The San Francisco call., 1896-07-04
more CLIPPERS
AROUND THE HORN.
Flint & Co. of New York
About to Establish a
New Line.
SHIPS IN GOOD DEMAND.
Sugar and Oil Traffic Cause
a Dearth in Sailing
Tonnage.
A CHECK ON THROUGH RATES.
Merchants and Shippers Inclined to
Cordially Welcome the East.
ern Enterprise.
A CHECK ON THROUGH RATES.

Flint q Co., larce ship-owners and ship
ping and commission merchants of New
York City, will within a few weeks be
operating regular line of clippers around
Cape Horn and will thenceforward be
one of the important factors in transcon.
tinental freight rates.
All the details of the project have not
yet been arranged, but ]. T. Chapman d
Co. of this City, who are to be the local
representatives of the new water competi-
tor of the Southern Pacific and other
transcontinental lines, state that in about
ten days, or fortnight at the farthest, all
the facts in connection with the project
will be given to the public.
By the merchants and shippers of this
City the matter meets with the heartiest
welcome and many have already promised
substantial support to the Flint line.
Mr.. Chapman, while feeling free to adj
nit that the line was TO be established, re-
fused to go into particulars as to rates,
number of vessels to be employed or the
frequency with which the clippers would
be despatched. He contented himself
with the broad and significant assertion
that Flint & Co. were large shlp-owners,
had plenty of vessels at present at their
immediate disposal and would put on as
many vessels as the demands of the busl-
ness might require.
tablished at this time has occasioned much
comment and speculation. Never before
in the history of the transportation world
have rates between the Pacific and Attain
tic seaboards been so low, and shipments
at this season of the year are always at
their minimum.
From gentleman well informed on the
local as well as the general shipping situa-
tion palpable reason for the entry of the
Flint line at the present time was OBJ
tanned. The rate on kerosene oil to Japan
has recently advanced from II to Is cents
per case, and this increase of 80 per cent
on the freight of this kind of cargo has
drawn many vessels into that traffic that
had formerly kept cut of it. Another fact
that had diminished the available tonnage
between New York and San Francisco is
the chartering OF about fifteen vessels by
J. D. Spreckels & Co. for moving the sugar
crop from the Hawaiian Islands.
This unusual tax on the ordinary sail
ing tonnage has opened the route around
the Horn for the newcomers, it is argued,
with a chance Tor them to get large
share of business-much more than they
would have been able to secure under
normal circumstances.
| 1t is admitted that there is not much
money, if any, in carrying freight around
| the Southern American continent for 80
| cents per 100 pounds or $6 per ton, as is
now done by the sailing vessels, and even
on the Panama route for East-bound
| freight, but on the other hand 1t is argued
that Flint 6G Co. see more promising
future ahead. and are simply utilizing the
present opportunity to get grip on the
| situation.
Every transportat ton influence is now at
work seeking to bring about an advance in
rates, and the indications, among railroad
men and shippers, are SAID to point to a
near consummation of this object. With
it will naturally come better remuneration
4
though they should not enjoy the advan-
| tage of subsidy from the rail lines, as
will be the case with the Pacific Mail-
| Panama combination.
But whatever the cause and whatever
the motive, the advent of the Flint line is
| viewed as good thing. If it should serve
no other purpose than to keep transconti-
| mental rates within a reasonable limit,
the merchants deem it to be entitled to
their support.