Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-06-23
PACIFIC COAST.
The California wheat CrOp-HOw
Shalt &c be handled.

SAN Francisco, June 2.-Chas. Crock
or, President of the Southern Pacific
Railroad, in a conversation this morn
ing with an Associated Press represent
alive concerning the lack of vessels re-
quired to carry off and market the enor-
NOUS wheat surplus of California this
year, and also in respect to the uneasi-
ness beginning to manifest itself among
farmers that they would again be placed
at the mercy or ftreign ship owners,
said:
"We are at the present moment in a
position to carry via New Orleans one
third of the entire crop of California
and can, moreover. increase our equip
age to handle one-half. and even all of
the crop were it necessary. We have
warehouse at Algiers, opposite New Or
leans, with capacity of twenty thou
sand tons, and can load from it five
ships at time. The trade of New Or
leans will always provide large num-
Der of wheat vessels. We have not yet
put on steamers Of our own, but we will
do so the moment necessity for so doing
arises. There will be from California
alone million and quarter tons of
wheat for export, and unless facilities
are provided for removing this grain
and carrying it to market within the
year the farmers of California will be
placed in precisely the same position
they occupied in 1880-8l, when it took
two years to market the crop, entailing
loss to farmers of over $4,000 900.
That is Just what would happen to them
again this year il the Southern Pacific
were not completed and if we were not
in a position to take their wheat at
reasonable rates end market it within
one year instead Of its being carried
over two. The farmers do not realize
yet how much good we can render them
in this matter nor the millions of dol
lars we will save them. but they will re-
alize it before long. Why just look at
the facts" continued Crocker. "We will
have, as ! stated before, a million
and quarter tons OF wheat
for export. There are about
go vessels here and to come. Let US
say 80 vessels with an average of 400
tons. This gives 350, 600 tons, or only a
little more than one quarter OF the en-
tire quantity for export. Now, how do
you suppose the remainder would be dis
posed Of unless we were here and in
position 10 say, Don't fear, We can
carry your wheat and will do 1t at less
rates than you would have to pay ii you
were compelled to rely, as in the past,
solely upon vesselsT l do not exagRer-
ate when say that without the South
ern Pacific wheat freights before the
present year is up, would have advanced
TO IS shillings, and even 30 shillings, a
ton. The wheat would have to be sold
and shipped, and shipowners would
have control and fix frei2hts at their
own rates. and these increased rates
would again have to come out'of the
farmers pocket. The position the
Southern Pacific Railroad occupies at
| this moment towards the farmer is this:
When freights reach certain figure, a
| figure that We can handle grain at as
fast freight, We will step in aud say to
the vessels. Thus far you go, bat no
farther and in saying and doing this
We effectually stop any further advance
in freights and prevent the farmer BE-
ing obliged to submit to the extortion-
ate rates of the shipowner, and what we
can carry freight for this year we can
carry il for next year. 20 that IN ad-
dition to preventing high freiehts,
We fix rate upon whi3h the
farmer oan calculate a. a maximum,
and not leave him at the mercy OF ship
1 OWu0f0 Allo Ok10x tok0kos AVa csyt Wa
tinued Mr.. Cfocker, shat the farmers
will appreciate this. Of course, they
will. know and understand the farm
ers of California, although there are
some of them who don't seem to un-
derstand rs, but the time Is coming
| when they will, and then they will CON-
prehend that their interest and the in
| terests of the railroad company are
more closely identified than they have
hitherto supposed. No, cannot give
vnn the exact rate we can carry wheat
| for from here 10 Liverpool. but Mr.
Stubbs. General Traffic Manager, will be
Able 10 cav what Il can be done for
Mr.. GRAY, General freight Agent, in the
absence of Mr.. Stubbs, said the compa.
nv would be able TO land wheat at Liv-
erpool in thirty-one days from Stock
ton. Cal. They had not yet figured out
how cheap IT il could be done for
"but,- added Mr.. Gray. when ocean
freichts approach sixty-hve shillingf
ve viii begin TO talk. 1t should be
borne in mind that sixty-five shillings
for a thirty-one days voyage - not the
equivalent Of sixty 1--WE shilling ocean
freisht with interest and insurance on
a hundred and thirty days voyage.
DON'T sneak of sixty five shillings a. 9
fixed rate said Mr.. Gray, nor that il
can't be done for less. ! merely say
that when freights begin to approach
that figure, Ne viii have consisting q
say. and il will not b 10 the disadyan
tase OF the California farmer"
uiss Willarass Reception.
| Especial to posr IsrxLLioEscxR-l
| OIYxrra. June 2.-Miss Wizards re