The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-28
PLAYING FOR A TRUCE.
Its Object Believed to Be to
Appease Two Powerful
ReCalCitrantS.
THE DISTURBING ELEMENTS.
For Three Years They Have Been the
Great Northern and Canadian
Pacific.

AS direct result of the recent contract
entered into by the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company and the Panama Railroad Com
pany, the latter has been compelled, by
reason of the newly created conditions re-
sulting from this agreement, to withdraw
from the carrying trade to and from points
on this side of the continent north of San
Francisco, though their withdrawal will
not be felt by the points most interested
until the 30th inst.
Formal notice, however, it is learned
from firm interested in shipments to the
north, has been given to ali shippers and
consignees interested that on and after the
date mentioned all rates are Cancelled via
the Panama Railroad and its connections,
the Panama Steamship line and the CO.
lumbar line, from New York to Portland
and Astoria, Or, Vancouver and Victoria,
B. G., Port Townsend, Seattle, Tacoma.
Everett, Anacortes and n ew Whatcom,
Wash.
Previous to the new arrangements these
points were reached by the tranship-
ment of freight at this port to the steamers
of the Pacific Coast Steamship Company
or those of the Oregon Railway and Navi-
CATION Company.
The reason assigned for the abandon
ment OF this territory by the Panama
people is that under the new arrangement
the freight is carried from Panama to this
port on the steamers of the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company. which is not in a
position to accommodate business for
North Pacific points.
The natural result of this move will be
to leave the field for through business
from New York to Oregon, Washington
and British Columbia to the Canadian Pa
cifc, the Great Northern, the Northern
Pacific and other transeontinental lines
and those forming link in a transconti-
mental system.
A peculiar significance attaches to this
procedure in view of the strained relations
that have existed between the Canadian
Pacific and the Great Northern roads on
one side and the other transcontinental
roads on the other, ever since the disrup-
ton of the Transcontinental Association
in 1892. These two northern roads have
always claimed that owing to the disad-
vantages they were under in reaching San
Francisco they were entitled TO certain def
fore not been allowed.
AS consequence, for the past three
years the principal transcontinental lines
of the United States have been subjected
to the keenest competition, not only from
the Panama people via the Panama route,
but from these two great railroads on the
north.
Every attempt heretofore to patch up a
truce with the railroads on the north
proved futile, due largely to the unsatis-
factory conditions that were created by
the Panama competitor. With the Pan
anna people no longer an element of DIS
turbance, the problem has been simplitied, :
and it is believed that the withdrawal of
the Panama line from the North Pacific
field is the next step toward bringing the
two recalcitrant lines into more amicable
relations with the other great transconti-
mental transportation companies.
1t is known that negotiations to this
end have been on foot for some time and
that they are now being pressed with
greater vigor than ever with indications Of
ultimate success.
It has been stated that the Panama-Pa-
cifc Mail entente cordial would result in
an advance of rates by the new combina-
ton and also by the Southern Pacific
Company and other lines interested in
through freight business. But it will be
found impracticable for this to come about
until the extreme northern competing and
beliieerent lines are placated. Any reduc-
tons made under the present conditions
would simply force business to the two
northern roads and tend to make the
schedules of their competitors largely orna-
mental.
Until, therefore, news is received of the
formation of another transcontinental as
ISOLATION, including the Great Northern
and the Canadian Pacific in its member
ship, it is not probable that there will be
any advance in overland freights.
Now that the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company has withdrawn its steamers
from the New York-Colon route, the three
vessels of the Columb ian line are hardly
able to handle all the business being Of
fered at New York for through and inter
mediate points. and it is reported that
within sixty days it will put on an addi-
tional steamer 1t is also on the cards
that the Pacific Mail will augment its
Panama-San Francisco fleet with the City
of Para or the Column ia, or perhaps both.