The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-20
ANOTHER LINE
NOW DEMANDED.
The Traffic Association Will Try
the Water Route.
"A Proposed Scheme to Put on Heavy Freight
Steamships Between This Port
and New York.

There is considerable talk In ficcircles
concerning the proposed establishment of a
line OF steamers between this city and New
York. Prominent members of the Traffic
Association assert that in the organization
OF such company will be found the only
solution Of the transportation question of
California.
1t Is evident from the opinions expressed
by the gentlemen at the head of the associ-
alton that they are afraid of the railroad
companies, and fully understand the mean
Ing of pooling arrangements. One of the
members said yesterday:
1T Will be of little use to help the Allan
tic and Pacific. or any other line, in the
matter Of extending to San Francisco. Ii
the line brought in Is not already member
OF some railway combination it would OF me-
cessity speedily become a party to such
combination, and then what becomes of the
competition that we are seeking to inaugu-
rate as an escape from unjust rates?
Our only hope is a water line, and dis
cussion of the subject reveals the fact that
there is healthy sentiment in favor Of this
scheme. Several well-known merchants
have agreed to take stock in the new enter
prise, and it is safe to say that money
enough to carry 1t to successful cOnsumma-
ton can be raised in one month.
SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE.
I'VE can make enough on the South Amcri-
can trade alone to pay the current expenses
OF the line, leaving handsome profit for
stockholders. Our steamers would touch at
Valparaiso and probably at Montevdeo
The Argentine Republic every year imports
from Europe In red wines alone nearly as
much as the State of California at the
present time produces. Chile is also large
consumer. These steamers stopping at two
South American ports brings San Francisco
into direct communication and will un-
doubleday permit of building up very
large South American trade.
Three or four hundred tons of cargo can
be sent from here to Chile and delivered
there and the steamers can, without diff
Guilty. replace this tonnage by exports ffom
Chile to the United States. The same will
hold good in Montevideo. A line of his
character, aside from the outlet it givesfo
goods to the United States will also opsn a
very large trade, We hope. with South
If this project is carried out, San Fan
cisco will become the distributing pon for
all territory West Of the Rocky Mountains.
and those who have studied the situation
see but one difficulty in the path of success.
This is the matter of local rates, and lere
the railroads apparently hold the key to the
situation.
HOLDING LOCAL RATES.
Traffic from the valleys of California can
not be brought to San Francisco by water,
but must be handled by rail. and cannd the
railroad people hold local rates at figure
which will make the scheme improbable.
is question that is puZzling the merchants
and others interested in the move.
Their only hope seems to be in thu Rail-
way Commissioners. whose duty Il is to
regulate rates and see that the peo,le are
not unjustly taxed by the railway c,rpOra-
tions. Concerning this a member Of the
association said yesterday:
''Of course the railroads which NV have
their business established bringingimports
across the continent to San Franci,co from
the Atlantic seaboard would 0pJbse any
plan to make San francisco distributing
point for the region west of the Rockies.
The roads west of the Mississippi River
would. however, carry goods eastwad which
now travel over the same lines Westward.
In addition large amount of Ioca business
would be developed. Our case must rest, to
some extent, with the Interstate commerce
Commission in that field, with, of ourse. the
! right Of appeal from any decisin. ! may