The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-30

he was duly elected to the position and
will commence his duties with the asso-
citation September 1.
In electing Mr.. Curtis as traffic manager
the committee felt that they had made no
mistake, as his long experience in the
traffic department of the Southern Pacific
Company as tariff expert should fully hit
him for the position he is to occupy.
Mr.. Curtis is a native of Illinois, but has
lived in California since he was years of
age. When Is he entered the local freight
office of the Southern Pacific or rather the
Central Pacific, which was at that time,
1869, located on Alameda wharf. In rising
step by step through the different depart
ments of the local service he became
familiar with the groundwork of his
adopted profession.
After eleven years service with the
Southern Pacific, followed by several years
with the Oregon Railway and Navigation
Company and the Northern Pacific in
Oregon and Washington, he returned to
the employ of the Southern Pacific in 1886,
taking service in the general freight office
under Richard Gray. general freight agent,
shortly thereafter assuming charge of the
so-called tariff and statistical bureau of
that department.
Through his close association with the
immediate detail of the important work
connected Herewith he is possessed of an
intimate knowledge of the peculiar features
dominating traffic locally as well as to and
from California. Mr.. Curtis will leave the
service of the Southern Pacific to-day and
enter at once upon his duties as traffic
manager. Speaking of the appointment
and its Importance President Durham said
yesterday:
1.-THE traffic manager of the Traffic Asso-
citation of California should have the
closest possible insight into the circum-
stances and condi tons governing traffic
within this State, and Mr.. Curtis many
friends in commercial circles in San Fran
cisco Join in approving his appointment by
the Traffic Association and in pronouncing
him especially fitted for the duties in hand,
as being competent Judge of what the
traffic will bear as versus the familiar
dictum all the traffic will bear
"Mr. Curtis reputation having gone
before, his services were sought by the
Traffic Association in the firm conviction
that its affairs would be handled by him
to the perfect satisfaction of all concerned.
1t is pertinent to remark that William
Bostwick Curtis is not related to W. G..
Curtis, assistant to the general manager of
the Southern Pacific Company.
1.-THE future work of the Traffic Associa-
ton, or rather on what lines we shall work,
has not been fully decided and will not be
which to formulate their plans and become
better acquainted with their new traffic
manager.
1--WE propose to turn our attention to
home traffic matters with q view to get
ting more business for San Francisco.
That is we shall try to reach a market not
now available. l would say it is not a
matter of cutting rates, but rather move
ment on lines similar to those in St. Louis,
Chicago and other eenters of the East by
bringing to the attention of the various
transportation companies opportunities for
extending San Francisco's commerce and
endeavoring to induce them to secure the
business by adjusting rates. In fine we
now propose to reap benefits of lower in
coming freight rates already secured, and
our method will be expanding our outgo-
ing facilities.
"The territory which we shall try to get
into the field comprises Utah, Arizona,
Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana,
Mexico and Central America and also the
trade of such other places as formerly came
to San Francisco before the present rail-
road systems were adODted"