The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-24
AFTER TRADE EXTENSION.
ITS ACCOMPLISHMENT DISCUSSED
BY THE TRAFFIC ASSO-
CITATION.
FREIGHT RATES THE HANDICAP.
A SIGNIFICANT HINT BY TRAFFIC
MANAGER CURTIS TO USE
THE BOYCOTT.

President B. F. Durham opened the
fourth annual meeting of the Traffic AS
ISOLATION yesterday afternoon in the Board
OF Trade rooms by reading his address, in
the course of which he said:
Following the resignation of Mr.. Leeds, our
former trafhc manager, came pause In active
WORK, out the opinion was continually being
strengthened that there was great and pressing
need OF the Traffic Association as permanent
coast.
The merchant of San Francisco needs infor
nation every day regarding rates into and out
OF TINS City, also out of and into the cities and
towns In nelghboring Stat and territories TO
ana from points in the East, with which he
completes, or else wants rates by sea to numer-
Gus destinations in all directions.
we propose probing TO the core every trans
portat1on question affecting San Francisco in
terests. and in the prosecution of this work
need the cooperation and advice OF every
merchant in San Francisco.
The work that had been accomplished up to
time | was elected has become a matter of
record, and the results, believe, are generally
satisfactory.
The nominating committee then sub
mltted list of names which they recon-
mended for election as members of the ex-
ecutlve committee, and on motion the sec
rotary was instructed to cast the vote for
their election, which he did. The new ex-
ecutlve committee is as follows:
B. F.. Durham, Charles NJ. Yates, Henry
Miehaels, Wakefield Baker. A. j. Marcus ]. A
spiel, J. Curtis, c. II. Schmidt E. K. Kittreuge,
l. H. Bonestell, w. r. Wheeler, z. A. Phelps, /.
F. Littlefield, F. P. Cole, II. J. Knowles, W. F.
Bowers.
Traffic Manager w. B. Curtis read his
report, upon which he was heartily con-
ntrI1o tod @ka lD.,rp Cor tha
bic suggestions and information 1t con-
tanned. 1t was the general opinion that it
was the best report ever made before the
association, this com pliment being made
more valuable by reason of Mr.. Curtis
| short term of Office. Its principal features
follow:
The field for operation seems unlimited
San Francisco greatly needs an extension of the
limit OF her distribution.
The merchants of San Francisco view the
retrospect with greatest pleasure. Then all
eyes on the Pacific Coast were turned toward
San Francisco. 1t was the Mecca of every mer
chant of Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho,
Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and
| Nevada. In those days merchandise was king
and San Francisco its distributing center.
But, like ghost in the night, came stealing
westward over the plains OF the East that army
OF railroads hungry for traffic and giving to
your own chosen and rightful fields greater
facilities and better rates from the East than
you had ever enjoyed from the West.
One by one your prerogatives in these terri
tories have disappeared, little by little your
trade has shrunken, until to-day you can no
longer sit at the table and dine with the host,
but must loiter round and be content with
crumbs that drop from the table.
California has gone forward with giant
strides until to-day she leads the world in
quantity and quality OF her natural products,
and the products of the soil are king.
The handling and distribution of this vast
and varied production has added new lines of
trade to the old-time galaxy, and this very dis
n n inc lfoyn
sist in returning to San Francisco her lost
trade.
San Francisco has reached her majority She
is no longer in need OF a guardian. She is en-
titled to voice and p vote in the disposition
OF her property and rights and it is the mission
OF the Traffic Association to handle for the
merchant, the momentous and complex ques-
tons continually arising over transportation
matters.
For years the railroad and other transporta-
ton companies have regulated their affairs,
made arrangements among themselves as to
the disposition of Pacific Coast trade, and al
ways on a basis peculiarly and solely adapted
to sustain their own peculiar views. The mer-
chant of San Francisco has been through all
this practically passive. There may have been
heard here and there feeble whine at an adj
verse course OF events, but never has he been
factor in the case consistent with his just posi-
ton.
The power OF this association to do good for
this City is unlimited.
California shipped by rail eastbound during
1894 about l $50 100000 POUNDS and west
bounu about $4,000, 900 pounds, total ., 1OO,-
OOO,OOO pounds; in round numbers 1,05O,0 900
tons. In fact gentlemen, the true greatness of
this State is not fully understood or appre-
ciated.
Here is a country which had real estate and
personal property valued in 1870 at 1927,
5O0,0 900: in 1880, ten years later, at 1854
500, 900; while in 1894 we have over 81, $780,
100000
This State shipped east by rail of seventeen
Leading products in 1882, 107 700 900 pounds;
in 1894 this had swe1led to $40, 100000
pounds.
The lines of railway east of Ogden, from
which we now ask that justice be done us, all
participate in the haul OF the major portion of
this freight Shall we sit idly by and see our
slnews OF war wasted? Why not say to these
transportation companies: "Here, we are con-
trloutlng TO your earnings to the extent of
charges on over half million tons of freight
per year. II you decline to place us in proper
position in Utah, our demands being eminent
y Just and reasonable, we will be obliged to
dlyertfour business to other channels
But there must be unity of purpose and a
community OF ideas, that purpose and those
IDEAS 10 bear on a common goal, namely, to
racine Coast; to prospect to the full the
natu1al advantages of this port: to seek all adj
lustment OF through rates that will protect the
nome manufacturer in his own particular ter
ITitory' ana TO extend to the farthest possible
limit the distribution of our merchandise,
haI l products or manufactures.
Inc port OF San Francisco is among the great
ports OF the United States to exports and
I'm ports, and should rank second only to New
YORK, whereas in 1894 we ranked third in i'm
ports and fifth in exports
were the port OF San Francisco doing to-day
all the trade naturally tributary to it. to say
nothing of what can be attracted to it by lit
ne energy, We would now rank second only to
New YORK The trade of the Orient is slowly
but surely being flched from this port.
Inese are but few of the vital questions
orlef outline OF the conditions with which
we are confronted, and which it is the mission
OF the Traffic Association to ameliorate.
we should advance as a solid body. We
nndc oYpd To fhatr
comDlishment will be dedica ted my best efforts
The report was adopted and 5000 copies
OF 1t ordered printed for distribution. The
meeting then adjourned.