The San Francisco call., 1896-03-17
Beneficial Results of the Freight
Traffic War to That
City.
LOWER RATES TO PREVAIL.
Shingles Can Now Be Shipped From
Humboldt Bay to Compete With
the Sound.

Within the past few weeks there have
been developments in the transportation
situation on the coast that are bound to
result in giving decided impetus to the
commercial growth of Eureka and the en-
tire section tributary to this metropolis of
Hum boldt Bay.
AS side issue OF the great traffic war
passenger and ght-between the South
ern Pacific Company and the Oregon Rail-
way and Navigation Com pany for business
between this City and Portland, Or. the
North Pacific Steamship Company,
third competitor for the freight tariff be-
tween the points mentioned, not only cut
its tariff down to 81 ton. but also invaded
Coos and Humboldt bays with it's vessels
the Alice Blanchard and the Empire.
In retaliation the Oregon Railway and
Navigation Company put on the South
Coast, which took freight at the same rate
to Portland and cut the rate from Port
land to Eureka. CAL, to 81, it having been
So to that port from San Francisco pre-
viously. This resulted in injuring the
trade of the local merchants with Hum
bOldt Bay, and the m after having been
called to the attention of the San Fran
cisco Board of Trade. that body called
special meeting of the local commercial Or
CARNATIONS to consider the matter.
A special committee was appointed, con-
sisting of A. L. Scott, w. 4. Wheeler, T.
]. Parsons and w. B. Curtis, to confer
with Goodall. Perkins & Co., the local gem
eral agents of the Oregon Railway and
Navigation Company, In order to arrive at
what would be considered a fair settlement
of the matter. This committee met yes
terday and as the first steps in the just
ment of the matter agreed to send the fol-
lowing communication to the Oregon
Hallway and Navigatio n Company repre-
sentatives:
Messrs. Goodal, Perkins & Co. General Agents
r. d N. Co.. City-G GENTLEMEN: At the coiver-
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 Franz ncisco Fruit
committee was appointed to confer with you
in reference to the discrimination in rates
which your line is main tanning betwee Port
land, Or, and north coast ports south of there,
notably Eureka. as AGAINST San Francisco.
The committee after due deliberation begs
permission to make to you the following re-
quest. We contend that San Francisco being
but ZIG miles from Eureka as against 500
miles from Portland to Eureka is entitled to
the lower rates. We request, therefore, that
rates from San Francisco to Eureka shall be
adjusted on mileage basis, San Francisco re-
ceiving 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
Portland and Eureka be discontinued. We
would be pleased to hear from you on the
proposition as outlined above at as early date
as practicable.
1t is believed that there will be prompt
compliance with the request of the com-
mittee and that not only will justice be
done the merchants of this City, but
Eureka and Humboldt Bay will be given
the benefit of lower rates than heretofore
from San Francisco.
But the most important development so
far as Eureka is concerned has been ac-
complished through the Traffic Association
of this City and largely through the per-
sonal efforts of Traffic Manager w. B.
Curtis.
Heretofore Eureka has always been
placed at a great disadvantage as against
the Puget Sound country in the business
of supplying shingles to the East, because
it was not located on transcontinental
line. and did not enjoy the privilege of a
terminal rate. The matter was taken up by
the Traffic Association and the result Is
best told in the following telegram sent on
the 18th inst. to Secretary D. X. b. Sell
lers of the Eureka Chamber of Commerce
by Traffic Manager Curtis:
The Traffc Association Of California to the Cham
Der Of Commerce Of Eurekd-GREETING: The Gen.
trail and Union Pacific railroads have agreed
with us to make from Eureka to the Missouri
River and Chicago the same rates per 100
pounds on shingles, carloads, as is made from
Puget Sound 10 the same destination, and
those railroads will pay the charges from
Eureka to San Francisco, provided that the
charge is not more than 81 so per ton weight
on board cars at San Francisco. The steamers
North Fork, Alice Blanchard or Empire will
take at that rate, or you can ship by any vessel
that will carry for that figure and deliver al
Mission Bay or Oakland wharf on board cars.
The Importance of this may be gathered
from the fact that last year there was
shipped East from Puget Sound 5000 car
loads of shingles as against 80 carloads
from Eureka. This concession will not in
any way interfere with the business OF
those who ship shingles East from San
Francisco, as nearly all such firms are the
owners of mills in Humboldt county
Later it is hoped to obtain similar con-
cession on lumber.