The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-21
THE CALLS CALENDAR.
NOVEMBER, 1891.
GIGANTIc orrREssIoNs.

Tie more our citizens examine the rail-
Eoad situation TIE more they are impressed
with the Importance Of the movement which
has been recently instituted For several
years past the organization known as the
Southern Pacific Railroad Company has
made its own terms for nearly all Of the
freight which has come to this State from
Atlantic ports and from Eastern cities, as
well as for all of the freight which has
gone from this State to Eastern States and
cities. 1t has made terms by way Of its
own lines; it has also controlled the price
# freight by way of Panama, by way of the
Northern Pacific Railroad, by way OF the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad
and by way OF the Canadian Pacific Rail
road. Such combinations as we have emu
merated would have been thought sufficient
10 satisfy ordinary mortals. but 1t has not
seemed enough TO assuage the cravings of
men who are already rich beyond prece-
dent, for they still clamor for more. They
have actually, to Q considerable extent also
shut of our citizens from the use of sailing
vessels from Atlantic ports. In the city
newspapers within the last few days have
appeared such comments as the following
copied from the Bulletin of Wednesday:
Merchants are much interested in the progress
involving The seizure Of certain caTgoes of nails,
horse shoes, etc. Which were shipped from New
! Ork 10 European ports and then brought to this
port by way OF Cape Horn. TIE purpose of this
roundabout yoyagIng was to bring the freight
charges down TO a reasonable figure. The rail-
roads steamship lines and other lines are al
legged 10 be In 4 combine TO eXtOrt rates from
California, and il was found TO be practicable, SO
lar as Npeuse goes, TO ship goods 20 Europe and
Then 10 bring them back across the Atlantic and
around lie Horn 10 San Francisco in compet
ton with the combine. The Treasury DEPART
ment caused the seizure of these carGoes. There
have been four seizures so far, and Durham,
Carrigan 6 Co., Carolan & Co. aud The Hawiey
Bros. Hardware Company, all OF this city, are
among tie sufferers. II is supposed that all
these parties VIII engage in bringing test case
as the same set Of facts apply 10 each OF the sew
eral cases. Before Judge Morrow in the United
States District Court to-day bonds were filed for
the release OF some OF tie seized goods. The
first mOnlton hled in these cases Is made return
able November oath, and ii is possible that some
case VIII Jnen be set for hearing
In report of conversation with some of
the members of the Traffic Association there
appear the following further remarks upon
the same subject:
The other matter which is warmly discussed is
the situation OF the Dunham-C arrigan hayden
Company, tie Hawley Brothers Hardware Com
pduy anu IaIOldD q 20. ne 1actS are well
known. They attempted to get American goods
from New York 10 San Francisco by way Of
Europe, hrst shipping The goods to European
ports and then bringing them here via Cape
H ON. The railroad companies, the Pacific Mall
Steamship Company and the clipper lines Via
Cape Horn were evidently in combine 10 keep
up rates, and are still combined The effect, II
not the purpose, OF the combination was and is to
cinch California. way of escape from extor-
tion seemed open by the circuItous route via
Antwerp or Liverpool aud Cape Horn. To get
the goods here by this route it was necessary to
employ foreign vessels. The goods were seized
Oh their arrival here on the ground that the yes
sells bringing them were uDlawIully engaged in
the coastwise trade Of the United States Sew
eIal other cGrgoes are the way, and ii Is given
out that they VIII be seized. The avenue which
seemed open for an escape from extortion is
closed. II is freely said by merchants that they
consider tile condition OF affairs not only unpar-
aileicd, but outrageous. That circumstance"
SAID Traffic Association member would alone
be sufficient to point out the necessity for US 10
90 something for self-protection."
Is it any wonder that business suffers in a
State where such gigantic system of op-
preston exists as that developed as above?