The morning call., 1893-03-08
THE OPPosITIoN'S SUCCESS.

If there are any doubling Thomases who
are skepticsl enough to take the success of
the North American Navigation Company's
competing steamship line TO be still prob
Iematical, they ought TO pay visit to the
Pacific Mail agency or to the Southern
Pacific CompAny'S headquarters.
The doleful faces of Center. Stubs.
Smurr and Sproule Indicate, as plainly as
a barometer does the weather, that there is
a powerful rival in the field
The very mention of the new company
and its promoters is enough 10 act as
veritable irebFand, aud there can be no
surer sign of its being big factor in trans
portatlon than the fact that its existence is
considered with disfavor by Mr.. Hunting
toms men.
Rates are being cut and slashed by the
new steamer line to such an unprecedented
extent as to alarm the Kentucky corpora
tion's officers seriously, and they are be-
ginning to lose sleep over this dreadful
state Of affairs.
To have other people dictate how much it
shall cost to carry freight from New ork
to San Francisco, after having had II all
their own way for so many years, is bitter
pill for these officials to swallow.
But they will have plenty of chance to get
used to it, aud after q while, when cheap
rates are no longer q novelty, the Southern
much Of its business because 1t practIced
ext0rtion long enough to make the mer-
chants tired Of submitting to it.
The Traffic Associations executive COM
mittee formally approved the contract be-
tween the Navigation Company and the
Panama Railroad yesterday.
The document was found to be entirely
satisfactory as far as its provisions are con-
ceTned, but slight alteration in the word
ing of one of the clauses il contains was
nod phUigl hln a "a = n he that m
further misunderstanding can arise.
Subscription lists Will at once be circu-
lated among business men and capitalists,
and there is every reason TO believe that
they will be rapidly filed.
As soon as the necessary capital is sub
scTibed the heaviest signers will be made
members of the directorate of the company,
so that they may at all times have voice
in the management Of affairs.
President Merry and the johnson Locke
Mercantile Company, which latter has the
local agency OF the Navigation Company,
are deep in negotiations with various par
ties for the purpose Of securing vessels on
this coast, while the company's New York
Office is engaging steamers there for the
Atlantic part OF the service.
No Information about these steamers can
be made public until they have been char
tered, but Captain Merry. who knows all
about It, says that there will soon be big
feet making regular semi-mOnthly trips.
The ST. Paul will sail tomorrow with
full cargo. She will carry no passengers.
the amount of freight offered being So great
that every available space on the vessel has
been utilized for its storage.
Although this arrangement has been made
the steamer Will not be able to carry all the
freight which Is awaiting transportation by
the new line and some of it will have 10
wait until the next steamer sails.
As matter of contrast the Pacific Mall
steamer COlima. which sailed on Monday
for Panama. left nearly empty, and her
cargo was so light that without ballast she
will find 1t difficult TO travel in heavy
weather.
To compare the immense patronage the
new company enjoys with the manner in
which the shippers ignore the Pacific Mail
Company is an object lesson and a clear
case Of retrlbution and retaliation is shown
thereby
Grace & Co.'s clipper ships are also
doing q very large business. and every one
of these vessels carries a full cargo OF mis-
eellaneous merchandise around Cape Horn.
Two Of them the Emily Reed and the
I. +. Cakes, are now unloading at the Fol-
som and Green street docks.
The William II. Smith and Commodore
Allen are loading in New York for this
port, and the w. II. Starbuck is on her way
here from Philadelphia.
The Charles E. Moody left San Francisco
for New ork some time ago, and besides
these there are the Ben jamin T. Packard,
the Henry b. Hyde, the General Knox and
the ConquerOr ali IF which are in the serY-
ice If Grace 81 Co.'S clipper line.
The Traffic Associations executive CON-
mittee yesterday adopted the following resC-
luton IN reference to the railroad reassess-
ment bill, now before the Legislature:
The Traffic Association OF California Is op-
posed TO any compromise bill by which the rail-
road cOmDanIes shall be allowed 10 escape pay
ment OF any part OF Tie taxes Que by tb IN TO the
STATE of California. In our opinion TO assent 10
any compromise measure would be Inconsistent
with the honor and dignity OF tile Stale Of Cali.
t0Tnla and remuneration OF its sovereign rights.
BARRY BALDWIN,
President Trafhc Association Of California.
a meeting Of the general passenger agents
of the traDscontinenta lines was held yes
terday al Fourth and Townsend streets, the
purpose of which was TO discuss the Ques-
ton OF commissions 10 sub-agents.
The matter was talked over in a general
way, but it was decided to take no action
until the meeting of representatives of the
transcon tinental lines. which is to be held
in Chicago tomorrow, has adjourned, il be-
Ing thought likely that this meeting W i'll take
up the matter OF commissions and arrange it.