The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-08-13
NOT A SUCCESS.
The New Creek Route Is a
Flat Failure.
The Southern PacifiC's New Ferry
Passenger Service Will Soon
Die a Natural Death.

The Inauguration of the Southern Pacific
ferry scheme yesterday morning to destroy
the Davies and the Whitney lines was not
a success from financial standpoint.
The creek steamer Alameda did make
the trips as advertised. which means moth
ing more nor less than that she run on the
same schedule time that has guided her
actions fer years past.
Size carried so few passengers that they
were hidden from view by the trucks and
freight packages.
The scent fare did not seem to be much
of an inducement. though a great many
people were expected to patronlze the new
line for the sole purpose of beng able TO
brag. in after years, that they had ridden
on Southern Pacific boat for cents.
Naturally. that would be a big induce
ment, and had it not been for the odium
of the thing, doubtless many persons would
have been willing to stand the inconve-
nence Of the trip on the dirty Alameda
just for the novel experience which it
afforded.
But the STUBBORN fact is that no real or
fancied inducement did not suffice to get
corporaPs guard If passengers aboard the
Southern Pacific's creek freghtbOat yes
terday. Not even the big signboard an
nouncing the wonderful" reduction in
fares that now dlsfgures the thorough
fare in front of the Aameda's dock a. the
foot of Market street had the desired eff
feet, and long before noon the officials
knew that their little opposition game in
that particular field was dead failure.
Meanwhile the Davie aud the Whitney
line steamers did q humming business.
Meanwhile, also, the crowd stood about the
docks on both sides of the bay and booted
the Alameda. The hOoting was inter-
rupted whenever the Rosalie made her ap
pearance. packed from stem to stern with
passengers, long enough to give the Davie
boat a r0using cheer. A man who went
aboard the Alameda yesterday morning
took his self-esteem in his hands and more
than likely cast it to the winds before the
voyage was half over.
The Alameda's first trip yesterday was
to San Francisco from the foot Of Broad
way, in Oakland, al 6:15 o'clock. The
stranger might have thought that good
many passengers went aboard the steamer
for that early hour, for there were half a
hundred men and boys on the steamers
decks when she started out, and one could
see that they were not connected with the
sailing of the beat or handling the freight
she carried.
But they were not cash passengers. as
any OF the freight men standing about the
docks could have told you. They were
the early commission men who regularly
make the trip to bring over on the return
voyage their green fruits and produce.
They are deadheads.
1t was O'Clock in the morning when the
Alameda reached San Francisco. One
woman, with babe In her arms. wan
dered on board by mistake. Teen hndlng
that the boat would take her near her
estimation, she remained. Ihere was
one male passenger, and 1T was not GER
tain hut what be was an emplOye of the
company. However, he paid his fare and
said nothing to nobody"
These two passengers and the regular
commission men deadheads made I'D the
passen ger-list of the Alameda on her first
trip from San Francisco. She left Market
street at 7:15 O'Clock and got safely across
in three-quarters Of an hour
Al the foot of Broadway big crowd
had collected by this time. They were OF
messengers for the new service, only
Iookers-op and sympathizers against the
Southern Pacific.
They ranged themselves on each side OF
the long gangplank and hooted heartily as
tba Alameda steamed into the Slip. Press
ING Thus about the gangplank they made a
gauntlet of scorn and indignation through
which the passengers-or the expected
Messengers would have to pass before
thew reached obscurity in the busy streets
of Oakland.
Rut there were no passengers there to
run the gauntlef, only that one poor
woman with the child in her arms and the
solitary male passenger.
The crowd was rather disappointed al
first. that there were no passengers upon
whom to heap its odium, and it remained
until nearly noon. waiting in vain Tor some
chance passengers.
few policemen mingled with the
crowd. but their services were not needed.
twas orderly and throughout not unreason
.hlv communicative. Beyond the little
heating thu words were in low tones, and
.corn Of the Southern Pacific's new move
WAS shown rather by elevated lips than by
loud voices.
Over on the west side OF Broadway,
naar the ferry slip, was the tlcket-ohce OF
tho Southern Pacific. Yellow placards an
nouncing scent fare hung over the little
cash- window and at each side OF 1t. A
orav.bearded man sat in the tlcket-oflice or
,onnoed about in front. His duties we're
verv Iiqht. The number of nickels which
ha took in all day would not begin to pay
his days wages.
On the s:15 o'clock trip back to this city
fonr newspaper reporters patronized the
crow. bearded old man at the ticket once,
Thev handed in their nickels and were
h.ndad nut in exchange tiny slips OF
f1imsy red paper marked uoon ouiy ros
one fare on the Alameda" Two Ut 'nie0