The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-15

line from outlying points around New York
and having it refused on account of scarcity OF
room, and other like complications, we con-
cluded 1t would be better 10 make no quota
tons here until we have increased our faclll-
ties in the Atlantic
1t is the intention of the company to add to
the Columbian line, so as to have q weekly
service between New York and Colon, which
Will be done at the earliest practicable
moment. In the meantime John Muir, our
tTafhc manager, is quoting westbound rates IN
New York and engaging California cargo to
the extent required by the present limited
room. AS soon as additional ships are put on
we viii want quite as much, if not more, OF the
California traffic than we have ever enjoyed;
and our temporary withdrawal of rates should
not be supposed to indicate any lack OF interest
in the business on our part. 1t is the 1nten-
uon OF our company to maintain an agency IN
San Francisco, and apart from looking after tne
general interests of the line in any dlrectlon II
VIII be the duty of the agent to quote rates on
and look after westbound business parucuIsrl!
This in itself is significant OF the independent
attitude of the company, since 1t would not go
to the expense of looking after business from
which 1t had determined TO rctlre:
How about eastbound business! are you as
much interested in that as IN the Westoou i III
business, and, If so, why dld you SURRENDER
the right to make the rates?
We are quite as much interested in one as in
the other, and we viii be 1ounu quite as
anxious TO develop the eastbound trafnc as IN
the mast AS to the rate-makiDg power it is
ALWAYS the rule among transportation lines
for the line originating the business 10 make
the rates, and IN TINS Inc tbe psIPis ply
people do not make the rates eastbound 1t by
no means follows that they nave retired from
the traffic The contract pledges each party to
obtain for the Panama route all the freight
business that can possibly be secured with a
! single eve 10 the interests of that route.
II either party TO the agreement should fail
| 70 make promptly such rates from San Fran
| cisco or New York as are necessary to furnish
IN the Panama route its full share of the traffic
! in either direction in competition with the
] baD cnph fallnra would he viola.
ton of the contract. II is obvious from this
/ that while the Panama Railroad does not make
/ the rates on easJbound business Its relinquish-
ment OF that privilege is not surrender of the
traffic and thatitwiU always have very lively
interest and controlling influence in the gen.
eral rate situation is distinctly assured under
the terms of the agreement.
When you refer to giving the Panama route
its "full share OF traffic, what do you mean?
At present this is limited only by our capa-
city, which l have explained, is considerably
lessened by reason of our taking on the Central
American cargo from New York and from
Colon. The general merchandise movement to
that territory is heavy southbound from New
York and the coffee movement from that terri
tory is also heavy northbound from Colon, SO
that our full share" now of the California
traffic, either east or west bound, is great deal
less than we have formerly carried and very
much less than we shall require when we shall
have increased our fleet in the Atlantic
The impression is general that YOUR COMPANY
is about to enter combine to advance rates
for the benefit OF the overland lines; is thi:
true
tbs reasonable to suppose that an advance
will be reached at some time. AS transporta
ton people we want to get fair return for the
service rendered, and we would be glad TO SEE
rates restored TO a reasonable and remunera
tive basis, but it is ridiculous to suppose tina
we are controlled by other interests than oul
own in advancing any rates. OF course thu
rates will probably be made by agreement witt
| the interested lines, as uniformity in rates car
/ be reached in no other way, but the Panama
Railroads representative, who has under thu
! contract the exclusive right to conduct sucl
negotiations, will join in the advance solel,
! in the interests OF the Panama route, and no
! in the interest OF any overland line or comb
nation OF lines.
The Panama Railroad has not sold out no
! surrendered, and its interest in the transcon
| tinental traffic is not one whit less keen thar
! it has been during the last three years. L
quote the language of our president. J. Ed
ward Simmons, the Panama officials, in fcrmu
/ lating a contract, "made it an indispensable
! condition that the Panama Railroad should b
! kept open as an Independent and active com
petitor of the transcontlnental lines" One o
! the most marked features OF the new agree
ment is the strong guarantee it affords of thu
perfect independence of the Panama route
! and the line is entitled to just cordial sup
port now from the merchants of San FranciSc
| as though the Panama Railroad Compan
were operating its own steamers in the Pacific