New-York tribune., 1907-06-21
FREIGHT TO ORIENT.
IranscontinentaI Train Could SAGE
Sir Weeks an Transit.
fErom The Tribune Rureau.l

washington June 2O-'.A special fast freight.
trigfnating on the Atlantic seaboard and ternl-
mating at San Francisco" said Major John NJ
Carson chief OF the bureau OF manufactures, to-
day. is the most crying need Of the Far Eastern
trade. and need that l hope will soon be met
have recently in consultation with the heads
of the freight departments of number of the
great railroads, who have pledged a thorough In
vestigation of the plan along the lines have
mapped One of the great systems has given
me a strong ntmation that expedited service will
be inaugurated If the details work out according 10
present indications.
Major Carson's idea of the special freight service
IS thai IL should be arranged that the trains
arriving In San Francisco bearing goods from vart-
Gus points between the New England cotton mills
and the Pacific should be placed on a schedule
connecting with the steamers for the Orient He
argues that under the present arrangement an eX-
porter al any point in the East shipping TO China
must allow sixty days for his consignment 10 reach
San Francisco, and has no guarantee that 1t VIII
arrive that time. There is stated connection
with departing steamers, and because Of these facts
seller is unable 70 give the purchaser any luea
or guarantee when the goods viii arrive.
This condition IS in direct contrast with shipping
ARRANGEMENTS operative in Germany, England and
France where there is every assurance Of delivery
iaccording 10 2 definitely mapped out schedule.
The idea is to the fast freight in the east
FERN part of the United States given schedule.
There may De only small amount of freight 10
begin with. but the train proceeds it viii aC-
cumulRte all freight along the line that is bound
for the Far East. The trade to China amounts
ito sl0000,9o0 q year, and the handling OF this
freight would be a considerable item 10 begin with
The exporters would be acquainted with the sched-
ale Of the fast freight and could make their ship
fInents accordingly. The lists Of steamers sailing
lrron San Francisco are obtainable for a year
lahead and, with known connections the Chinese
merchants could have assurance Of delivery at a
FEiven time. tt is held that, with this assurance
iaivens1o the Chinese merchants and with the knOwl
edge on the part Of the exporter that he could
ecarry given contracts the advance in trade
would De rapid The six weeks that the exporters
would save when a two weeks transcontinental
serVice was given 10 them is OF much Importance,
but the fact that they would be able 10 pledge GER
tain deliveries is more important.
THE multitUdes of people in Chtra-" continued
Major Carson are just waking up to the outside
sworld, and viii make enormous market
sfor American products. They most friendly TO
the United States and would trade here in prefer
tence TO Europe II they had equal opportunity.
sChere IS reason why the trade should not grow
TO s40o GO IN few years Somebody is going TO
get the additional trade. We viii have made
llong step toward getting IL # the Pennsylvania
some other system puts the special freight
Twice. The bureau stands ready to work in oon-
junction with road establishing that service by
lRcqUainting the exporters and the foreign mer
!chants with the fact of its existence