The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-06-03
EXP0RTST0 ORIENT
BREAKING RECORDS
Unprecedented Amount of
Merchandise Going to
the Far East.

TACOMA, WASH, May 30-The UNI
precenented amount Of export merch-
andise from the Pacific coast, Puget
Sound in particular, during the last
five or six months, has caused no little
comment in marine circles. The gen.
eral opinion is that the war in the ORR
ent has been a prominent factor in
stimulating trade.
According to a we'll known local
shipping man, a great deal Of freight
heretofore shipped from EASTERN states
via the Atlantic seaboard, thence across
the Atlantic and through the Suez can
al to China and Japan, has diverted
to the Pacific coast and the western
route by reason of the presence of the
Russian squadron in the Atlantic and
eastern waters.
1t is said the Atlantic and Mediter-
ranean are we'll patronized by Russian
vessels and the danger of capture is
much greater than in transit across
the Pacific. Consequently exports
from this coast have shown wonderful
Increase. One disadvantage Of ship
ping from the east via the Pacific
coast Is the long railroad haul across
rates from Pittsburg and cities in that
vicinity to Japan are about equal eth
er via the Pacific Of Atlantic.
Cotton Shipments Are Heavy.
The exports to Japan have consisted
Of immense. quantities. OF: flour, mach
inery locomotives, steel rails. raw cot
ton. leather, domestics and every con-
food, shelter or raiment. The shipments
Of cotton are the heaviest in the his
tory of the Pacific coast, while the
amount of machinery and steel export
ed has never before been equaled here.
Almost every steamer sailing from
Tacoma in months has carried locomo-
tives, for there has been a great de-
mand for railroad equipment from ia
pan. In building the railroad In Kor-
ca it is said that Japan stripped her
own railroads Of engines and other
equipment, and it was necessary to re-
plenish the rolling stock Of her own
roads. Consequently it could truthful
ly be stated by shippers that the loco
motives and machinery were for
peaceful purposes. Electrical machin-
cry, besides flour and sawmill para
phernalta, have gone to the far east
in shipload lots.
While Japan has been buying many
million dollars worth of goods, China
has been not far behind. Never before
have the exports OF domestics and cot
ton pieces been so great as in the
last six months and this product goes
to Chinese ports. The cotton pro-
land and the southern states.
Orient Buying Raw Material.
1T is remarkable fact, but true
nevertheless" added this we'll inform
ed marine man, that where we were
shipping the finished product a few
years ago, Oriental countries are buy
ing raw materials now. We formerly
great quantities. Now these have
dwindled considerably, while the crude
wire and leaf tobacco are going in
large consignments. The Orient is get
ting machinery and doing its own
manufacturing. Japan Is in advance
Of China as evidenced by the fact that
China imports goods, while Japan
buys the raw cotton and makes the
cloth at home"
While much Of the activity in ex-
ports can be attributed to the fact
that on July /, Japan's heavy war
tax goes into effect as applying to
imports, there Is evidence that imports
will continue to be heavy for some
time. It is more than likely that
there will be some cessation as soon
as the war tax is In force, but for
months ahead, Dodwell & Co. have
cargoes booked for their regular lin
ers Of the White and Blue Funnel
fleets.
The great amount Of merchandise
Onered Tor Shipment IN the last rev
months resulted In, the chartering Of
eight large steamers by Dodweu &
Co., jointly with Waterhouse & Co..
to transport freight which the regular
fleets could not handle. The tramps
engaged for this purpose include the
British steamers Marin, Forest Brook,
Foreric, Como, Bedouin, Ocean Mon
arch, Knight Errant and Saint Hell
ena.
Big Shipments Since February I.
All of these vessels with the excep-
ton of the last two named have been
in Tacoma and, as they will average
at least 5000 tons each, the aggre-
gate shows that they will have taken
$4,000 tons of surplus freight across
the Pacific since February i. This
does not include several full cargoes
Of rails or several other tramps en-
gagged in the latter part of 1904 or
steamers like the 1vydene, Beira and
Tottenham, which are carrying flour
and forage cargoes for other firms.
The Como left Tacoma with the dis
tinction of taking the largest cargo
of cotton ever shipped in one vessel
from any Pacific coast port. She took
1890 bales.
The rush Of exports has not been
confined to Tacoma alone. but San
Francisco and other ports of the coast
have been equally busy. Presen: con-
ditions are in strong contrast to times