The San Francisco call., 1895-12-31

/, As far as the freight is concerned the
Sunol and Herald carry nearly all of it,
while in the passenger line the Sunei and
Monticello carry off the honors. By the
Sunol the passenger rate is only 10 cents,
The rate by the Herald is 25 cents, but as
she does not carry half dozen passengers
in week she does not cut much of a figure
in that connection.
All the boats leave Vallejo at O'Clock
each morning. The Sunol brings big
crowd at the 10-cent rate, but the Monti-
cello has steady lot of Vallejoites who
pay their IS cents and travel by her. They
are principally the tradesmen and Mare
Island people. The merchants and others
will not patroniZe the Sunol because they
say the 10-cent rate brings the people to
San Francisco to buy their goods. II any
one takes passage on the Herald the boat
comes straight to San Francisco, if not
she stops at Port Costa and other way
ports in the hope of picking up some
freight.
The only one of the boats that makes an
extra trip IS the Monticello. She leaves
P. NJ, and to-day and tomorrow she will
make still third trip at 8 P. NJ.
In the freight business the Sunol and
Herald have it nearly all to themselves. A
good deal of merchandise goes by the
Monticello, but it does not compare with
what the other boats carry. Everything
that goes to and from Selby's Smelling
great deal of wheat comes down on the
Herald. Rates are badly cut, however,
and it is very doubtful whether any of the
boats are paying expenses.
A. q. Pryor of Piper, Alden, Goodall &
Co. is the manager of the Sunol. He is q
thorough business man and one of the
best-liked ship-owners on the water front.
II don't know when the rate war will
end" said he yesterday, land, to tell you
much. When the Monticello first went on
the route she did not interfere with US, as
we were carrying freight only and they
were carrying passengers. Then the Her
aid came in and began carrying freight
and passengers, and the Monticello fol-
lowed suit. In self-defense we began car
rying passengers at 10 cents, and there the
rate will stay. It's an i'll wind that blows
nobody good, and the people of Vallejo
are getting the benefit of this business.
We are just jogging quietly along, know
ing that things will adj just themselves in
time.''
You don't mean to say there is rate
war going on said K. A. White, steamer
agent of the Southern Pacific, in q sur
pilScu tOuS. ucu lie laugneQ nearly
laugh that all his suborninates joined in.
"Well, now, don't you know, we are in no
rate war. Why, / love Captain Hatch,
| and Mr.. Pryor and / are the best OF friends.
You see. the Herald was doing nothing,
and we thought we might just as we'll put
her on the route. She is carrying freight
principally, but rates are awfully low. In
fact, there is nothing in it. Now, don't
run away with the idea that we are fight
ing the Monticello and Sunol because we
are not. We are just minding our own
| business"
| Captain q. T. Hatch, manager and owner
OF the Monticello. is just as contented and
self-complacent as either of his opponents.
He considers that he is giving the people a
good service for their money and that the
Vallejoites respond in splendid manner.
my business has fallen off very little, u
said he, "since the Sunol inaugurated the
10-cent rate. The boat is we'll patronized
and am satisfied. The Southern Pacific
will have to invent some more scheme.
before they can drive me off the route
L M here to stay, and / can dig up few
dollars to continue the fight as long as il
lasts. have never been beaten yet, anC
| you can bet that neither Piper, Alden
| Goodall q Co. nor Coils P. Huntington
are going to beat me now. The MOnti
cello is far and away the faster boat, anC
we are always from half an hour to two
| hours ahead of the others. Let the figh
go on; I'll stay with it to the end"