, 1873-09-12
THE WEEKLY ARGUS.
FRIDAY, sEPTBHBER Is, is78.
san Francisco -. PortIaad,

oLs plyih AoctNcSH - OIblauu anu Ine
Sound is creating great feeling of an
tipatliy with our merchants against the
line. So strong, indeed, Is this antagor
nistic prejudice that it has made itself
felt at Portland, and not long since a
sailing vessel was laid on there to load
for the Sound. By some hocus pocus
Arrangement, between Ben. Holiday
and the shippers, or with the owners of
the sailing vessel, probably with both,
the vessel was withdrawn, and in her
stead two steamers were dispatched to
the Sound in quick succession. But the
state of affairs is not changed so far as
our merchants are concerned. Freight
is still held at s. per ton-S1 higher
than is charged from San Francisco to
the Sound, And it is also regulated by
tbecarriers that 1,SOO pounds of shorts,
or 1900 pounds of bran shall be con-
sidered ton of freight. A specific
clause to the effect that the consignee
Ha H. "a
is responsible as soon as the freight IS
loosed from the ships tackle, together
with the. fact that these steamers are
allowed by our Customs authorities to
enter and discharge at any time of the
night, is another serious drawback
to our merchants, particularly so as
there is no regularity about the time of
arrival, There is wholesome rule in
force on the other side of the Strait that
might well be adopted on this side, and
that Is not allowing vessels to discharge
freight outside of reasonable business
hours. This rule would render harm
less the rule OF the carriers, for the con-
signees could then be on hand to receive
their freight, But if the authorities
whose duty it is will not adopt and
enforce such rule, the shippers and
receivers should refuse to acceed to the
unreasonable demands of the carrier:
and in this way an equitable arrange
ment might be effected.
Some time ago an attempt was made
here on the Sound to organize a com
pany, buy steamer and place her on
the route between the Sound and San
Francisco, The figuring OF competent
business men made a handsome margin
over and above the expenses of running
the steamer and interest on the capital
invested, for profit, But while our bu-
siness men see and feel the necessity for
such an enterprise, they are unable to
benefit themselves. Capital, the mo-
tive power of everything, is lacking,
and while our people can easily figure
on the profits of 800, 900 jndiciously
invested, it is far more difficult task
to get that sum in hand. 1t cannot be
spared from the business in which our
money is already invested.
The accomplishment, however, o.
the idea of a steamer plying regularly
between the Sound and San Francisco
is possibility and easily effected. Sucl
line would benefit San Francisco a
much, if not more, as it would Puge
Sound 1t is a fact well known to al
of us that Oregon produce can b
bought in, San Francisco and lande,
here on the Sound for less than we cal
ship it directly from Portland fc-. VIII,
gthisiis 50 we are not at prese : full.
prepared to explain; but it is a fact
and some Of Our. merchants ship Oregon
flour, hams and bacon by sailing vessel
from San FrIpcisco ana realize a hand
some per cent. by it. But the time O
sailing vessels is too uncertain, and tn
most of our traders prefer to pay NOR
o and ship their goods by steamer from
0 oTeg9n,o,1 1Thus,,it can be seen, wereii
steamer running between here and Sal
o Francisco, that city would oommanl
the entire trade Of the Sound But i
must not be expected that any steam
boatmen-Will.start this new line, Iik
q book ps(dlers, each Steamship eompanr
has its specified 'e eterritory.'' q Puse
Sound has fallen to Holiday. lie Won
put on a,abeat, and n9lother conpan.
oaoaf infringe On,lhih sd The. San Fran
cisco merchantg are the ones to- estab
lish this HnSe. They are able todo 1t