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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 1885)
262 THE WEST SHORE. THE NEW TEA ROUTE. THE arrival in Tacoma of a cargo of tea from Yoko hama i of nnwnt tmpnrtnnce to the people of the Northwant and the commercial world generally to render the illmttrationa of the event given on another page of peculiar infernal. It in a now departure in Pacifio com merce, the beginning of whnt will, in a few years, be a most radical change in the routes of Asiatic trade. It is but natural to upxm that such a great transcontinental line aa the Northern Pacific, possessing accessible harbor terminal point, should strive to secure a portion of the freight reaching the Coast for tranHjortation across the continent In order to do this it became necessary to make a'tecial arrangements, since otherwise commerce would continue to How in it accustomed channels. Ac cordingly, a few months ago, the oompnny oKned nego tiation with iniNrt4ira of Japan tea, which resulted in the shipment of a cargo from Yokohama, consigtiod by ten firms of that city to various houses in Chicago, HI Paul, New York, Albany and other cities. The total shipment comprised '22,475 chest of tea, weighing a total of 1,800 tons. The bark ImM, of Windsor, N. 8., Capt James Howe, which had been lying in the harW for several months, was chartered and loaded within thirty day. She sailed on the 4th of July, enoonnterod no extremely severe weather, and on the 4th of August sighted Cfle Flattery without having seeu a strango sail during the voyage. (Stopping at Port Townsend to attend to the formalities of the custom house, she proceeded up the Sound to Tacoma, in tow of the tug Uoliah, where she immediately began discharging her cargo. The first chest of tee was one sent by the Northern Pacific Express by Collector Ileecher to the Collector at New York as a sample, the remainder being forwarded by special fait freight The whole cargo required ten freight trains, the first of which pulled out from Tacoma on the Oth and reached New York on tho 17th, making the .journey of 3,378 miles in eight days and four hours. This is the fastest time ever made by a freight train from ocean to ocean, being an avorago speed, incjuding all stops, of 17.38 miles pr hour. On each car was fastened a placard bearing the inscription: " First ship ment 2,000 ton tea from Japan, via Tacoma, Portland .0. ft. A N. and N. P. ft. ft, Co.'. Cargo ship The morning after the ImM arrived, and oontinu oualy during the time of discharging cargo, the wharf was vUiUd by hundreds of people, who were curious to see this pioneer ship of the Asiatio trade. Well might the people of Tacoma feel an interest iu the event and a just pride in the busy scene tho dock presented. For years they had been waiting iu confident expectation of such a scene, their hope unshaken by the iucredulity and often-xpred asrou.ru of rival port. It had been so evident to thetn that the Northern Pacifio would oeu such a mute of commerce by wsy of it Puget Sound ter minus thai, during the two years which had eln-ed i,loe the road was completed, their confidence in the fiual realisation of this hope never fail.xL It was natural then, that the arrival of the ImM .hould excite consid- eralje interest as a harbinger of a numerous fleet which shall in a few years seek the shores of Commencement Bny to henp their cargoes upon tho then numoroiw wharves of Tacoma. So successful an inauguration of the new movement cannot be otherwise than highly encouraging to those most interested. It may safely be said that the practica-' bility of the route has been demonstrated, and this is sufficient assurance that it will in the future be quite ex tensively used. Until now San Francisco and the rail roads terminating there Lave enjoyed a monopoly of the Asiatio trade reaching our shores; but they will do bo no longer. They must surrender a fair portion to their northern competitors. The Canadian Pacifio, also, will compote for such trade soon after the road is completed; and in future, instead of seeking one port, Asiatio com merce will enter at least four San Francisco, Portland, Tacoma and the terminus of the Canadian Pacific. MONTANA'S NEW GOVERNOR. THE best illustration possible of the wisdom of select ing Territorial oflicials from among the citizens of the Territory itself is the recent appointment of the Hob. S. T. Hauser as Governor of Montana. This gentleman, a native of Kentucky and fifty-one years of age, is one of the foremost business men of the Territory, a man who has for years labored to advance its interests and develop its resources. He was one of the pioneers of 1862, and two years lator was a member of the delegation of three who went to Washington and secured the creation of Montana Territory, with the material interests of whioh he has since been more closoly identified than any other man. He has taken a most prominent part in developing the mineral resources of the Territory, establishing the first smelter, erecting the first silver mill, and organizing the First National Bank at Helena, of which he is the president, also the first Nationnl banks at Missoula, Ben ton and ButU. To his enterprise and liberality Helena, his place of residence, owes much of her prosperity. He formed the Helena Reduction Company, which owns the extensive smelters and mines at Wickes, and graded the twenty-mile branch road which connects Wickes with Helena. He was also mainly instrumental in inducing the Northern Pacifio to adapt the route by way of Helena and Mullan Pats, thus securing for the capital the main line of that great road. A man of ability, integrity and enter prise, and thoroughly familiar with all the needs of the Territory, he will render Montana even greater service as Governor than he has as a private citizen. The West Siioiie present his iortrait, surrounded by scenes midst which he has lived, including the Prickly Pear Valley, in which Helena is situated. Health, like success in life, is to be gained by paying attention to details. More can be done to check cholera by keeping houses clean than by using tons of disinfec tant. It is man's iwrversity in doparting from Nature's teachings that leads to disease. Nature prescribes fresh air, sufficient plain food, pure water and exercise.