alone. Yet from the first 10 the last
only one serious accident happened 10 any
snip. There was no doubt any longer that
the japanese were now thoroughly COM
petent 20 navigate sea-g3ing steamers
The successful issue OF the war gave I
marked Impulse 70 maritime enterprises
and the executive and legislative bodies
combined 70 foster that idea. ard laws
were passed granting special al 10 navl-
CATION pnd ship-build!ng The company.
therefore. resolved 10 greatly extend its
field Of operations. II increased It's cap
ittl 10 ii,9100oo, and determined 10 estab-
hsn regular steamship service To- Amer
IC&. Europe ana Australia. for which lat-
| ter purpose /. gave orders for tire CON
struct!ou OF number Of large steamers
seventy-niue steamers. aggregatlng 205 40
| tons. the majority q them new and pro-
| yided win every resource fer contributing
| - the comfort Of passengers and every
| modern fsciiity for the carrying trade the
| Nippon Iusen KaishS now ranks among
| ths greatest enterprises oC tbs kind In tha
| world. II maintains service with all rrln-
| cipal points IL Japan. China. Peaupp.ae
! Islands. Asiatlc Russia. Hawaii Straits
| Settlements India. Red ana MedI.erraue-
| an seas. Europe. America ana Australia
| Tips are also made 20 Java aad The South
| Sea islands
The hea@ Office IS IN Tokyo AMI branch
| offices are situated at AZ the principal
| ports where its ccas touch. The total
| n9Gs5er Of ta~ compary's employees IS abou,
| lis. and in Yokohama Il has under lis
| control IA n works for making ana repair-
| Ing ehi;~ and a department FOR supplying
| rs fleet. The company inaugaratrd ON
| Aueusi !. jNs. "a monthly - svtce OF steam
| efS 10 America. running between
| 'he ports ~ Kobe and Yokohama
| - Seattle. Via Uono.uiu. working
| ~ connection 81 Seattle VITA th..
| Great Northern T3iircad This steamship
| service IS maintained ty thre- stf. r,,ar ~
| 81 between stssl ~ $Ho tons gross register
| provided N.sh good accotUrnulatisus hus
| to service va sooa ae extended 70 a
| foTtntE1ttY ore Via SIX ne~ steamers
| These steamers 5cr msnDai Qrinciuarv tv
! British ar American ofs{rers ana erx.,.se-.a
| 13d afSt ans SeEsni-c!es@ passengers art.
| provided wlta American food stewards
! ana afteedar.s speak Erzt.S a ana -, t,7f~
| utmost Tor the comfoy; ~ thuse un1er
! tsetr care"
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