The morning call., 1892-12-30
A SEVERE BLOW
Aimed at the Railroad
MOnOpOlies.
Wine Men to Put on Line of Clipper
Ships-They Are Tired of Rail-
road Extortion.

The wine merchants Of this city have at
last grown so tired of Southern Pacific ex-
tortion that they have made definite ar
rangsments to strike what at least has all
the appearance of being an effective blow at
the mereiless corporation.
The initiative in the proposed venture has
been taken by one of the largest wine
dealing houses in the State. which Is suff
cient guarantee that it will be carried ont.
The project is nothing more nor less than
the charter ring or purchasing of at leasttwo
clipper ships to ply between this city and
New York in the interests of the California
wine trade.
Negotiations have been pending for the
past three weeks. and speedy termination
Is looked forward to with satisfaction by
the winemen.
A gentleman prominent in the wine busi-
ness and well qualified TO speak on the sub
ject was seen by a CALL reporter yester-
day, and when asked about the story
regarding the ships said:
Yes, there are such negotiations under
way at present, and L think there is little
doubt OF their reaching a successful issue.
and that quite soon-perhaps within the
next few weeks"
"What will be the difference between the
cost of shipping wine by rail and sending it
by water?"
THAT is q hard question to answer defin-
itely, and L am not prepared to say what
the difference will be, all things considered,
but al rough guess / should think it would
be about bali the present rate charged by
the railroad company.
III the ships are not bought outright they
will be chartered for long period, aud in
either event the blow will be a severe one
Tor the railroads, because IL involves the
entire wine traffic of the State.
why, you can judge what il amounts TO
when tell you that the house chiefly con-
cerned in this enterprise keeps constantly
in stock about 10, 000 eco gallons of wine
captain Spencer of the steamer Cone
maugh, which recently took from here a
cargo OF wine for New York and which is
now cOaling at COranel, Chile, is the senior
captain in the employ of the Pennsylvania
Railroad COmpany's steamship business.
and was sent here with a special view to
gathering data regarding this trade. and
took with him large budget of informa-
tiOn on the subject
81 know Captain Spencer very well, and
know that his report will strongly favor the
putting on of line of steamers.
"One thing that has disheartened the
merchants of this city is that they have thus
far been unable to get first-elass ships TO
engage In the trade.
THE ships now being negotiated for.
however, are hrst class in every respect and
fast"
docs 1t make any difference in the wine
whether 1t is shipped by rail or water?''
Indeed it does make q vast difference.
Wine is always the better for a sea vow
age, and, aside from thai, the changes in
climate TO which it would be subjected on
such a trip as is now proposed would be
very beneficial.
You can take my word for it that the
business now under way, whether IL is ever
termin ated successfully or not, will make a
great difference in tho freight on wines
10 the East before another season comes
aronnd -