The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-02-12

Hongkong and the Philippines, ant
therefore are as near the markets o
Asia Puget Sound is. That is he
cause our education has been had from
lstudying the old-fashioned map instead
lof correctly made globe Examina
ltion of the globe shows that the con.
ItinentS of North America and Asia, in
lstead Of standing as the almost paral-
Hell east and west shores of the Pacific
ocean, are arranged on the northern
hemisphere in such way that their
northern shores practically encircle
the Arctic ocean, while their Pacific
shore lines spread apart at an angle
OF very nearly $50 degrees.
! AS matter of geographical fact an
arc of the great circle passing through
the Mississippi Valley and Lake Supe-
rior to the north pole and thence down
on the other side of the globe to the
equator passes through Central Asia
touching the equator at about Calcut-
ia; While the short and direct route
from our Pacific ports to Japan and
China, instead of due west via the
Hawaiian Islands. is northwest, via the
Aleutian Isles. This is true not only
for Puget Sound vessels, but for San
Francisco, Los Angeles and Panama
steamships. 1t is this geographical sit
uation which makes Puget Sound the
nearest possible point in the United
States to all points in Asia
Ocean distances given by recent gov
eminent charts point the significance
of the above geographical facts. The
charts show that the Puget Sound
route via the Aleutian Isles is 1900
miles shorter to Yokohama and Shang-
hal, and 1920 miles shorter even to
Hongkong and Southern China than
the San Francisco route via Honolulu.
For fifteen knot vessel the extra 1230
miles mean nearly three and one-half
days added to the voyage, or a week
extra for the round trip. From the
standpoint, not only of prompt ship
ment, but of earning power and cost |
OF operation, it is perfectly clear that !
the steamship line with the 1,20e-mile
shorter haul has a "cinch on the st
lation.
Even San Francisco and Los Angeles !
save over 400 miles by going via Puget |
Sound and the Aleutian Isles, as COM |
pared with the Honolulu route; and |
LOO miles are more than a days voy- |
ige for sixteen-kno vessel. This ad-
iantage of a days voyage, or of two
lays on the round trip will ALWAYS !
shipping port of the Northwest as
compared with San Francisco, the most
lortherly port of the Southwest. In
III that enters into the cost of trans
fuel, interest, insur-
nee and cost of maintenance-as well |
# service, the Northwest will always
re at least twenty-four hours ahead ,
n every shipment, and two days in |
he lead for the round trip voyage and
his means that the Northwest is in
of the Pacific transportation
ituation, provided it's shipping and
abroad resources are equal to the oc-
aston.
From Puget Sound to Yokohama via
he Northwest route is only 4240 miles,
flD.A
he Suez Canal, more than half en- .
lrcles the globe for distance of Is, 100 .
lilies, and via Cape Horn and Homo :
llu the trip covers 5000 miles. An /
verage twelve-knot vessel thus re-
uires about two weeks to &c from
uget Sound to Japan, as compared |
18th over six weeks from New York
ia the Suez Canal, and nearly eight
eeks from New York via Cape Horn !
nd Honolulu. When twenty-knot
eight vessels are employed, Puget
1und shippers Will be able to get in
lree voyages while the New York
upper makes one via the Suez Canal
I'd four voyages to one made by the
ew York shipper via Cape Horn. /
II the Panama Canal is constructed "
e New York shipper has 1881 miles q
make in order to reach Panama, |
S55 more to Honolulu, and a total of
046 to Yokohama, or of 1867 to
ongkong; as compared with 4,240 and
80 respectively from Puget Sound to
e same Asiatic ports. Aided even by
g construction of the Panama canal
erefore, New York will require as
1g time and as great ocean transpor- a
ton cost to reach the markets of o.
ia for the single trip as the North II
st via Puget Sound Will require for W
= round trip. p
f there is any reason why the North c
st, therefore, will not be in a posi- @
n during the present century to m
nmand the Pacific trade, the fault 81
II not lie with mother earth, for she w
s arranged time. distance and geog- W
ply all in our favor, and given us
great commercial opportunity of
= century, if we are able to grasp it.