The record-union., 1892-12-07

accomplished for the benefit OF san Fran
clsco's mercantile interests. With this OBJECT
in view they have circulated amongst the
members petition to be presented TO the
Executive Committee. The said petition mas
been signed by over ) per cent. OF the mem-
bers OF the Traffic Association Yours truly,
MERCHANTS' COMMITTEE,
BY l.. II. Sage, Secretary,
1923 Front street. +. y. box 2222.
In reference to recent decisions Of the Inter
state Commerce Law, which ali tend to the
making of san Francisco a distributing point
for merchandise OF all kinds, we, as members
Of the Traffic Association, have been assured
OF the support Of over So per cent. of the
members of the Traffic Association in our en-
deayOr TO bring about an improvement in the
commercial position OF this city by having
the original objects OF the Traffic Association
carried out by It's Executive committee ana
Manager.
The Traffic Association was organized by
business men i0r business purposes and to
carry out certain business propositions by
business methods, for the improvement of the
mercantile conditions of the city and State,
which cannot be separated, as they are recip-
rocal and depend on each other. If san Fran
C1,cO, by being made Il distributing point, as
She is entitled to, improves her commerce
and trade, the interior receives the benefit of
the progress and Improvement OF the metrop-
oils.
Ifarticles are utilized by the interior papers
10 snow that an antagonism exists between
san Francisco and the inferior, it cannot be
helped. If such antagOnism exists at all, IL is
only on account Of the narrow-mindedness OF
some Of the interior people and newspapers.
who persist in casting slurs at San Francisco,
her merchants and her business interests. and
who will not recognize that san Francisco. as
the leading seaport OF the coast IS natural
distributing point and should be so treated in
the establishment OF freight rates.
The Traffic Association was formed after the
plan of the Eastern merchants freight asso-
Citations, who succeeded in bringing about a
better understanding between the merchants
and transportation companies. In organizing
the Traffic Association, certain plans and
propositions were outlined in the address
adopted by the Executive Committee and in
the address made at the Chamber of Commerce
mass meeting by the Chairman. J. b. StetsOn.
There was no intention on the part OF the mer
chants TO antagOnize the transportation COM
panles, but by the force and power of Il united
mercantile community TO better and improve
the facilities OF doing the business of that
community. The merchants OF San Fran
cisco, who comprise 81 per cent. Of the mem
bership of the Traffic Association. did not as
sociate themselves for the purpose OF abusing
or injuring the carriers, but for the sole pur-
pose OF organizing business men, with bust
ness methods, to endeaVOr to improve the
Conditions of business in this city.
san Francisco is so situated geographically
that three things are necessary in the trans
pOrtation line for the Improvement of her
trade, VIZ: Competing lines of railways, the
Nicaragua Canal and the making OF San Fran
cisco distributing point for her merchants.
Without the latter, while clipper ship compe-
'A--AA7
il can cannot be entirely a success.
Additional legislation may be necessary. but
past experience in this direction, both in this
and other states, has been so dlscOuraging to
the merchants at commercial centerS like San
Francisco as to move them to seek other more
direct and surer methods 10 promote their in
terests. out OF this came the organization of
associations similar to the Traffic Association,
whereby the merchants undertook by such
powerful commercial influences as they
unttedly command to work upon the self
interest of the carriers in the promotion of the
mercantile interests. The object of the Traffic
Association was to get for san Francisco what
could not be hoped for through legislation
and the diversion of the efforts and Influences
OF the association to matters or methods
purely political was in large measure a de-
feat OF ITS original object. OtcOurse, during
the heat of political campaign the original
objects of the association We're possibly lost
sight OF and affairs drltted into politics, but
it Is now time TO cry halt and to return to
the original objects OF the association when
formed.
Rainbow chasing is vain endeavor to
accomplish something that is many years of,
and that VIII not improve the conditions ol
business in this city, does not meet the views
of the merchants who comprise the majority
of the membership Of the association. AL
though the Traffc Association has been in eX-
istence over year, nothing practical has
been accomplished, except the establishing OF
4 line OF clipper ships. which in reality would
have been done outside the association and
which should have been established by the
merchants Of this city years ago, as it is a
plain business proposition.
Chicago, Omaha, st. Louis st. Paul Kansas
City and salt Lake City have, through freight
associations of merchants, so operated that
the TRANSFORMATION companies have been com.
PEELED to recognize the rights of their respect
i've cities as large distributing points but thev
have only succeeded by exclusively LOOKING
after the interests of their respective cities
a scattering OF interests never succeeds in
anything. but concentrated united efforts
eventually must succeed
The merchants who Joined the Traffic AssO-
pinfiDu iOippl for the imHrOyAD1apr of Ea{,
business and not to abuse, antagoufze OF
cOerce the carriers. They hoped by peacea b
means ana III a business way to accomplish
something, and when "all negotiations
faied,' as stated in the opening address
they would then make their full power felt y
No negotiations were ever undertaken bv the
Traffic Association, statements to the con
trary Notwithstanding, as can be demon.
strated by reference to the minutes of the
Executive COMMITTEES.
Buncombe ana sentiment may all be we'll
enough in their way, but they are not busi-
ness, and business men cannot afford TO lend
themselves to anything of the kind. San
Francisco has lost the trade of the Northwest
owing TO the construction of the northern
lines. II has lost the trade of the southern
part OF the State by the construction of the
southern lines OF roads, but there is still a
large field and territory north, south and east
that practically and geographically should
belong TO the merchants ana manufacturers
OF this city, and that this city should be placed
in a position TO control. so far as transpOrta-
lion rates are concerned.
AS mercnantS ana business men we must
recognize the good that the TRANSFORMATION
companies have done for the interior nv es-
taplishing terminal rates for the shipments OF
our products out of the state, but as they
have built up the interior many of the adVan-
tages to san Francisco have disappeared. In
former days transportation companies rpcop-
nized the rights of san Francisco 10 distri6-
utiNe rates, which Disseminated in her favor
This was al the time that many Goods came
here by water. Now that this era has re-
turned, owing to the clipper-ship cornnsti-
ton, a united effort can unqilastionab bI,-
bring this about again, but it can only be aT-
COmplished by negotiation. In orier 10 no
compliSh this polite Al matters in the asSoci,s-
tion should be relegated TO the baclx-gro,{n5 =
and work begun on business pri6cirlae
Much should be accomplished bv limited an Il
peac1ab effort with Transport a ion comma
MES as their interests naturally should he
bound up in the prosperity of our city ana
state Tor on our prosperity depends in a
great measure theirs. but by following mn the
present plan of action we can only tie M Inc
Question for many years, beside doing inin1V5
TO our own merchants, 10 their trade and 10
our city.
AS an association for the benefit of San
FranciscO's business Interests much will bs
Rccompii, he'd in business way, otherwise
matters viii 20 ON much as at present and
nothing substantial will be done to improve
The mercantile conditions of this CITY By
order MERCHANTS COMMITTEE
By L. H. Sage, Secretary.
San Francisco, December 80.