Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-10-17
U. S. CAPITAL TO
OPERATE FLEET IN
CHINESE PROJECT
Big Company is Organizing in
Washington for Shipping
and Land Trade
WILL MEET COMPETITION
OF JAPAN AND RUSSIA
One Line Of Steamers viii Ply
From Norfolk to Portland,
Second to China Ports
BY {. 9. ALBERT

Especial Star buletIn o1rre1Dondencel
fip view Of the protest which Japan
and Russia are making against Amer
lean enterprise IN China, the follow.
inc news from Washington concern.
inc . large commercial project 10 IN.
terestlne. u 10 also interesting locally
because of the posslbility that Homo.
lulu may be made calling point for
the new fleet.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Oct. 5.-one
answer. TO the proposed commercial
exploitation Of China by Japan and
her allies q party OF exporters OF the
United States has organized O mill
tant concern TO get business In the
Orient. A project TO be known as the
Chinese-American Produce Exchange
Company. with headquarters IN Wash
ington. Is now taking definite shape.
The purpose Of this organization is
TO meet the proposed @grab-same" in
China.
Among the leaders in this movement
are Senators Hoke Smith Of Georgia
and Fletcher Of Florida. They are on
the advisory board.
.Dr. Clarence ]. Owen OF the South
ern Commercial Congress Is one OF
the active figures in the Chinese
Amefican Produce Exchange Com
pany. Ki Flu Shah, former Chinese
minister TO the United States, will
have charge Of the detail work In
China. YunR Kwai. counsellor to the
present Chinese 1e6ation here, has
joined In this campRign.
w. H. Southgate Of Norfolk. Va,
president Of the extenPIfe wharyes
known IS the Southgate Terminals,
is Interested n the new enterprise.
The starting point Of the company's
fleet will be Norfolk. as the largest
shipment from this country to
China Is cotton. and cotton products.
The company proposes to construct
two fleets, one to operate between
Norfolk and Portland, Oregon, by way
OF the Panama canal. stopping on the
way at Wilmington. N. c.; Charleston.
New Orleans. San Pedro. San Diego.
San Francisco and possibly Seattle.
At Portland the goods will be tran
shipped to another lire, which viii be
owned and operated by the same
company, but Of much heavier tonnage
and of greater speed.
The proposed Chinese-American
company expects to make its profits
on a moderate scale. II Is not to be
q money-making adventure. its promo
ters insist. The intention is to estab-
lish an International clearing house,
whereby the standing, rating and
general business character Of mer-
chant in China seeking TO buy goods
from United States exporters may al
ways be available for Information. In
the same manner the integrity of the
American buying merchandise from a
Chinese likewise may be ascertained
for the guidance OF the Celestial.
The corporation, according to all In
formation, IS TO be established on the
cooperative plan. Instead Of stock
organization. It will be membership
concern, and each member Is to be
entitled to call for such information
as he may desire with respect to the
Chinese market.
In addition, the Chinese-American
company win maintain an inspection
service st both American and Chinese
ports. In case of damage to goods
in transit this will be discovered with
out the unrolling of red tape. The
same inspection viii prevent the ship
ment Of goods Of inferior quality from
those ordered fIom the ports Of eth
er country.
David N. Rosa. former trade adviser
to the state department, is secretary
of the new corporation. He is plan
ming to send men out into the field to
lay the plan before the businessmen
who are turning their eyes toward the
Orient as q possible market. The
first organization movement will be
undertaken in the South. Promoters
OF the scheme claim that already
enough support has been pledged TO
insure the success of the venture.
which is intended to. increase vastly
the trade between the two countries.