The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-05-02
Will Run to Central American
Way Ports.
CARGOEs OF COFFEE SECURED
The Pacific Mall and the Railroad
Will Have to Look Out Sharply
Now.

this port with Central America if they do
not wish to lose 1t altogether. Seattle
capitalists have interested themselves IN
establishing line of steamers between
Puget Sound and Central America in op-
position to the Pacific Mail Company.
Already some steps have been taken
toward diverting the coffee trade of the
south from San Francisco. in which case
this city will be deprived of every particle
of the business that has heretofore found
its way into local trade channels from
Central America.
Unless the Pacific Mail should cut rates
to southern way ports and combine with
the Southern Pacific to make a special
through tariff on coffee. dye woods and
other shipments from our neighbOring re-
Dublics it may in a short time find itself
without any cargoes to carry, aud with
rival in the field far more powerful than
the Panama Railroad. one which will owe
allegiance to no corporation nor be in a
position to be imposed upon or be ham,
pered by ironclad iDjunctions placed upon
it by the mighty power of monopoly.
Recently }. E. Chilberg, a prominent
and energetic citizen of Seattle, came to
this city en- route TO Central America. Mr..
Chilberg has returned to town and has
spent several days among the cOffee-dealers
here seeing what can be done toward
moving some of the agencies tor the sale
of and traffic in Central American coffee
to the north in the event of the establish
ment of a through steamer line from Puget
Sound to Central American ports.
MIR. Chilberg has also interested himself
in such of our steam coasters that are
without charters. with possible view to
securing number of them.
Seattle is doing just exactly what San
Francisco should have done. 1t is not too
late for our merchants to act yet.
The first and principal reason for the
move in favor of securing coffee shipments
to Puget Sound by the northern capitalists
is that there is steady demand for lumber
in the south. big prices being paid for
building material.
Heretofore the Puget Sound country has
been selling its lumber to Central
America through local dealers. The
aortherners now think that it would be
more profitable to them to ship direct.
Nearly all classes of merchandise. in
Guiding European goods. which are
greatly in demand, can be laid down at
Seattle for about one-half the cost of ship
ping by rail to San Francisco from New
York. This is owing to the competition
between the four transcon tinental lines
that enter Seattle. or which are indirectly
connected Herewith.
Coffee can be shipped from Puget Sound
to interstate or Atlantic Coast points, on
account of this competition, far cheaper
than it could be shipped from Colon to
New York and interstate terminals.
To ship coffee from any Central
American port north Of La Lbertad to
Colon, including the cost of loading and
discharging. Panama Railroad tolls. etc.,
would cost more than it would TO send IL
through to Seattle by steamer.
These calculations are based on the
present traffic in vogue with the Southern
Pacific and the Pacific Mail companies.
Should the Seattle company become an
actually, as 1t undoubtedly will. it may to
a certain extent become beneficial to the
people of California for the reason that it
will force the Pacific Mail-Southern Pac-
fic-P Panama Railroad combination into
reducing rates to save itself from complete
determination.
On the other hand this port must neces-
sarily lose big part of its coffee business.
having to suffer, as it will, for the perse
cution of the Central Americans by the
big steamship corporation.
1t is understood that several of the
largest coIfee-dealers at Ocos. La Libertad
and Guatemala have agreed TO patrOniZe
the northern route. expressing themselves
as having become weary of being juggled
with by the Mail line and its cratic tariff
manipulators.
When questioned about the proposed
new steamship line a gentleman who is
deeply interested in Central American
affairs said that it is fact that the Seattle
people have been working theoretically to
develop the scheme.
81 cannot understand" said he. "why the
San Francisco merchants did not charter
some of the idle vessels now in Oakland
Creek and send them out Independently.
The great obstacle that stood in the way
of the Puget Sound line was the possibility
| of steamers not being able to secure return
cargoes. The Central Americans were q
little bit afraid to commit themselves re-
garding the proposed route. They have
| been fooled pretty often, you know.
"Well. now believe tina. arrangements
have been made to secure for the new
company regular shipments of coffee,
mahogany logs and dye woods. If this be
true the problem is solved.
sit is very likely that a number of coffee
| commission agencies would be transferred
from San FRANCHISES to Tacoma and Seattle
| If the new line is established"
A number of local business men were
spoken to about the new line. All were
| astonished to learn the news, and ad-
mitted that if we had opposition from the
north in our Central American trade
something would have to be done without
delay or we would lose all OF our southern
commerce.
Through rates to New York and inter-
| state points would have to be reduced on
all shipments from Central American way
ports over the Southern Pacific and
Pacific Mall" said one gentleman, "and
In case this concession is not made
| have grave fears for the consequences.
We would be entirely out in the cold, and
our once profitable traffic with the south
would be given its death blow"
Yhe Pacific Mail Steamship Compapy's
officials and th0SA of tho Papono RoiIroad