The San Francisco call., 1896-03-08
It Is Now a Bitter Three.Cor'
nered Fight for Through
Business.
SIX DOLLARS TO NEW YORK
That Is the Rate at Which Freight
Will Shortly Be Taken via
Panama.

AS matters now stand there is little pros
pect of an early settlement of the through
rate war. The interests involved are SO
important and so many that even if truce
were declared at once it would take from
thirty to ninety days to adjust matters so
that shippers can figure on stable rates In
transacting their business.
1t is now known that third factor is
making a quiet but effective fight for
through business. This is the Dispatch
line of clipper ships, OF which John Rosen-
fields Sons are the local agents. And this
lends another complication to the sltu-
alton.
1t is now a matter for the transcontl-
mental lines, the Panama-Pacifc Mail
combination and the clipper people to
effect an arrangement that Will restore
peace and permanent rates.
The Dispatch line has now the M. 7.
Grace on the berth and is taking freight at
30 cents per 100 pounds, Notwithstanding
the tact that the charter price of the vessel
is the same amount. 1t is also reported
that shippers have been quoted a 20-cent
rate and one merchant is said TO have been
tempted with 15-cent rate.
Louis Rosenfeld, when asked about the
peculiar attitude of his firm in this matter,
stated that no rate had been offered that
was less than 80 cents per 100 pounds,
but" he added, irrespective of cost we
will maintain our business and carry
freight if we have TO carry it for nothing.
| will add that we are to-day getting much
larger shipments, as against the railroad
rates, than before, ana we are contem-
plating further reduction to go into ef
feet before long, to meet the proposed re-
duction via Panama"
Whether the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company consents or not a 30-cent rate on
east bound business will 60 into effect on
the Panama route on the 23d inst. Notice
was given the Pacific Mail Company by
the Panama company on the Sd inst. that
il was DESTROYS of having this new rate go
into effect, and, according to the contract
between the allies, this rate becomes ef-
fective twenty days after notice is given.
The Pacific Mail has the privilege, how
ever, OF putting it into effect at once, but
this il is not likely TO do.
At the Southern Pacific office 1t was
stated by c. +. Smurr, the general freight
agent, that no cut was contemplated by
the railroad company TO meet this reduc-
ton OF the water carriers.
Traffic Manager Stubs views the situa-
ton with encouragement that is deeply
tinged with disgust at what he declares to
be the unfair attitude of the Panama peo-
pie. He pointed out that according to his
idea no less than ten distinct railroad in
terests were interested in through freights
between Atlantic and Pacific ports, and
added that the Panama Railroad Com
pany, having smaller interests at stake
than any one of these roads, was vet de-
manding a much larger proportion of busi-
ness than any of them. He then eX-
planned that the war could not be brought
hxyo 1ir1cf hattx-
the Panama-Pacitic Mail com binatlon and
the Southern Pacific all the transconti-
mental roads-twenty or more of them
would have TO confer and decide on the
matter.
Manager SchweTin yesterday took ex-
ception to the light his company was
placed in by shipper, who, in an inter-
view published in Fridays CALL, claimed
that there was lack OF dock room and
that great inconvenience resulted from the
practice Of receiving freight not earlier
than two days before the sailing of a
steamer. Mr.. Schwerin explained that the
trouble was caused by the heavy traffic
with Central American ports. The facili-
ties there, he said, for unloading vessels
are very poor and the steamers are conse-
quently prevented from keeping schedule
time, making their stay in this port shorter
than contemplated. 1t is desired to have
the vessels lie here eight days, but the
steamer that left before that of yesterday
was at the wharf but three days, and the
Colon, which left yesterday, but six days.
Their brief stays were said to be due to
the lateness OF their arrival
$50 far as dock room is concerned" said
Mr.. Schwerin, "the merchants of San
Francisco ought to pay visit to West
street, New York, and see the trains of
trucks there; they would not then be so
ready to complain, particularly when they
stop to consider that we have worked up
this Central American trade to its present