The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-17
End of the Pacific Mail
Monopoly.
THE NEW COLUMBIAN LINE.
Important Concessions Secured by the
North American Navigation Com
pany From the Panama Railroad.
Special to THE MoRx1Ne CALL

OF San Francisco who has been in New
York for two weeks past negotiating with
General Newton. the president, and the
directors Of the Panama Railway Company.
reports to-day that the negotiations are
closed, and that the Panama Railroad Com
pany and the North American Navigation
Company of San Francisco will enter into a
business arrangement about March l. The
line will be composed of the Panama Steam
ship line to Colon, the Panama Railway
across the isthmus and the North American
Navigation Company from Panama to San
Francisco. These three transportation
companies will work together under the
name of the columbian lne," which name
has been selected by General Newton as an
appropriate one. In the course of an inter-
view to-day Mr.. Johnson said:
my mission so far has produced salts
factory results, and to-day my labors in
one direction end. / have secured contract
with the Panama Railroad Company in
favor Of the North American Navigation
Company Of San Francisco. The negotia-
tions were necessarily protracted, as there
was much ground to be covered and many
details 20 be arranged. AS can readily be
imagined. when / tell you that the North
American Company has secured the sole
and exclusive privilege of through billing
at through rates between San Francisco and
all Pacific Coast points, and all the Gulf
and Atlantic points of the United States.
and that any freight that may be offered at
the isthmus 10 the Panama Railroad Com
pany By other companies than the North
American will be charged local rates. The
North American has also the further privi-
lege Of trading from San Francisco to all
points In Mexico and South and Central
America including the port of Panama and
return.
Il am also arranging for direct connec-
ton with Europe at Colon by several lines
of steamers touching at the several great
ports OF the world. The arrangements will
Include an understanding with the Royal
Nail Steam Packet Company. giving fort
nightly service between Southampton and
Colon. stopping at the West Indies This
will open up the markets OF Cuba aud
jamaica Then there is the Campagnie
Generate Tran satlsntique, with one steamer
sailing each month from Marseilles and one
steamer sailing each month from Havre and
Bordeaux; the Hamburg American Packet
Company, with three steamers per month
for Hamburg and HaYre and return. The
COmpania Transatlantic de Barcelona
with one steamer each month from San
tander and return, opens to Us all the ports
Of Spain and has direct connection with the
Italian line. Lastly there are the West
India and Pacific Steamship Company and
the Harrison line, running three steamers
Per month from Liverpool and way ports
and return. We have thus direct communi-
cation with England via. Southampton and
Liverpool, with Germany via. Hamburg,
wish France through all the shipping ports
reached from Havre and Bordeaux, aud
with Spain and Italy.
1.-THE only other concession we could
possibly secure would be to take the Gen.
trail American products and deliver them in
New York, and to take New York mer-
ehandise and deliver TO Central American
ports south Of Acapulco. This portion of
the service is now the subject of litigation
between the Panama Railway Company
and the Pacific Mail Company. and tenn
pOrary injunction of this particular service
has been granted by Judge Ingraham of the
New York District Court. This case viii
be tried on its merits shortly, and the Pan
ANA directors believe that it will be decided
in favor Of the Panama Railroad Company.
In case OF this expected favorable decision
the North American contract provides that
this valuable concession will also be given
TO Us.
Francisco that the Panama Railroad Com
pany had signed a contract with Grace's
South American line, but nothing was done,
and we will secure equal privileges for this
portion of the business in case Judge In
graham's decision will permit.
cit will be seen from the above hat not
withstanding it has been claimed by some
interested parties in San francisco that the
Panama Railroad Company was bluffing
and had no intention of abandoning the
Pacific Mail. aud was. in fact, using the
North American Company for selfish ends,
it has proven beyond doubt or question its
good faith, in fact. has meant business from
the start. 1t has given Us concessions we
did not think 1t possible to secure when /
left San Francisco The favorable terms
are due to the determination OF the directors
of the Panama Railroad Company to break
away from the Pacific Mail.
1.-THE magnitude Of these concessions and
their possibilities to the port of San Fran
cisco is enormous. 1t opens to San Fran
cisco freight new and independent route.
putting the merchants there within thirty
two days Of Southampton and thirtY-three
TO thirty-four days of Hamburg. Havre and
Marseilles, Genoa, Italy and the ports Of
Spain. 1t opens up route 10 Mexico and
to New Orleans that the railway people
have paid 81, 900, coo year for the last nine
years 10 keep closed. that they might be
enabled 30 charge exorbitant rates to the
Pacific Coast. 1t restores to San Francisco
her former maritime position 1t makes
her the entreport for the State Of California.
'1o the North American Company, with
such enthusiastic workers and support
ers as Captain Merry, John T. Doyle.
Alvinza Hayward and others, San Fran
cisco will owe a debt of gratitude In the
future that it is hard to estimate now.
'''The starting OF the new company is ex-
citing much interest in the minds OF diplO-
matte representatives Of the Central Ameri-
can Governments here. expect shortly to
open negotiations for subsidies, as the Gen.
trail American Governments seem to look
with great favor upon the Inauguration of
the new line, and believe there will be no
difficulty in securing substantial monetary
support for our en- teTprise
Il hope to remain here some time yet as
there is much to be arranged. The question of
getting vessels is the important one which
have in hand here. We see disposition on
the part of some Of the steamship-owne on
the Pacific Coast to charge high rates for
chartered steamers, and il this is persisted
In the directors will probably send on here
for steamers. The vessels can be obtain ed
and sent around to the Pacific side in
sixty days time. and / believe that the
Panama road will await their arrival before
the Inauguration Of the new service IL our
directors desire ii.
81 consider that the transportation prob
lem which has confronted US for so many
years is now on the eve of solution.
Through rates are now provided for, and as
far as can be seen there remains but one
thing more to be done, and that is to secure
nrnnar ma Yigation on the san Jnanuin and