The morning call., 1893-02-28
FAIR is AFTER 1T.
He May Buy the Donahue
Railroad.
OTHER NEWS OF THE RAIL
What Is Said About the Southern
Pacific's New Compel
itOr.

All matters pertaining to the Donahue es-
tate were continued for two weeks in the
Superior Court of Marin County yesterday
morning, when the question of how much
the attorneys fees shall be was to be settled.
1t is know that G. f. Hanlon, who was
the attorney for the executors up to quite
lately, places his claim for fees at $4,000,
in addition to $1,000 already paid him.
and this amount is considered so extraor-
binary that the payment of it will be holly
contested.
James G. Fair and A. E. Davis have not
given up hopes yet and they still expect to
be able to become the owners of the San
Francisco and North Pacific read, although
Messrs. Foster. Smith and Markham made
the highest bid and purchased the road for
$3.50,
1t is now said that negotiations are pend
ing which, If successful, will result In
transfer of the road to Messrs. Fair and
Davis at an advanced price.
To comply with that provision OF the
laws of California which eompes the Rail-
road Commission to hold at least one ses-
sion in each month Banker Beckman came
down from Sacramento Yesterday to meet
his friend and colleague, Tailor Lltchheid,
for few minutes amicabe converse.
They said How do you do?' TO each
other and mutually regretted the absence OF
Jim Rea, the chairman Of the board then
they asked Secretary Kelly to read the
minutes Of the last meeting.
No other business being on hand and the
Commissioners having earned their salaries
the meeting adjourned.
At meeting held by the executive COM
mittee Of the Traffic Association yesterday
1t was officially announced by President
Barry Baldwin that the contract between
the Panama Railroad Company and the
North American Navigation Company had
been signed and that copy of the docu-
ment was OH its way to this city.
This intelligence was received by MIR.
Baldwin by telegraph and was sent over the
wires by Traffic Manager Leeds. so that 1t
may be considered thoroughly reliable.
In view of this official communication the
executive committee deemed it proper to
take action at once and the following resolu-
ton was offered and adopted:
Resolved. That the organization OF the North
American Navigation Company and The terms Oh
its arrangement with the Panama Railroad Com
pany are satisfactory to this committee and that
we earnestly recommend the enterprise TO the
support and patronage OF all business men. we
also urge on all merchants, capitalists anG pIop-
erty-holders and Others interested In tile welfare
and prosperity or the State OF California aud
especially of the citizens OF San Francisco 10 be-
come subscribers to the stock OF the company.
All that is now necessary is a guarantee
fund of 100000. half of which has already
been secured. and beginning on March II
fortnightly service between this port and
New York via Panama will be established.
Under the contract as 1t stands now the
navigation company is permitted TO use
chartered steamers, and it will have the ex-
elusive right of through wayblls. which
latter provision will give it a great advan-
tage over the Pacific Mail Company.
Five European steamship lines will con-
meet with the new transportation COM
pany's steamers at Colon. which will give
San Francisco merchants for the first time
direct connection with foreign markets,
free and independent of onopoles.
There will be meeting of representatives,
of tran sentimental railroads at Santa Bar
bara this week ard. one of the princi-
pal questions which will be discussed on
that occasion, will be the fixing of rates so
as to meet the opposition which will be in
augurated by the North American Navi-
CATION Company.
All rail lines will have to make reductions
in order to be able to compete with the new
sea route.
The Traffic Associations executive COM
mittee discussed the main questions at Issue
quite freely, and the members of the COM
mttee expressed themselves as fully salts
FED that the money needed to start the
new company will be easily obtanable
now. since the contract has been finally
arranged.
Among the merchants there Is consider
able rejoicing over the news that Leeds
mission to New York has been successful,
and great many Of the largest shippers at
once agreed to patroniZe the new line to O
large extent when they heard that an
agreement with the Panama Railroad had
been made
President Baldwin OF the Traffic Associa-
ton was highly pleased when he was seen
yesterday because the negotiations be-
tween Leeds and johnson and the Panama
Railroad Company have at last resulted in
an agreement
Mr. Baldwin hoped that it will take but
very short time to secure the necessary
subscribers to the stock of the North
American Navigation Company, because
the amount still needed to start the enter
prise is not large one and the business
men cannot fail to recognize the great i'm
portance Of this new enterprise in the CON-
mercal world.
w. II. Mills speech made at the banquet
OF the Chamber of Commerce of Los An
geles has given the San Francisco mer-
chants occasion for many quiet laughs. 1t
was so utterly according to Southern Pacific
Company tactics for Mr.. Mills to tell the
good people of Los Angeles what be for
years has been telling to the good people of
this city. and his address on the Commerce
OF the Pacific" mentioned in the dispatches
as the feature OF the evening. was nothing
but a steTeotyped chestnut
Fifty-seven thousand FIVE hundred and
eleven letters are written in London every
49, ,t~s, . IL H. -