The morning call., 1892-08-30
Fighting JIM Hill.
What He Will Do When the
War Begins.
STEAMERS TO THIS PORT.
The Great Ecrthern Will Prove q Blessing
TO California II the Plan Should Be
Carried Out.
STEAMERS TO THIS PORT.


is no longer connected with the Transconti-
mental Association ?" is the question which
agitates many people just now.
The plan he Will most likely follow was
outlined by several railroad men yesterday.
In about six months time the Great North
ern viii run To the Puget Sound from Du-
luth. whence connection is made by steamer
10 Buffalo.
these steamers run now semi-weekly only,
but it is said that when ELL commences to
fight he will put on daily steamers.
Another line of daily steamers is to be run
from the Puget Sound outlet to this city.
which would give the Great Northern a
transcontinentaI line.
1t is true that the line will be a long and
therefore slow one. but it will be able to
carry vast amount of freight the delivery
of which does not depend upon quick time.
1t may also be said that passengers will
not care to travel in this slow and round
abou manner, but 1t must be remembered
that heapness is in a great many cases of
as much importance 10 the intending
traveller or shipper as rapidity, and that
a material reduction of fares and rates is a
more popular movement than an increase Of
speed.
If the Great Northern. after completing
its through line, carries freight and pas
seDgers for one-half the price from the
West to the East the public is now COM
PEELED TO pay. as Hill has threatened to do,
II will have plenty of patronage.
All roads lead TO Rome at last.
San FrancscO's days OF slavery to the
Southern Pacific Railroad are nearly over.
AT least such seems to be the opinion of the
CALL reporter talked yesterday. First
there Is the proposed independent line 10
Ogden.
Then The great war of the clipper ships
over ocean rates, which breaks the power Of
the Southern Pacific.
Then there Is the Great Northern's break
ing away from the Transcontinental Associ-
alton and the probability OF a new connec-
tion east and north Of San Francisco.
The Great Northern is Jim Hill and Jim
Hill is the Great Northern.
Jim is tie Alpha and the Omega. the first
and The last Of the Great Northern Railroad.
Jim Hill, the indefatigable, the impen-
etTable. the sagaci0us, the only practical
railroad man who ever built a road across
the continent on business principles and for
purely business purpose.
Hill has jumped the great trauscontnental
pool and given Spokane her reduced rates
East
He is building now from Spokane to
Seattle
lie has three elements of strength which
transcOntinental business - low grades,
business enterprise and liberality and eco
nOmlcal management.
The Great Northern is unique The man
who built the road owns II and manages
every department Of both its construction
and its operation himself.
Can SAP Francisco form a connection
with this enterprising record-breaker?
Would it be feasible. profitable and per-
manent?
These are some of the questions over
which bright Den are specializing
80 far as / am concerned" said Captain
William l.. Merry TO CALL reporter yes
teTday, IL am in favor of Offering every
possible encouragement to Mr. Hill TO form
a connection with San Francisco. We need
q competing line Of steamers to Puget Sound
ports anyhow.
"Ii Mr.. HilPs road is built, and IL be can
really afford to bring merchandise to and
from the Pacific side cheaper. than any ex-
istlng road. do not see why San Francisco
should not obtain the benefit of il. OF
course The matter Of transhipment would
be draw back TO certain classes of freight
but still San francisco could give Mr.. Hill
an enormous amount OF business IL his road
can do what he says IL can.
You know, Of course, that / regard the
Nicaragua canal as the ultimate solution of
the problem, and It is TO effect that solution
that am personally bending all my ener-
gies. But in the meantime / think the
merchants of this city should use every pos
sible means to break the existing monopoly
of transportation.
with an independent line OF steamers we
could ship via Seattle all goods that will
stand transhipment
Il am pleased with Mr.. HilPs action, and
my own view is that IL will lead 10 an early
withdrawal OF the Canadian Pacific from the
TTanscontinental Association. l think the
Traffic Association should take action in
the matter"
II am thoroughly In favor Of every posi-
bic encouragement to a competing line to
San Francisco" said President Newman
OF the Merchants Exchange and Produce
Exchange, but must confess that would
not expect much from au arrangement re-
curing transhipment by steamer. The
practical difficulties In the way are too
numerous and too great. L AIN much pleased
with what ! have heard of Mr. HIPS road.
and / wish he could be induced to form a
rail connection with San Francisco Our
merchants and citizens generally could do
much, and every county through which such
a road would pass could do much To make
the enterprise profitable one to all parties
concerned.
Il have more faith in the Nicaragua
canal Than IN any railroad; but | think a
competing rail line would be of such great
value to us that we ought to be able 20
raise handsome bonus for it, have not.
however. given sufficiently close attention
" the SUBJECT 10 speak OF what could or
could not be done in this case"
Our trade would be greatly benefited
by connection such as Mr.. Hill would be
able to give" said a. w. Porter of Porter
brothers q Co.. who are among our largest
shippers Of dried fruits and vegetables.
"Transhipment Is, of course. a disadvan-
tage. But on through shipments we copld
give the Great Northern lots of business.
In shipping vegetables, however, we have
to use an all-rail line, on account Of the lack
OF ventilation In the hold of steamer.
The present rates from here North are
often more than the first cost of the pro-
duet For instance, a carload of cabbapps
costing 80 cents the 100 pounds here carries
80 cents per 100 freight and the same with
a carload OF potatoes worth 20 cents the
100 here.
''1he rail line is what we want. but In
the meantime an Independent steamer con-
nectlon with the Great Northern would be
OF great value. and | think We ought to
move for II. Our business with the north
ern interior might be greatly increased il
freights from Seattle west are to be reduced
on the same scale as understand the Great
Northern Is putting into operation from
Spokane east"
The question is an interesting one" said
A. q. Freeman, manager Of the j. Il. Arms
by company, one OF our heaviest shippers
OF canned goods, "bnt ii is wholly a com
petitive question. Freight will always 60
in favor OF an all-rail connection. Look at
the Canadian Pacific, for instance. That
road gives differential OF tx per
cent, yet 1t does not get the business on
account OF the disadvantages of trans.
shipment.
Really California through shippers have
very little TO say about choice of lines.
Almost all Of our goods are routed in the
East when ordered by mail. Anything like
sharp reduction on the part Of the Great
Northern would get the business, how
ever"
have been East of late and have not
followed the matter closely" said James b.
Stetson OF HolbrOok, Merrill 81 Stetson. IL
favor any movement that will give us a
competing line here, but 1t seems TO me il
must De an ail-rail line TO be thoroughly
effective. My chief hope lies i'm the 'nro,
posed independent line from San Eranciscn