The morning call., 1894-02-06

Why 1t Should Meet With
Success.
Towne Goes to Meet Huntington-No
News From Chicago-The Sac
ramento-Street Cable.

The result of Traffic Manager Leeds
mission to New York has not been def
nitely announced. but the members of the
Traffic Association all appear saDguIne
that everything will turn out all right and
found that he has accomplished that
which he was sent to do.
One of these gentlemen, in an interview
yesterday, gave many significant reasons
why the present relations existing between
the North American Navigation Company
and the Panama Railroad should continue.
1t is unquestionably true. he says, that
the Panama Railroad must desire the
friendship of the merchants of San Fran
cisco. II is alsot apparent that the incent-
i've which prompted the Panama Railroad
Company to sever its relations with the
Pacific Mail Steamship Company wa
found in the policy of the last named cor
pOration. By the limit placed on the
amount of freight which Pacific Mail
steamers were permitted to carry the Pan
anna Railroad was deprived of the create +
volume of business to which it was entitled
by reason of being the cheapest line nat
uraily for the movement OF through bust
ness between the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts. The Pacific Mail policy was
anu ulCtdLcu ny LIo
Mental Association OF Railroads. The Pa
cifc Mail Steamship Company is controlled
by c. 7. Huntington. The policy OF the
tranScontinental roads must always be to
discourage the use of ships in the through
business and this policy means permanent
hostility to the Panama Railroad Company
as a competitive carrier between New
York and San Francisco. Hence the pol
icy Of the Panama Railroad Company can
not be to resume its old attitude toward
the transcontineDtal roads.
tits true that $500, 600 instead,of $500, 900
was necessary to enable the North Ameri-
can Navigation Company TO meet the con-
dltiOns cOntrved by the Southern Pacific
Company in its war of determination. As
II cost the railroad 100000 to exhaust
that $500. 900, it was apparent that the
Southern Pacific Company and allied roads
could not carry on such war indefinitely.
Hard times had much TO do with the fall
ing off in the business of the North Amer
lean Navigation Company Merchants
have waited to place orders and have then
wired instructions. and goods have been
forwarded by rail more largely. but at
rates which would have been impossible
had the North American Navigation line
been out of the way. The facts in this
connection and their due significance are
fully known to the Panama Railroad Com
pany people. who do not ascribe lIkewarm-
ness 10 the merchants Of this city. There
are reasons which make it probable that
the Panama Railroad Company desires to
retain the friendly relations it has with
San Franciscans. A deal made by that
corporation hostile 10 this city, which the
good faith thus far shown gives no reason
to apprehend, would not benefit the Pa
mama people. The Traffic Association
would not be compelled to use either the
Sunset line or the Panama line. 1t was
also said that the Panama road sought to
ascertain what business could be done here
long before its relations with the Pacific
Mail were dissolved. Its policy is therefore
not new.
ICaptain Merry, president OF the North
American Navigation Company, denies
that he has made the statement attributed
to him in morning paper to the effect
that his company will not continue the
Panama line after May l. He says that
he has not made any statements concerning
the matter. and has. In fact. declined to
discuss it at all.
IL was expected that the wire rope on
the Sacramento-street cable-line extension
would be strung Sunday, but slight delay
has occurred which will keep the work
back a day or two. Cars will be running.
however, in a very few days.
The negotiations for settlement OF the
rate questions which are pending in Chi
cago have as yet resulted in no agreement
although the Southern Pacific officials here
appear hopeful of an ultima agreement.
The visiting officials of the Atlantic sys-
tenn Of the Southern Pacific started East
last night. They were accompanied by
General Manager Towne, who goes to
meet Mr.. Huntington.
A. Z. Sheldon, general agent of the Bur-
lington line and located at Portland, is in
the city with his wife.