The Republican journal., 1899-09-28
SeartIe's Trade with the Orient.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, Sept. %, 1899.
While enterprising Americans are investi-
eating the trade conditions of the Orient
and China seas, the dusky people of over
the seas are not neglecting their opportun-
tiles in this direction. Since the estab-
lishment of the Oriental line of steamers
running monthly from the port of Seattle,
more trade has developed than the big
liners can possibly accommodate, and the
reported intention of James j. Hill to
build several levathans of the deep to
connect with his Great Northern railway,
to enter the trans Pacific trade. is taken
as matter of course and the result of
mature judgment and a foresight which
plainly sees existing and fast growing
conditions. japanese agents are here and
with the local consul are looking up
statistics and resources of this city and
State, to be reported in the japanese
Official Gazette. Two agents of the
Japanese government are here on such
year in looking into the resources and
conditions of the United States. They
seem bent on taking advantage of their
opportunities as well as allowing our
representatives to do the same over and
round about the Fiowery Kingdom.
In this connection it is of interest to
note that there are other people in Japan
than natives who are looking this way
for pleasure and health, as well as for
profit. An agent of the white residents
of Japan proposes to make Puget Sound
the summer resort for the overheated
residents of the sunny kingdom, when
Old Sol is focusing his rays too ntently
upon his nearer subjects, over under the
equator. 1t has long been the belief Of
the older residents of the Sound country
that this would yet be the summer resort
and aquatic play grounds of almost all
creation, but the most sanguine had not
contemplated far away Japan as contrib
uting to such possibilities. A profession
al gentleman visited this section for his
health last autumn, and was SO impressed
with what he saw and experienced that
ne set about, on his return to Japan, to
arrange among his colleagues for the
carrying out Of this project He is now
here, and is interesting our people in the
plan He says: II have been in the
practice of my profession for the past
eleven years IN Kobe, Japan, and know
exactly what the average white man and
his family require during the heat pros
trating months of the year, ami after
this country is the natural playground
of the Far East"
The U. S. Government is evidently bent
on immediate steps to put the Port Or
chard naval station III shape to make it
one of the principal naval repair stations
in the United States. This station now
has the largest dock on the continent, and
adequate machine shops are in course of
constructions Admiral Hichborn has re-
Gently sent here w J. La Varree, to take
charge Of the drafting department, en-
ploying three experts. According to Mr.
La Narree, Admiral Hichborn means to
rush work on the Port Orchard station,
until it is the principal one on the coast,
where the heavy work now being done at
Mare Island, near San Francisco, will be
attended to, on account of the much bet
ter facilities here for handling the large
vessels of the navy,
O. NJ. MOORE.