The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-07
RAIL RATES TO ADVANCE.
TranScontinental Lines Agree on
a New Schedule of
Freights.
THE COMMODITIES AFFECTED
Their Action Will Be Promptly Fol.
lowed by the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company.

Bv agreement among the transcontinen-
tai railroads eastbound freight rates are to
be advanced.
Such was the announcement made yes
terday by c. F. Smurr, general freight
agent of the Southern Pacific Company.
Just when the advance is to 90 into effect,
however. has not been determined, though
the date is expected to be fixed to-day. 1t
is almost certain to be within two weeks.
Ever since the Panama-Paciic Mail
agreement the various railroads interested
in transcontinental business have been in
telegraphiC communication on this sub
iect seeking a basis 10 work upon that
would be satisfactory to all concerned.
This was fixed yesterday. It requires. &C.
cording TO the int erstate commerce act,
ten days notice before rates can be nut in
force, so that at the earliest the n ew rates
can not govern earlier than the 18th inst.
Speaking of the matter Mr.. Smurr said
at was agreed to-day to make some
changes in eastbound rates The date
that they go into effect has not vet been
settled. but will be tomorrow. The sec
rotary OF our company thought it best TO
first confer with the Central Traffic Asso-
citation lines before the rates were put into
effect in their territory.
1--WE think we ought to take advantage
OF the present situation 10 get something
more out of the business than operating
expenses and a little profit oil the trans
portation of freight. 1t will be, l under
stand, about three months before the
lines operating via Panama will be able to
supplement their present inadequate SER
we al ho
tunity OF making profit on the business
we may do in the meantime"
The commodities to be affected by the
advance are those which form the staple
elements of competition between the
isthmian an the overland carriers The
changes decided upon are as follows
The rate on canned goods to Chicago
and the Central Traffic Associations terri
tory, which lies between Chicago and a
line drawn through Buffalo and Pittsburg
is to be advanced from 60 cents to 70 cents
per 100 pounds, and on borax to the same
points from 80 to 70 cents
To New York the rates on barley. boracic
acid, borax, canned goods, mustard seed,
wine in glass and wood, beans and wheat
| are to be advanced from 80 cents to IS
cents per 100 pounds, and on brandy in
wood from 60 to s. cents.
The Chicago, points west OF Chicago and
to points in the territory OF the Traffic
Association the rates on canned goods
will be changed from 90 cents to 70 cents
per 100 pounds.
To Chicago and points west of Chicego
the rate on boraX and boracic acid viii be
raised from so cents to IS cents.
Rates to the seaboard territory, viz,
that lying between Buffalo and the At
Iantic, will be combination of the New
York rate and the rate out from New York.
1t was known that it was only some
such action as that now announced that
prevented the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company from putting its proposed change
of rates via Panama into effect, and it can
now be stated that the Pacific Mail will
follow closely the Southern Pacific Com
pany i'll making public its proposed ad-
vance, And it is acknowledged that the
same differential will be maintained that
is now in force, viz, So a ton or 10 cents per
100 pounds. This means that the 75.cent
rate OF the railroad company will be met
by a 60-cent rate by the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company.
On the rail rates the advance will range
from about 10 per cent to 80 per cent, while
the isthmus rates will be increased about
20 per cent.
General Freight Agent Smurr stated
that the advanced rates would certainly
remain in force until the steamship people
were able to handle all the business offered
them; but should the steamship line ad-
vance the rates so as to maintain a suitable
differential these new rates would be per-
tIo Go;I l.. !
its intention to join the railroad people in
a movement to advance rates and main
tain them, it may be considered that the
figures quoted will remain unchanged for
some time to come.