The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-10-02
Big Cut Between This City and
Frisco.
ALICE BLANCHARD BEGINS 1T
1t is Believed That the 0. R. & N. Co,
Will Soon Meet the Cut and Go
Still Lower.

The sharpest war in rates that the
steamers to the north have had on their
hands in years has been precipitated by
the little steamer Alice Blanchard run
ming to Astoria, says Fridays Chronicle.
The owners and agents of the steamer,
desiring to get recognition, and that at
once, made rate of 81 for freight to
Astoria and Portland. Not content with
this, she made a rate Of 50 for cabin
passage to Portland and IS for second
class.
The fight that has resulted is far reach
ing, and 1t now looks as If the whole
northern country would be affected, both
in passenger and freight business. So
far the steamers Arago and Arcata, run
ming to Coos Bay, and the steamers State
of California and Columbia, making the
river trip to Portland, have been drawn
into the quarrel.
The Oregon Navigation and Improve
ment company, owning the big boats
running up the Columbia river, Is upon
the defensive, but SO vigorously that 1t
might be mistaken for the offensive.
Yesterday the company concluded to ad-
vertise 81 rate for the next steamer
leaving for Astoria. This will be kept
up it is said, until the steamer Alice
Blanchard gets sick of the fight
The feature of the quarrel that is of
especial interest to the merchants in the
rorth and the business men here who
have connection with Portland, Is the at
titude of the Southern Pacific In the mat
ter. 1t is believed that the close rate
on the boats, by carrying all the freight
to the water will force the railroad to
lower rates as well. Once this is done
by the railroad it will be hard to get
the rates up again.
The officials of the oregon Railway
and Navigation company, or their
agents here, Goodall, Perkins & Co., de-
clare that the rate of 81 q ton for freight
such a distance is runous. 1t means
carrying the goods at a loss, but never
theless 1t viii be kept up as long as there
is occasion to do it.
So far the new passenger rate for AS
toria has not been met by the big COM
pany That is because the Alice Blanch-
ard can carry only few passengers, and
cannot do great injury If other boats
are brought to the rate of 50 for cabin
passage to Astoria, however, the Oregon
Railway and Navigation company will
have to lower it's rates.
The war which was commenced by
the steamer Farallon, running to Puget
sound, brought the cabin rate to Ta-
COHld, P6dllle anu Oll6T pOlIllS
down to SIS, where 1t now remains II
this war on the Columbia river run has
the same result the patrons Of the
steamer lines in the northwest will be
in luck. Until the Farallon began rum
ming to the Sound the rate was $40 for
cabin passage and $12 for steerage. The
rate now stands SIS for cabin and $3.50
for second class.
Besides being forced to lower rates the
steamer company was compelled to bet
ter its service. There is no such thing
as steerage on the Sound steamers. 1t
is all second class, and the second class
Passenger is given accommodations that
correspond with those of tourist cars.
The company even goes so far as to
furnish blankets.
1t seems to be expected by the steamer
men that the war for the Astoria traf-
fc win certainly spread to the Sound, and
in that case there win be what the pas
senger agents term disastrous tumble
in rates.