The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-25
RAILROAD NEWS.
Flour aud Cotton for Oriental
Trade.
Hill Roads Planning 2 Gigantic
Campaign.
MAKE A NEW ROUTE.
Products Of the United States
Win 60 Via Seattle.
What Hills New Freight Steam
ers viii Do.
dAKE A NEW ROUTE.

Additional facts have came TO light
regarding the 9lar By which James J.
Hin expects to secure and control abso-
lu1ely the oriental trade through the
pert of Seattle. A short time ago. at
a meeting OF the traffic men Interested.
the freight rates to Cnina. Japan. Aus
trala. the Philippine Islands and India
were reduced to be on a par with those
from New York to the same places via
the suez Canal The advantage 90 the
Hiu line Of equal rates from New YORK
IS appreciated When it is known that the
insurance is cheaper BY the way Of Sc
attic This difference will make it pos
sible for Mr. Hill to secure trafic for
his oriental steamship line which he
would not otherwise enjoy
The purpose of building boats which
are more than twice as large IS freight
boats row afoat is to make competition
by other steamship lines impossible.
The majority az competing craft would
rest comfortably in the hole Of Alr.
Hills new boats Tt is therefore expect
+ ed that every steamship plying between
+ Sea tile ard the Orient viii have 10 give
way 10 the Hill steamers. which VIII be
able to secure monopoly on the traE-
ne
Regarding return loads from the ORR
ent mr.. Hill is not so particular. On
purpose OF constructing me new UDst-7
was 70 create a tonnage from the easE
over the Burlington and Northern lines
TO Seattle fer export The object Of THIS
is to provide loads for Mr. HIliS freiglr
cars. which have 20 be uaUled 200 and
5000 miles 10 get the varied products of
the northwest and transport them TO
the markets of the east IF an equal
tonnage were created by the new boats
eastward Mr. Hil would be in no BET
ter position regarding hauling -'empI-
les to the northwest than he IS now.
The principal export product OF the
northern territory tributary to the Hll
lines is flour and large quantities Of
this is being sent to the orient Uhr0uga
the western gateway The disposal oz
lhe lake line steamers was taken at the
time as an Indication that the Fiji
plans contemplate something other than
q transcontinentaI traffic with the crl-
eut. The policies as developed since
that time have shown that the plan IS
to make a market Tor the products Of
the interior of the United States IN ASH
attic ports and induce this traffic to flow
through the Seattle gate Next to flour
exports. and possibly OF equal Import
ance with that. is the trade n cotton,
cotton fabrics and the like. ne south
west country. just outside the immedi-
ate zone Of the Hill lines influence, is a
prolific producer of this traffic
Recent reports of possible extension OF
Burlington lines into the Okla h0una,
Texas and Arkansas field is taken TO
mean that the future plans contemplate
surer hold on these products From
its connection at St Louis and other dis
tributilg points IN the Mississippi val
ley the Hill system already has a reas-
onzbIy strong position In the co1npetl-
ton for the cotton belt trade With
their own lines penetrating TO the fields
and local markets this position would be
greatly strengthened
The WesrbOund route from the interior
Of the United States TO AsIatic. japanese
and Indian ports is shorter and the time
+ required less than than if the traffic is
sent 1y way Of New York and the Suez
canal This gives an advantage TO the
Hill plans for handling the commerce in
the territory covered by the lines of his
system.
While the cars viii be filed. according
to the estimates of the Great Northern
/ ma gnate. with the Hour, cotton and
+ other products OF the farms and factor
les of the interior OF the United States.
+ the forests mills and fisheries Of the
coast country viii furnish the return
+ loads. The concessions on grain and
( lumber rates from Washington and Ore
gon made last year were directly in line
with this policy Of building up market
IN the prairie states for the lumber Of
the coast region