The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-07-30

trade to the cold attitude of Port
land towards the Japanese trading
firms. marked the cross-examination
wednesday OF l.. c. Gilman. assist
ant regional director Of the United
States railway administration. in the
federal building by j. ~. Teal, Port
land rate expert
Gilman attributed Seattle's growth
Of trade with Japan to two reasons.
the first because Seattle had looked
towards the sea for business. while
Portland had looked towards the
land. and secondly. because he con-
ssdered the Seattle terminals super
Tor to Portland's.
He also said that this trade had
been augmented by the foresight OF
the trans-continental railroads in
building docks.
"Can you think OF any other rear
son why the Oriental trade came to
Seattle rather than Portiand?"
questioned ]. ". Teal
mo. l can't" answered Gilman.
Not General. He Says
Didn't the attitude expressed by
Portland against the japanese have
something to do with the placing OF
| the business in Scatter" continued
Teal.
NO. never heard of that"
Ex-Governor Oswald West. repre-
senting Portland's claim in the rate
controversy, said that the Japanese
angle was new phase to him.
II never heard Of 1t before" he
said. There may have been some
talk against the Japanese In Port
land. but IL wasn't general, and II
never reached my ears"
| Gilman gave complete account
ing OF the. empty and loaded car
movement of both the East and
West traffic Of the Northern Pacific
railroad for the last part OF 1918 and
the early part of 1919.
He showed that about so per cent
OF the West bound cars were empty,
showing the number of available
cars for wheat. Only per cent
of the East bound cars were empties.
May Finish Today
Gilman said he did not think Port.
land would do any more business
than at present, even tho a trans
continental line were constructed
thru the Portland district. He be-
lieved the Spokane. Seattle & ST.
Paul line was sufficient to handle
all freight from the Eastern Wash
ington field destined for the Port.
land terminals.
It Is expected Gilman's cross-ex.
animation will be finished Wednes-
day, when the railroads viii place adj
dltional rate experts on the stand.
Gilman took the stand for the
Washington faction at the compile
ton OF the cross-examination of J. +.
Newell, consulting engineer for the
Public Service Commission Of Oregon,
who attempted to show that Portland
was the logical point for wheat ship
pers of Eastern Washington to send
their crops. He tried to show that
1t cost more to haul wheat over the
mountains to Seattle than IL did down
the river to Portland, drawing CON
clusion that the route Of the least
operation costs should necessarily
have a cheaper rate.
Says Newell Wrong
Gilman testified there was appar-
emily a great error in Newelfs testi-
mony that 1t cost more to ship from
Portland to Seattle than from Pendle-
ton to Portland.
He gave an early history of ship
ping in both Seattle and Portland,
land attempted to show the reasons
for Seattle so far outstripping Port
land were due entirely to the re-
sourcefuiress of the business men of
the Sound. He attributed Seattle's
success to the Alaskan gold rush and
the present war.
Gilman testified that the opinions
OF Portland business men differed
In the demand that Portland be
given an advantageous rate over Sc
attic. He said that the shippers were
not demanding a cheaper rate. but
would take one If given them.
Effort Alone Needed
1t was the opinion OF the witness
that Portland could become a ship
ping center of some import providing
her citizens put forth the necessary
effort. and that the Rose City's sue
cess did not depend upon q cheaper
freight rate than Seattles.