The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-17
Wonderful Trade Awaiting In
China and Siberia.
GREATER MARINE rs NEEDED.


William d. Wheelwrig5t, president OF the
Pacific Export Lumber Company OF Port
land. who for the past four mouths mas
been touring Siberia. Japan and China,
arrived in the city last night from Vancou-
Yer. He was met ar the depot by a dele
cation OF Portland business men, conprfs-
Ing Gen. Charles r. Beebe. f T. Williams,
OF the North Pacific Lumber Company;
George Taylor. vice president Of the Port
land chamber OF commerce; Maj. James
Mel. Wood. and several local business men.
The visitors left for home last night.
In an Interview regarding trade condf-
lions In the Orient. Mr.. Whec.wright said:
i would not have missed my trip for any
amount OF money. ] never before mad
any idea OF the greatness OF our trade pos
sie.lities In the orient England has been
engaged In commerce there for years, and
Germany has a good foothold. but the
tendency OF the Oriental trade Is to come
cur way.
In Southern China our -four and wheat
has obtained a good foothoId. In fact, that
portion Of the empire has been thoroughly
exploited. There is a great field In Northern
CHINA which IL as yet undeyeioped- The
development there Is slow on account OF
Russian interference but with the great
Chinese question settled our opportunities
viii be Increased.
Demand for Lumber.
I'm the northern portion there is great
demand for our lumber. There are ants
there to destroy soft lumber, as Is the case
further south, where only teak can be
used In the north there is a large amount
of building going on, and the general dis
position is TO develop the section. speak
of lumber particularly, because I am in
'erested. but they will also want our -four.
grains and other commodities in great
abundance. There Is plenty OF money In
the country. and the people are abe and
ready 10 buy from Americans
This condition Is true with China In
an unsettled state 1t will be greatly i'm
proved for our trade when Russia gets
through with II. There is no person who
has visited these countries but Is con-
WINGED that before two years have passed
the Russian flag viii be flying over Picking.
Already they are there is great numbers:
have their police force. and practically die
tate the order of things in the capital
The Russians are q progressive people.
and In trade relations are most friendly
toward the United States. With Russia In
control of China the Incidence OF the pres
ent VIII be OF the past. China viii. then
have reached the initial period of her
development, and America will be asked
TO supply large amount OF the material.
ut Is wonderful to visit Siberia and see
the thrift apparent everywhere. Money is
plentiful and the country Is being built up
at most rapid rate. England and Germany
at this time have the great bulk Of Rus
sian trade, but II Is only a want of trans
por,ation that keeps America from sup
plying major portion Of 1t. The Siberian
railway Is now complete to Port Arthur.
the deep water harbor. On September Is
last ] was there. and they informed me
ration They are working hard on the
connecting branch Of the Transslheriar
line. When this is completed there Will
be a new demand from the interior OF
Siberia for our trade.
Il do not think that all the railways
now on paper will be ut once built IN the
Orient. but enough work viii be done TO
cause big demand for our lumber and
other products
"At present there Is not sufficient ton
mage from the Pacific coast to care for the
Oriental and = berian trade. There should
be several times what there Is now, and
particularly II the possibilities are devel-
oned as they should be. The ocean freight
rates are low enough to enter our coast
products in competition with those Of Ger
many and England. but our railway freight
rates from the East must he reduced for a
proper development. There is n sufficient
business in the Orient to occupy the ca
pacity OF the three coast ports, Seattle
Portland and San Francisco. and the early
putting on OF more vessels and proper at
tention paid 10 freight VIII do much 10
bring about the desired commercial rela-
tons
Again, the methods OF the Orient and
Siberia are primitive. We should have
American manufacturers agents In all M
portant cities across the Pacific introduc-
ing our modern machinery. There is an
excellent market for X there now. and all
would find ready sale. With this intro
dueed the demands for our products would
be increased and much assistance rendered
in the development Of our trade.