The San Francisco call., 1896-03-22
Goodall, Perkins & Co. in No
Mood to Make Any Con.
ceSSionS.
W. B. CURTIS IS TAKEN TO TASK
No Change Likely to Be Made in the
Rate Situation Between Here
and Eureka.

There is war cloud on the hOr1zon, ana
there are indications that it is about to
hover over field of battle in which Good
all. Perkins & Co. and Traffic Manager
Curtis of the Traffic Association are to be
the contending forces.
Some little time ago the San Francisco
Board of Trade called meeting of the
various commercial bodies of this City TO
take action on the alleged discrimination
of rates in favor of Portland, Or, as
against San Francisco in the Eureka (Cal)
traffic. AS result of this conference a
committee of four was appointed to wait
upon Goodall, Perkins & Co., the local
agents of the Oregon Railway and Naviga-
ton Company, the alleged offending car
rier. Instead of making a personal call
on the representative of the company
named Mr.. Curtis was delegated to draft
and send letter 10 the firm calling atten-
ton to the matter and proposing remedy.
This was the letter he sent:
Messrs. Goodcll, Perkins & Co., Agents o. r. d
n Company. ity-GENTLEMEN: AT the confer
ence recently held in the rooms of the Board
of Trade by representatives from the following
organizations of this City-the Chamber of
Commerce, Board of Trade, Manufacturers and
Producers Association, the Traffic association,
Merchants Association and San Francisco
Fruit Exchange-at which you were repre-
sented a committee was appointed to confer
with you in reference to the discrimination in
rates which your line is maintaining between
Portland, Or, and north coast ports south OF
there, notably Eureka, as against San Fran
cisco.
permission to make to you the following re-
quest. We contend that San Francisco being
but 216 miles from Eureka as against $50
miles from Portland to Eureka is entitled to
the lower rates. We request, therefore, that
rates from San Francisco to Eureka shall be ad-
justed on mileage basis, San Francisco receiy-
ing the benefit of her geographical position.
In refutation of press reports in both Port
land and Eureka papers we wish TO here state
that we have no demand to make, nor was any
demand ever made, that the service between
would be pleased to hear from you on the
proposition as outlined above at as early q date
practicable.
To this the following caustic reply was
sent on Friday:
William Bostuick Curtis, Esq. Traffic Manager,
Traffic association of California, San Francisco,
CdL-DEAR SIR: Yours OF the 18TH requesting
that rates from San Francisco to Eureka as
against Portland to Eureka be adjusted on a
mileage basis, in order that San Francisco may
enjoy the advantage of its geographical posi-
ton, was duly received and noted.
Your first complaint was that the rates from
Portland to Eureka were 81 per ton, while the
rates from San Francisco TO Eureka were ma
should be the same.
When at your meeting the other day we ex-
planned that the 81 rate from Portland to Eu-
reka had been established by the Portland
Office in consequence of their understanding
that such rate was current between San Fran
cisco and Eureka. AS soon as this error was
pointed out the rates were adjusted so that
substantially the same rates are now in effect
from San Francisco as from Portland to Eu-
reka. There is rate of 81 per ton in force on
flour, feed and mill stuffs from both points to
Eureka.
The low rates now in effect to various points
on the coast are war rates. These rates are not
based on mileage-if they were the rates from
San Francisco to Coos Bay would be higher
than the rates from Portland TO that point. but
they are not, and the rates from Portland to
San Francisco would be as low as in the reverse
direction, instead OF beng two or three times
higher as they are.
Do you contend that rates to all points
should be made on a mileage basis or only in
cases where it works to your advantage? And
is distance the only factor to be considered in
the fixing of rates? Should not the character
of the service be also considered?
The com paratively new. large and modern
steel steamer Pomona, costing some $3.50, 900
and with speed of fourteen to fifteen knots
per hour, makes about eight round trips per
month between here and Eureka Because
there is old vessel, like the Blanchard for in
stance, which we believe was purchased by her
present owner. for some S12 900, carrying
freight between Eureka and Portland at ruin
ously low rates, must the Pomona make still
lower rates between San Francisco and
Eureka?
We should judge there is an average of ff-
teen to twenty vessels per month sailing from
San Francisco TO Eureka, while there are about
two per month from Eureka to Portland, and
these are small, slow and irregular. At even
rates, with these advantages, we to infer
that San Francisco cannot hold her own?
If an opinion from US in this connection
would not be considered presumptious we
would suggest that sthe interest. of the mer-
chants of San Francisco is not best subserved
by antagonizing its patrons. even if they are,
TO limited extent, its rivals. Nor do we think
there is any advantage TO be gained by at
tempting to crowd q transportation com pany
which is friendly and furnishing splendid
service for very inadequate returns into an
antagonistic or unfriendly position.
perusal OF q recent article in the Eureka
Standard over the signature of the president
and secretary of the Board of Trade of Hum
boldt County indicates the effect of the agita-
ton got up by your association and which,
we think, was and is i'll advised and preiudi-
cial. Permit US to say that our company is not
responsible for the cause which has produced
the effect regarding which you plain. On
the contrary it was forced on to us against our
wish and interest. We are now trying to do
what every prudent and sensible business man
would do under like circumstances namely
protect himself and his business.
1t has been pretty well understood that you
have been fostering and fayoring the outfit
that is principally responsible for the condi-
ton OF things regarding which you now COM
plain. Under the circumstances it seems un-
generous, not to say uni Just, to hold our COM
pany responsible.
1t may not be amiss to note in this connec-
ton your very commendable efforts In trying
to obtain terminal rates on shingles from
Eureka, via San Francisco, destined East We
beg to observe, however, that in calling atten-
tion OF the people OF Eureka to this matter you
advised them that certain vessels which you
name will carry shingles at the rates referred
to, while you appear to have forgotten that the
steamer Pomona has been carrying shingles
for year at lower rates than those Won name
as you Will note by the inclosed rate circular q
copy OF which, we believe, you have on your
files.
Permit us to call your attention to the fact
that Eureka is 437 miles from Portland and
not go, as stated in your favor before u.s.
Yours truly, GooDALL, PERKINS & Co.
P. S.-Whe have addressed this letter to Won
instead of the committee who signed tn at to
which this replies, agreeably to Endorsement
thereon.
THEY STEAL ANYTHING