The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-19
PUTTING ON THE SCREWS.
Drifting California Merchandise to Isia ri
NOflLelll Parts

Drifting California Merchandise to 4sia ria
Northern Ports.
When the Empress OF China sailed from
Vancouver last Saturday for Asiatic ports
she carried away 21JO tons of general cargo,
most all of which was sent up from San
Francisco
The Canadian Pacific Railway steamers
are picking up great quantities of freight
and passengers from the American lines
running into San Francisco" says the Vic
toria News # March y.
The News is right. Every Canadian Pa
clilc steamer that leaves or enters the port
OF Vancouver carries San Francisco freight
to the extent of about three fourths of her
entire cargo. The same is true with the
Oriental steamers arriving at and sailing
fIom Portland. SIN Francisco freight is
going 800 miles out of its way in order TO be
reshipped and transported in foreign steam
ers. Merchandise from San Francisco bound
Tor China and japan is first carried in ships
SEQ miles north to Vancouver, there TO be
taken to lis destination III vessels flying the
British flag.
Why?
Because it is cheaper to shipiu this round
about way than by the heavily subs diZed
American line of steamers. San Francisco
merchants are patrlotlc-On Fourth OF July
and all other parade days-but they conduct
business on business principles and fad 1t
much cheaper to ship or receive orien tai
freight Oy British steamers.
One unacquainted With the situation
would be inclined TO doubt this statement,
and the Man from Mars would be inclined
| 10 Tidicule commercial system that would
make II cheaper TO ship by an indirect than
| direct route. But the facts ana figures TO
| prove the assertion are abundant, a d there
are hundreds OF San francisco merchants
who know from bitter experience the truth
! fuinrss OF these strange things.
Few persons have a notion of the tru e
extent OF these things" said California
street merchant yesterday, who requested
| that his name be suppressed through fear
of still further petty prosecutions by the
| Paclnc Mail Steamship Company. Every
| day tons OF merchandise are leaving this
| port for Portland and Vancouver, there to
| be shipped to the Orient The discrimina-
| lions OF the Pacific Mail are so unreasonable
| extortonate that merchants are finding il
much cheaper TO pay for the privilege of
| patroniZng foreign steamship lines Yes
| pay Is the proper word. 1t amounts 10 that
at any rate. We are compelled TO send cur
! goods to the northern ports and there nave
| them reshipped TO their destination. Quite
an unhandy method, we find il, but con-
| sideraby cheaper in the end than 10 shin
them direct by the Pacific Mail steamers.
! At Vancouver we must break bulk that is.
! handle All the goods over again for reship-
ment. In this way we pay two freight bills,
where we might only have TO pay one.
1T Is simply preposterOuS to think of
! California freight going clear to British
! Columbia IN order to be taken out Of th e
! steamer first taking it from this port, and
| then to be shipped 20 China and japan.
| But that Is not likely to be the worst of il.
| Not content with this state of things | un-
| dersiand that the officials of the Pacific
! Mail line have been in Sc ret negotiations
/ with the northern steamship lines with a
! view OF king some sort OF arrangement
! with them whereby the latter viii refuse to
| take California freight at the regular rates
! accorded to home shipments. This is put
! ting the screws on indeed. have my
! doubts as TO their success in this direction,
because there IS SO mnch competition in
/ freight-carrying in tie north, but | am relia-
| bly, Informed that active efforts are being put
| forth IN this direction by the Pacific Mail
! people"
A superintendent of one OF the steamship
| transportation companies corroborated this
| statement. He was aware. he said, that the
| PacIfic Mail was trying 10 patch up a truce
| with the northern lines in order TO make
| California shippers come TO time. They
are closing up every possible oophoIe by
| which the San Francisco shippers may es-
| cape their extortiOnate rates." said he. 1T
| is ny private opinion, too, that they are
nearing the end OF their rope. There is an
| end even 10 patience and long suffering and
| what with the aid Of THE CALL aud the
! enthusiasm its brave stand in the matter
| has created l am convinced that the San
| Francisco merchants will soon be enabled
! to throw off this niquitous yoke. Stetsou
and Leeds are doing excellent work and
| will succeed in their aims or | am q false
prophet. | hope THE CALL will keep on
with its pGOd work -