The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-10
JAPANESE TEA DEALERS.
VIII Endesvor to Secure More Ex-
tensive Use of the Product In
Americn-OrfentaIN Notes.

Special Dispatch to the Post-Intelligencer
TACOMA, May s.-The steamship Dal-
that the Tea Dealers Union OF Japan
has just taken action OF interest and i'm
portance to the great tea importing and
consuming interests Of the United States
Having secured an increased subsidy from
the government. they propose carrying
out general plan for the increase of tea
shipments 10 the United States. Ad-
Nertisements regarding japanese teas are
10 be posted In public places and COM
missioners dispatched to make inspec-
lions OF teas imported at ports of the
United States and Canada. Tea saloons
will be continued in New York and Cana
da, and a new branch will be established
at Montreal with the funds heretofore
used for advertising purposes in San
Francisco. The present offices in Chi
cago and Vladivostok are to be main
tanned.
Commissioners will be sent to various
parts of Siberia to introduce japanese
teas and bring about native preference
for them over Chinese teas. What is
from a Japanese standpoint the most i'm
portant part OF the new programme will
be an agitation to secure, first. the repeal
or the American duty on teas. and. sec
ond the future inspection of japanese
teas at Japanese ports instead of Ameri-
can ports.
Otani Kahei. a Japan tea expert. who
recently returned from America claims
that the tea samples established by the
United States board Of tea inspectors are
apparently designed with the object OF
securing leaf of fine shape and light color
irrespective OF fragrance and other essen
tial qualities. He says that leaves pass
ed by the American inspectors as OF fine
quality were found to be entirely want
ing in fragrance when stepped and mixed
with milk or sugar. For these reasons
the Tea Dealers Union decided to start
an agitation in favor OF abolishing the
ssmpling OF teas at American ports, and
the establishment of tea inspection Offices
In Japan, on condition that the leaves
mi ad n hos Inc tNan
accepted in America without reference
to local samples.
At their spring meeting, held last
month, the six principal emigration
companies OF Japan adopted energetic
measures for promoting their business
They have secured official consent to in
crease the amount of security lodged by
each company with the government. with
the object of excluding smaller and pos
stbly irresponsible concerns from the field.
They do not anticipate any dimnution
OF the demand for japanese labor In Ha-
wall owing TO the passing OF the islands
under American Jurisdiction. They will
leave In the hands of Hawaiian employers
the sum of $4,000 already deposited with
them.
The japanese steamship Miyashima coll
lided last month at Kagoshima with the
Japanese cruiser Kasagi. recently built
Ing by being beached. Her cargo was a
total loss.
The British gunboat sandpIper was
wrecked IN the west river near Canton
recently Temporary repairs were made
and she was towed to Hongkong by the
torpedo destroyer Fame
A large Chinese steamer has been
wrecked in West river British inter-
ests are demanding that this river be sur
veyed and charted
The city OF Toxic has decided to Dor
row 100000 yen for municipal improve
ments. including roads, sewers and
bridges.
The emperor of Korea has decided 10
have a new palace built in Oriental style.
Three hundred thousand yen have been
appropriated and a Japanese architect
engaged to prepare plans.