The morning call., 1894-06-09
S NOW A RAILROAD BOAT.
The Pride of the Competitive
Fleet in New Role.
RUMORS OF A DISSOLUTION
The Panama Railroad Company May
Only Run One Through Freight
Steamer South.

Had the business community ever been
told in the good old days of competition
between the North American Navigation
Company and the Pacific Mail that the
steamer Keweenaw, pioneer of the compe-
ttion's larger fleet. would be chartered by
the Southern Pacific. deprived of her repu-
tatiOn for cutting freight rates, and put on
the coal route for the Pacific Improvement
Company, it would have shed bitter tears
at the mere contemplation of the idea.
Such is the case, however, and hence
forth the Panama Railroad Company will
run only two vessels to Panama on the Pa
cific side.
1t is also stated on pretty good authority
that the stea mer Saturn, now loading at
Lombard street. will be withdrawn after
her next trip to the south. leaving but one
vessel to share patronage with the older
line.
The KeweenRw sailed for Comox yester-
day morning very early. She went out
light, but will bring back coal for the rail-
road company, which will be unloaded at
the old Oakland wharf. The Pacific In
prOvement Company, a branch of the
Southern Pacific Company, is the char
terer, and the charter was made through
tuo L dudLud I(dllEOdu company.
When the Saturn sailed for Panama on
her last trip out from San Francisco she
shipped crew for six months, and it was
rumored that the vessel would take a
through cargo TO Hamburg. Those who
profess to know say that she will go to
Hamburg this trip instead, but this is only
entured as hearsay, because the inside
facts could not be secured.
Naturally enough the Panama Railroad
people have nothing to say, claiming that
the main Office in New York is running
the line ana is responsible for all changes.
The principal reason for not retaining
the Keweenaw is given, partly IN defense
of the denials that the Panama line is not
going TO give Up the fight, that business
with New York is very slack, not justify
ing the running OF more than two vessels,
or one about every twenty-five days.
1t is true that the through business is as
nothing compared to what it was five or
even two years ago. The Saturn on
her last trip TO the city brought only 500
tons of freight She is capable of carry
Ing nearly 5000 tons. The Pacific Mail
wayport steamers are carrying very little
freight. nearly two-thirds of the Central
American coffee shipments being sent TO
Panama for transhipment over the Pan
anna Railroad.
At the present rates for freight full
cargoes would be required for all in and
out bound steamers to insure even ex-
penses. The dizziness in trade in the past
six months must have caused the opposi-
ton companies to lose money pretty fast,
and it is only natural to suppose that
some sort of agreement has been en-
tered into. All things taken into consid-
Grafton, circumstantial evidence points
that way.
Some OF the Mail Company people have
said at times that the coffee trade was not
brisk at San Francisco because ;he Gen.
trail Americans do not seem to wish to
ship here. 1t seems strange. however
what sudden disposition they have mani
tested to ship to New York in Pacific Mail
steamers. via the Panama Railroad and its
connecting lines.