The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-09
TRAFFIC BY BOAT.
Central America and the
Pacific Mail.
WANT COMPETITION NORTH.
Rival Steamers Only Stop When
Southbound - Many Strange
RumOrS Extant.

Reports have reached this city from New
York by private source that Huntington
is practically in control Of the Panama
Railroad and that an agreement has been
entered into between the Panama line and
the president of the Southern Pacific.
whereby the former Is to conduct the bust
ness Of the Pacific Mail Steamship Com
pany on the Atlantic side. under the name
Of the Columbian Navigation Company
The Pacific Mali to have exclusive control
of the way-port route between New York
and Panama, and the North American
Navigation Company to control through
business on the Pacific side.
No affirmation of this rumor can be OBJ
tanned. Officers of the North American
Navigation Company declare THAT ne
agreement has been made with the Pacific
Mail; that this story is simp an addition
to the yarns circulated in New YORK some
weeks ago by President Huntington. and
that the North American Navigation Com
pany is still an Independent organization.
Beyond this statement they show no dis
position to converge on the subject.
While there is no good reason to believe
the monopOlistic side of the story any
more than there is cause to doubt the OPP
POSITIONS denials, there is someth ng
pany in not stopping at way ports on the
up trip from Panama, knowing. as it does,
that Central Americans have been looking
anXiously forward to the time when they
will be freed from the Pacific Mails op-
preston.
An excuse is given that the North
American Navigation steamers do not stop
at Central American ports because they
are overloaded before they leave the
istbmus. This excuse is good one. and
the public should motto it and give the
new line the benefit OF the doubt.
Our trade with Central America had a
very bright outlook several months ago
because it was promised that competition
would benefit it greatly.
The mere fact that steamers drop off a
few hundred tons of goods on down
trips is not going to give an impetus to
Central American traffic. A letter re.
coived from Guatemala City by local
business-house yesterday states that
foreign bottoms are carrying nearly 80 per
cent of the exports from our sister repub-
lies. II this be true. then foreign trade
has increased about 80 per cent In six
months in Central America.
The letter goes on to say that good ser
vice north to San Francisco Is badly
wanted, and that the people are so thor.
oughly aroused against the Pacific Mail
that they will use every endeavor TO avoid
patr0nlZlng the monopoly.
Some days ago the steamer Barracuda.
the way-port vessel used by the Mail Com
pany in southern waters. arrived In this
city ostensibly to bel cleaned. The Barra-
couta made one Of the quickest trips for a
Pacific Mail ste amer on record from Pan
ANA. She could not have done so had she
been foul.
1t is further announced that she
will 90 to Nanaimo TO coal before pro-
ceeding on her return trip to the south.
Merchants say: Imagine a vessel run al
an expense Of about $50 day going to
Nanaim0 for coal!
1T is very evident that the Mall Com
pany does not know what to do with the
Barracuda during the dull season now
being experienced in the south, or. in other
words, while the Central Americans are
so bitter against anythirg that savors OF
President Huntington's service"
Now is the time for the North Ameri.
can Navigation Company to act" said 9
merchant yesterday. 'The Pacific Mail:
off guard is being frozen out of the Cen.
trail American trade. and will never be
able to regain ii"
If any combination has been effected be-
tween the North American Navigation
Company and the Pacific Mail il has been
done in New York without the knowledge
of the officers OF the Panama Railroad here