The morning call., 1893-04-27
NO ACTION YET.
The Southern Pacific Is
All Alone.
Some Significant Figures Concerning
the Importations of Coffee, Tea
and Rice This Year.

The Traffic Association is still silent up
on the question of rates.
The Southern Pacific finds itself alone in
the present fight, as general discomfort is
manifest on every side.
The Union Pacific is grumbing about
bills of fading, and has instructed its local
agents to protest them OH sight, and it is O
grave question with Mr.. Huntington how
long tie disbarred transcontlnental lines
will be kept out Of New York. In regard
to the advance Of local rates Mr.. Bal dwin
said yesterday morning that the railroads
action was only feeler.
I'VE have done nothing as yet regarding
the matter" he added, las the exact situa-
ton is not known yet"
Pertaining to the probable attitude of the
Canadian Pacific in the freight war the COM
pany's agent, Mr.. Stern, said that his line
would take no action yet awhile. 1--WE are
awaiting the action Of your merchants, he
said. ut is not possible TO say Just what
the Canadian will do, but they are cousd-
ering the matter now.
"As to this freight war and the unsteady
condition Of tariffs l think il is creating a
very dull and unstable market
Shippers feel insecure, but naturally
they may; for example: A merchant sets
price for produce, which may be affected
few days later by change of schedule.
THE merchants are waiting for the North
American Navigation Company and the
Traffic Association TO act. Tine steamship
company can make rates from one sailing 10
another. but that causes very unsteady
market"
There was considerable activity yesterday
afternoon in the Southern Pacific freight
yards a; Fourth and Channel streets. The
ST. Paul is thought TO have all she can
carry, so shippers are taking advantage of
the railroad situation 20 secure cars to load
with woel wine and other commodities.
The stuff IS here to be shipped, and as the
steamer line appears to have all it can well
handle naturally merchandise is moving
by rail.
Enthusiasm was apparent at Fourth and
Townsend streets over what was miscOn-
strued into and believed to be the insn-
ceritv of San Francisco shippers.
I'VE are shipping because we have the
goods to ship and have more than the OppO-
stion company can handle" said one dealer.
'All the freight in San Francisco cannot
be expected to be piled into one steamer"
No better idea Of the benefits Of competi-
tion could be CLEANED than from the follow
ing statistics and statement OF facts:
Coffee shipments. which are imported
over a route which has been for years
traversed almost exclusively by a monopoly
line and only lately secured the benefits of
competition, have been decreasing for the
past ten years. In 1888 nearly 90 per cent
more coffee was imported al San Francisco
than now. During the month of March
last 3S12 81 pounds were brought to this
port. For the quarter ending with March
the coffee imports were 6S70,5iS pounds, or
a decrease of 2. 295, So over the same season
of 1892, or nearly SO per cent in the short
space of one year.
The crop has been steadily going TO Eu-
rope on account of the Pacific Mails greedy
policy.
On the other hand, the importations OF
rice and tea, which reach US over three or
four competitive lines OF steamers, make
the following good showing:
Rice imported in March. 1893, 4.G79, 961
pounds; for tile quarter ending with March,
II. 800. 269 pounds-an increase of $3.50, 215
pounds. OF nearly 30 per cent over the fig
ures for 1892.
Tea imported during March. 1888, 40, 429
pounds for the quarter ending with March,
5S2970 pounds-an Increase OF 206,6 54 over
1892. or nearly 40 per cent.
These figures speak for themselves The
Central American coffee crop has been
increasing every year, but lack of COMPETE
ton has gradually driven the trade from
us, until now it is only the shadow Of its
former self
The steamer ST. Paul will stop at six
Central American ports on her down trip.
as follows: Champerico. San Jose de Guate-
mala, Ocos. Acaiutla, La Libertad and
Amapala.
The vessel is taking on an unusually largo
cargo OF lumber. SO lar the principal ship
ments have been corn, -four, beer coal oil,
wine. brandy, boraX and cam ed goods.
The North American Navigation Com
pauy's officers will not talk on the rate war
question.
The position of the Sunset route and the
rates it has been Offering have attracted
much attention. The fact is the low rates
of this line apply mostly to imported goods
via New orleans, and have been of long
standing It's rates are still high on domes-
tic goods from the East
Mr.. Baldwin said yesterday that several
appointments had been made for the COM
mttee to visit the San Joaquin Valley in
behalf of the Stockton Ba kers field line, hut
no names would be made public for few
davS as vet