The morning call., 1892-07-02
A CLIPPER War.
A Dig Reduction i'm Freight Rates
Announced.
The Southern Pacific Will EkteIminate Its
Rivals if It Can-The Traffic As:ocia-
ton Jubilant

To-day the firm of j. ". Grace & Co. of
New York send out the first vessel of the
new opposition line of clippers between the
Empire City and the Golden Gate. She is
the Thomas L. Hooper. and will bring 5000
tons OF freight for those San Francisco mer-
chants who have resolved to rid themselves
of the eXactions of the railroad monopoly.
A month later the crack American iron
ship /. +. Oakes will follow the Hooper
with an equally large cargo. and in turn
will be followed at regular monthly inter-
walls by other vessels until a regular line is
established between the two ports.
Regarding the new line Mr.. Hughey, of
j. w. Grace & Co., stated to a reporter yes
terday that it was established in response to
the request Of the Traffic Association, and
with the assurance of large number of
shippers that it should meet with their cor
dial and generous support.
a SATISFIED MANAGER.
''Su far" said Mr.. Hughey, ''our expecta-
tions have been fully realized. The Hooper
was fully engaged almost as soon as her
sailing was announced, In fact, more freight
was offered than she could carry. aud a
large quantity was left for the Oakes, which
sails next month. We are also Informed
that the freight capacity of the OakeS has
been nearly all spoken for, and she Will be-
Mr.. Hughey further said that the cargo
of the Hooper embraced almost every class
CT merchandise, such as iron, groceries,
canned goods, dry goods and many other
lines of goods which the clipper lines have
hitherto refused to handle through fear of
hurting the susceptibilities Of the Southern
Pacific Company.
NOT TO BE FRIGHTENED.
"Our line will not be deferred from ship
ping any class oil goods on that account"
said Mr. Hughey. I'VE will take all goods
that may be offered by The merchants SO
long as they encourage cur traffic 10y their
support"
The bark Annie Johnson. now on the
way TO New lOrk from Hamburg, which
Will be the pioneer of the line managed by
BalIOur, Guthrie " Co, is expected to reach
that port in a few days Her tonnage is
nearly all engaged, and it is said other YES
sells are already chartered to follow at reg
ular intervals. This firm has also been in-
duced to start competing line in response
10 tie appeal of the Traffic Association aad
on the assurance Of support from the mer-
chants.
STEAMERS IN THE RACE.
The Atlantic and Pacific Steamship line
has now the COnemaugh and PTogTesSo en-
gagged and another steamer of the same ca
pacity chartered to sail from New York every
SIX weeks, beginning with the CUnemaugh.
which IS advertised TO sail on the 18th of
July. The steamers all have freight ca
pacity of about $500 tons each.
1hus the engagement up TO and incluG-
ing August include the H00per Of 5000
tons. Oakes Of 5000 tons, bark Annie john
son Of 1900 tons and The Conemaugh of $500
tons, or a total of II, 800 as the tonnage of
the first month OF the competing lines. The
railroad lines have in addition three more
now loading. aggregatiDg fully 1900 tons Of
additional freight.
WAR DECLARED.
In consequence of this bold invasion of
the monOpoly's field the railroad company
Immediately declared war on the rival clip
pers by ordering a reduction of rates at New
York of from 80 to So x per cent, with the
promise OF still further reductions If the
cut does not bring the n-w lines 10 their
senses by forcing them out of the business.
Sutton, Beebe & Co. admitted the fact Of
the reduction yesterday, but claimed il was
nothing more than the usual summer cut
because of the diminished demand for ton
mage, and that it had nothing 10 do with the
opposition clippers. The agents for the
new lines profess to be awaiting develop
ments, while the Traffic Association and
the merchants Interested in its success are
enthusiastic over tie hard rap they have
given the monopoly and the success attend
Ing their first efforts.