The morning call., 1890-05-21
STAND BY SAN FnANCIsco.

The statement of George Gould, Presi-
dent Of the Pacific Mail Company, in re-
gard to the future intentions of that COM
pany and to its future relations with the
Southern Pacific, should command atten-
ton at San Francisco. 1t seems that some
time ago the people of Tacoma offered a
bonus in the shape of large tract of land
If the company would transfer the terminus
of its China line from San Francisco to Ia
coma. Simultaneously the Northern Pa
ciic offered the company inducements to
transfer its China freight to their line. 1t
appears that these offers were favorably
viewed by the Pacific Mail people, and that
they would have been carried out but for
the opposition of Mr.. Huntington. He in
duced the board to reject them, and it is an
open secret that he and his friend Mr.. Hart
have since bought enough Pacific Mail
stock 10 control the next election, on which
occasion the Gould-Villard interest will
either abandon their efforts in behalf of
Tacoma or step out of the board.
In the course he has pursued Mr.. Hunt
ington has of course been actuated by con-
Germ for his interest in the Southern Pacific;
but it happens that in this case the interest
OF that railroad is likewise the interest of
this city. Our foreign commerce is not so
portant portion thereof diverted to other
ports without suffering. The business
brought here by the Pacific Mail steamers
from China is not vast in volume, but il
amounts to something, and we could not lose
il without feeling it. Every steamer which
arrives from China brings some merchan-
disc out OF which our merchants make com
missions, and our draymen, steve1Ores and
laboTers make wages. Every Pacific Mail
steamer which sails hence for China Gre
ates some activity in commercial circles and
affords employment to a certain number of
men. To stop these incomings and out
goings would be to diminish, in a sensible
degree, the traffic of the port and its capacity
to consume labor.
Tacoma is not to be blamed for its at
tempt to develop its business by inducing
the Pacific Mail TO select that port as its
terminus on this Coast. Every community
has the right to DO the best it can for its
own advancement But by parity of rea-
soning we also have the same right to re-
tain the trade we have, if we can. and to
prevent its being diverted to other points.
And il is well for US that the control of the
great lines of transportation, Cd which part
of that trade depends, is in hands which.
from whatsoever reason, are inclined to
A"'VA Jul iOSal lutOlcoto III pIcl6ItuCt W
others.
The attempt of Tacoma to capture the
Pacific Mail was designed to wrest su-
premacy from San Francisco. 1t was in
line with the establishment of the Cana
dian line of steamers from Vancouver to
Japan and China. 1t is not likely that
these attempts could succeed under any
circumstances. Trade can seldom be di-
verted from great seaport to minor sea-
port. In times gone by Halifax, Boston
and Philadelphia ali claimed their share of
the Atlantic trade; they all succumbed to
New York. Sc in England, Bristol. Queens
town and Londonderry competed for many
years with Liverpool, but eventually
dropped out of the race. In such contests
the port which has the start generally wins,
provided its people are energetic, farseeing
and enterprising. But it will not answer
In such cases to trust to Providence.