The morning call., 1893-05-20
LOTS OF FREIGHT.
No Cause for Withdraw
ing Steamers.
COFFEE-PLANTERS TELL WHY
Central Americans Ship to Europe
Rather Than Patronize the no
nopoly-A Wild Rumor.

The small amount of tonnage shipped to
San Francisco from Central American
ports is not due to the fact that there is
nothing left in that country to ship.
Two southern c0ffee-planters have tes-
titled to this.
They also testified that the Pacific Mail
steamers are not patronlzed because Cen
trail America is tired of the ways of the
monopoly.
This disposes of the idea that the three
mail steamers recently Withdrawn were
taken off the Panama route because there
is no more coffee, sugar, mahogany or dye
wood on the wharves at San Jose de Qua
temala. La Libertad. Corinto or Cham
perico.
Business never was better in Central
America" said Antonio James, wealthy
planter of Guatemala, in letter to a mer-
chant Of this city. 1--WE are shipping more
goods by far than we did at this same
time last year.
"The Pacific Mail steamers are not get
ting the trade because there is growing
feeling of determination throughout all
Central America against continuance OF
business relations with this line, which
ut will never be possible for the old
company TO regain the ground 1t has lost:
Every vessel which has come into Central
American ports has gone away heavily
laden and will continue to do so; but
the mail line will not get any more thac IL
is possible to keep il from getting"
The writer of this letter is not the only
person in the south who thinks tbusly.
Leon Ybarra of San Salvador, gentle
man who has been for years interested in
the coffee and mahogany trade, Is In this
city. In speaking of the withdrawal of
the Pacific Mails steamer from the Pan
anna route he said Yesterday:
'sOne way-port vessel could carry all the
goods thataare offered the Pacific Mail
Company, but this is no sign that we are
not shipping as much produce as usual.
Salvador and Guatemala never were in
a more prosperous condition than at the
present time. The German and English
tramp steamers have been carrying away
enormous loads of all manner of Central
American products, aud the North Ameri-
can Navigation COmpany's ships can get
all the freig ght they want but the Pacific
Mail-nh. no. we have had too much
Pacific Mail.
More than one year ago It was agreed
among number of Central American
coffee-planters that something would have
to be done to secure better rates for our
shipments to the United States, and then
and there 1t was decided to patronlze the
Mail Company's steamers as little as posi-
BILE. If necessary throwing the bulk of our
trade to other countries than the United
States to further our end"
Mr.. Ybarra states that Central Americans
would prefer to ship to San Francisco If a
st.ady and low schedule of rates can be
maintained.
The Mail Company still has three
hound" steamers in southern waters, but
nf hn 10 I'm.
doing all the company's business between
local Central American ports. so deter
mined have the shippers of that country
waged war against the monopoly's line.
In reference to the withdrawal of the
City of New York from the Panama run
for the purpose of putting her on the China
route. this statement Is disbelieved by
everybody interested in CIR who has a
knowledge of the traffic between the
Orient and San Francisco.
"The truth is" said local railroad
agent, 'the Pacific Mail does not know
what to do with the New York and they
may possibly tut her on the China run for
one trip just to make the bluff good.
Worlds Fair travel will not increase
traffic with the Orient more than 80 per
cent at an outside figure and the present
facilities of the Occidental and Oriental
Steamship Company and the Pacific Mail
are ample to accommodate this traffic
"Then again the Canadian Pacific cuts a
big figure in the case. The Pacific Mail
service is not nearly so complete as tha. of
the Canadian Steamship COMPANY, and it
is very doubtful in my mind if people will
come to America via the Mail Com pany if
they can secure passage over the northern
route"
The Pacific Mail is not only reducing
expenses by Withdrawing steamers, but it
is rumored that general reduction in the
salaries OF steamer employees is contem-
plated.
That the North American Navigation
Company has made big hole in the east
bound shipments of the Southern Pacific
is apparent.
Although last years figures are not OBJ
tainable, shippers say they were far
ahead of the following list of some of the
railroads. eastbound freight for April OF
this year: