The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-10-13
Northern Pacific Vessels TO Sail
Under An arican Registry.
& ErFSc I'VE OCTOBER Is
roruaI Announcement of the Fact
said 10 Have Been Made ny |""
suy-steamships of Line WIN
ply between American Ports IN
u.~,n.-nru Lamont Said 10
Nave Engineered the Desi-

Information believed - be aD@oiutely
authentic was secayed by the P0st-InteN'-
s<ncs- last night f1aI the northern racine
steamship Company. through Aessrs. otb.t-
we'll. Csrs.i - CO. h3s f"if"Aa'g -, -.
81 thai beginning october j. ~ "'i4 ~ t'is
American fag. operating ~ Dfissiia'
steamship lines from Tacoma and f"fA-
land under American registry.
This announcement has been expected
for several weeks past. It's importance lies
In the fact % tae evident determination OF
The company t. PC prepared for the RAPID
Iy Approaching changes IN the Ae1o O.
commerce IN the far Pacific.
C,p.ra.srg us vessels under American reg
iatry and lts line under the stars ana
Stripes. the company w8ll be allowed 70
carry traffic between American ports on
this aide and American ports on the other
side OF the Pacific. Manila. Honolulu ana
Such other ports in the orient unGer ire
domain o. the United States win be open
10 the ships az the company.
The hr;p Of pndwen CaTlti x Co. which
controls the stock of the SortHeTu Facitic
stsamsnip Company. and which Is practi-
oAiIy the company. Is onr OF the largest
shipping firms in the world The main Of
nee OF tina company Is ln london, and the
next Office ia Importance. and from which
TIA operations In the Far East are direct
oil, il al Hongkong The company sent is
first vensai OF the line to Puget sound
from FIongkonE seven years ago. Under
q contract with the Northern Pacific 1t
has continued 10 opefate lis line, adding
new and larger vessels from time 70 time ~
the traffic grew. About Il yeaE ago, q line
to Portland VAS established.
II Is understood that Mr.. George bod
well, head OF the firm. has expressed the
belief that America would retain control
OF Manila and the Philippines and that
such possession Of territories In the Orient
formerly owned by Spain would give
American commerce In the Far East a
tremendous Impetus. In coming 70 this
conclusion. Mr. Dodwei only cherishes
the opinions often stated by President
Hlll of the Gfaat Mort hern, whose belief
has taken practical form In the construc-
wharves and facilities for the interchange
Seattle.
The following vessels OF the Northern
under American registry by an act Of
congress, approved june II last: The Vic
and Tacoma The Victoria ana Olympia
ply between Tacoma and Yokohama and
Hongkong.
The change ia registry OF these vessels
was made at time when tha war depart
meTit was searching the Pacific for trans
ports with which to send Merritt's army
70 Manila: There was great shortage
we're impressed Into service. The Arizona
was purchased by the department. but II
Is understood that she viii be returned to
settled In the Philippines.
Al the time 1t was generally believed
that the six ships named wonld be reaulr-
ed for Immediate use hv the department.
II has since transpred that the change in
registry made lay an act OF congress has
resulted In this advantage 10 the company
that IL will be enabled To ply between the
Sound and Manila and Honolulu. Wheth-
eF this fact was In the minds Of the com
rany officials AT the time is or course
not known. I; is understood however
that Vice President Dan Lamont Of the
Northern Pacific. foresaw the necessity for
the change and WAS instrumental ir having
the necessary legislation passed by con-
gress.
For time IL was doubtful question
whether or not the company would change
from the British IN American flags 1t
was stated that the British government re-
FUSED during tne war 70 cancel the British
registry on the ground that such action
would be violation OF the neutrality laws
All considerations Of this kind however
have been brushed aside by the peace
protocol