The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-25
NOT VERY ANXIOUS
Merchants Indifferent to
Railroad Rates.
The Bonus for the Stockton Bakers
field Railroad to Be Raised in
This City First.

The proposed reduction of the westbound
rates of the Transcontinental Association,
which will go into effect to-day, will not
create such feeling of curiosity or anxiety
among the merchants as the railroads ex-
pect it will.
II is surprising with what Indifference the
question of this revised tariff is met by
shippers. One of the heaviest exporters Of
this city said yesterday: ~ do not care a
rap what the railroads do about rates as
long as l can secure reasonable transporta-
ton by water"
Ills words echo the sentiment Of half
dozen others in the same line of business.
II is generally understood that reduc-
ton Of about 80 per cent Will be made in
the westbound tariff all the way through.
The North American Navigation officers
are treating the matter very cOolly and do
not appear 20 be in the least bit afraid of
the outcome.
They state that they will consider the
matter carefully and we'll when the trans
continental reductions are made public, and
will be IN no hurry about decision.
The st. Paul has all she can carry under
the old contract rates, and as the Mexico
will not sail before the 10th of next mt nth
the new line people have plenty time TO
think.
In reference to the proposed line from
Stockton to bakersfield Traffic Manager
Leeds said yesterday:
"A system of local rates is needed, which
will permit local merchants TO compete
with Eastern shippers"
This policy has been agitated for months
past, but no one has ever seen fit to propose
an eXpedlent until the Stockton road was
limited at.
The executive committe of the Traffic
Association are not inclined 10 say much of
their progress in the matter of raising
fnnhC " nd n no
outlook is exceedingly encouraging.
One of their number said yesterday that
1t was the committees plans to get the sub
scriptioDs then do the talking. Talking
injured the Salt Lake project and would Go
the present enterprise no good
"Our plan is" said he, Ito raise San
Franchises share of the money first, then
60 to the people of Stockton and Bakersfield
and tell them what we have done and ask
them what they propose TO do"
No committee to visit the valley will be
selected until it is known what amount of
money can be raised here.
The road will parallel the Southern Pa
cifc
The Transcontinental Association has
openly insulted the business men of Cali
fornia by affirming that it is depending
upon the cOwardice of the business peoDle
of the State, their lack of energy and greed
at jumping at good thing.
The wool men do not appear to be very
ing advantage of the reduction in carload
rates to ship any great amount of wool
East.
The early spring clip is Que here shortly,
and no great amount of greed, in fact not
even interest is displayed by wool-dealers
in obtaining news of the promised scathing
reductions of the railroad
A leading wool-buyer said a few DAYS
ago: The wool market has been manipu-
lated for years past in the interest of the
railroad companies. and it is not 10 be sup
posed that wool men are going to forsake
the only friend that has given them n
chance to liYe-the competing line of
steamers.
ION account of railroad competition in
the north. Oregon wool-gTowers have been
steadily getting the better of us, and sheep
raising in California has fallen 40 per cent
in the past eight years.
81 for one will not ask the Southern Pa
cfc anything about their rates"
The railroads are expecting to create
great sensation by springing their rates on
breathiessly awaiting public. but they
will fiDd that their tariff news will fall as
fiat as did scme of Mr.. Huntington's letters
on the welfare of California.