The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-29
MANUFACTURERS AND THE RAIL
ROAD.

On Thursday THE CALL published a
statement from the secretary of the Manu-
facturers' Association of California, in
which complaint was made that discrimna-
ton In rates against California manu-
features. as compared with rates on
Eastern-made goods, was an injury 10 the
manufacturing industries of San Francisco.
After reciting how at one period discrimin-
atng rates helped San Francisco manu-
facturrrs to distribute their products
throughout the interior. the secretary ia
the name of the association said:
But the Transcontinental Association changed
an this. You can now ship goods from Chicago
or New York TO any interior polat at about tie
same "a e that you can ship the goods from San
Francisco 10 that Interior point. What a re-
yerss OF conditions! This at once operated
against the San Francisco manufacturer.
The lively Imagination of the Sacramento
Record Union seized upon this statement
ard construed it 10 mean that the Traffic
Association proposes TO drive the overland
railroads out of existence in the interest OF
San Francisco. We beg our imaginative
contemporary TO calm itself. The Traffic
Association means nothing of the kind.
The association proposes TO regulate. but
not to annihlate, overland railroad COM
panieS. IL ii cannot regulate it will en-
deavor to overcome the effects Of their hos
tility by competition.
The manufacturers say that goods are
brought from New York and Chicago and
distributed at all interior points IN Cali
foruia az about the same rates The goods
manufactured in San Francisco can be sent
to the same interior POINTS. Is not this n
discrimination that may justly be COM
blamed Of? Eastern goods are transported
from 2c00 to 5000 miles at the same rates as
San Francisco goods are transported from
200 to 800 miles. Is this giving our home in
dustries a faiy chance? Does not such I'M
jest discrimination warrant the regulation
of rsilroad charges?
The fact is that since the Southern Pa
cifc Company went into the TranScOnt-
mental Association 1t has been run in the
interests of Eastern manufacturers. Pos
sibly the company could not help itself but
the result remains. Every city but San
Francisco has the benefit of The cost OF
transportation from greater distances. But
the conspiracy of which the Southern Pa
clfic and Pacific Mail were part deprived
our people of this common benefit This
conspiracy made the San Francisco manu-
facturer pay as much to reach his interior
customers as the manufacturers in cities
5000 miles away had to pay. Aud the Sac
ramento Record Union defends this con-
spiracy!
The Traffic Association is trying now TO
get reasonable rates from San Francisco
to the Interior, and if San Francisco can
not get such rates from the Southern
Pacific Company it will get them in some
other way. The interior will share in the
benefits of reduced rates from this city. 1t
will get goods cheaper than now, but from
San Francisco instead Of from Chicago or
New York. The ocean route will bring
either raw material or manufactured goods
10 San Francisco cheaper than railroad
can, and the people of tbs city will see
that unreasonable charges from this city TO
The interior do not take from our interior
customers all the advantages of such cheap
transportation.