The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-19
Oriental steamer LlA[.
rs,prrr MILL sArs nm WILL.
uAyr 70 SHIPS IN FIVE YEARS.


eose,ai Dispatch TO the Post-Tnteiiigencer.
or PAUL. Jan 1S.--The details OF the
or,antal Steamship line, which is now be-
sr- formed by James j. Hill, are given
Ia the public on the installment plan
Nearly a year ago Mr.. Hill declared that
his plans we're nearly completed TOT TINS
undertaking. He had obtained thor
oush knowledge of the shipbuilding busi-
ness as conducted by the clyde builders.
some three years ago he obtained the ser
vices OF a bright civil engineer who had
been educated with a knowledge Of me-
chanies especially adapted to steamship
application.
Tor obvious reasons, but he entered the
employ of J. j. Hill for the purpose OF
learning all that was possible concerning
shipbuildiAg His salary was $500 year,
and he went to England, engaged work IN
the great steamship yards, studied the
hundreds OF plans that were at ms ais.
posal, and mastered every detail that
would be of benefit 10 HIS employer. At
tho end OF two years, which was a little
more than a year ago, he made an elabor-
ate report to Mr.. Hill. He digested the
report thoroughly. and in few days ne
knew as much about steamship building
as though he had spent lifetime IN It's
study This is the way that Mr.. Hin ac--
quires such an extensive knowledge or
subjects that other men spend their lives
an authority ON matters pertaining to the
Orient and 1t is the way. he obtains the
greater part OF his knowledge of affairs.
son MIN mr sn a mas enaSed e PR in
telligently with his negotiations for new
ships for the Oriental trade Like the
operation Of his railroad the first con ,aal
but in the operation of his vessels High
speed steamers, like high-speed trains,
are expensive. and Mr.. Hill ordered plans
for aie xync al hot xNnt a n SSlnn
of twelve to fourteen knots an hour and
which would have carrying capacity
four times as great as the largest ships
now in service This Is why he Is vitality
interested in the subsidy shipping bill now
before congress, and which measure. he
says, is calculated TO work to the adj
vantage of high-speed vessels.
Mr.. Hill went TO England about a year
ago, taking with him one of the most ex-
perienced shipbuilders in this country.
vessels named above. Like all Of his
movements, lie kept the details of these
matters from the public, and has frequent
~ seen fit to deny that he even contem-
plated fleet OF. vessels for, the Pacific
trade. Recently, however, he has confided
TO. intimate friends the plans he has in
mind
II propose said Mr.. Hill ito build as
many vessels as the trade with the Orient
will justify. and that will be a great many.
The natural market for the Pacific coast
Is China, Japan and the Philippines The
docks at Seattle are large enough to ac-
conmodate all the shipping for some time
but eventually other harbors win be used
II Is too far from the Pacific coast to the
Eastern states to ship many of the
products of the Northwest to the East.
4 market for grain in the Orient will give
the farmers higher price for their grain
The products Of the iron mines, Of the coal
mines and of the lumber regions in the
Northwest can be sold to better advantage
had in the East.
K "It ia npt ike forcing something on the
s1nsrket that the neople DO not want, They
vs.Dt evefythfng We Gan take to them, and
we Want their prodacta. We shall have
4 Nsnty-Ive Steamships In sthis service
sFtfnin tive years. TIE vessels will be OF
sapaeity and slow speed Speed Is not SO
much Of an object as to be able to lay
the goods down on the other side of the
Pacific so that they may compete with the
native products"