The herald., 1897-11-09
LOWER FREIGHT RATES
SAN FRANCISCO PROPOSES 4
RIVAL STEAMSHIP LINE
A Northern Missionary Wants Moral
support and Encouragement in
Securing Los Angeles Trade

A meeting of the local merchants was
held last evening at the rooms of the
Merchants and Manufacturers associa-
tion. to meet A. C. Rulofson Of the Mer-
chants Freighting association of San
Francisco. o. L. Scott of the firm OF
was also present.
c. B. Boothe called the meeting to or
der and introduced the northern visit
ors.
Mr.. Rulofson stated that the object of
his visit to Los Angeles was to confer
with the merchants and shippers of this
city and to interest them in movement
proposed by the San Francisco business
men to establish line of steamships on
the coast. with the hope of reducing
freight rates. He stated that all that
San Francisco asked of Los Angeles was
its moral support and encOurag cement
In enabling the merchants of the north
to enter the field of competition against
the eastern drummer Southern Cali
fornia has now to meet eastern compe-
tition and it would be more to the ad-
vantage Of Los Angeles merchants to
compete with San Francisco than with
the east. Mr.. Rulofson outlined the
plan proposed by the business men Of
his city. They have formed the Mer.
chants Freighting association and are
securing subscriptions of certain sums
per month that will aggregate $4,000 for
three years. An executive committee
will be elected to handle the money and
to treat with steamship companies to
carry freight for certain guaranteed
sum, at as low a rate as any other line
will make. This rival line of vessels will
stop at all points in Oregon, Washing
ton, California and Mexico, making three
trips month.
Mr.. Rulofson stated that there is not
steamship running on the coast that
is owned in this state, and he hoped that
by the time the proposed three years
contract expires there will be eastern
capital enough in California to own it's
steamers. He described at some length
the benefit the hardware men had de-
rived from associated action and that
the same uniformity between the north
and south in other lines of trade would
be equally advantageous. If the mer-
chants of the whole state were banded
together 1t would be a small number
compared with those of the eastern
cities competing for western trade.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Rulofson's
remarks the local merchants We're re-
quested to express their views. The sub
ject was not taken UP with any marked
enthusiasm. Each speaker acknowl-
edged that he could see that it would be
a good thing for San Francisco, but COR
fessed his inability to see where it would
benefit Los Angeles.
Mr.. Daniels thought the movement
displayed admirable enterprise and
while he liked to see the lion and the
lamb lie down together, he objected to
the lamb lying down inside the lion. If
the proposed steamship company ope-
rated like the Valley railroad. which is
now built almost to Bakersfield, Los An
geles would be very much the loser. If
the equalization of freight in steamships
operated like the Valley road it would
be disastrous to the shipping trade of
this city. All Los Angeles wants from
San Francisco is fair field and a free
fight. If they could be assured of no
discrimination in freight rates he would
he with the San Francisco merchants
in the movement.
Mr.. Meyberg, Mr.. Koepfii and others
expressed similar doubts concerning the
benefit likely to accrue to Los Angeles.
Mr.. Scott spoke of the immense emf
grafton to the Klondike anticipated in
the spring. Tacoma and Seattle have
flooded the east with literature describ-
ing how to get there, how to outfit for
the trip, etc., and at the lowest estimate
it is expected that there will be $4,000
people go in as soon as the weather is
suitable. Inquiry has been received for
transportation facilities from San Fran
cisco for 1000 people from Australia. Mr..
Scott pointed out the market this will
afford for California products, as every
thing, even hay for the horses, must be
shipped there. Unless there is a rival
steamship line and lower freight rates,
all this shipping will go into the hands
of a corporation.
No action was taken by the meeting.
the matter being laid over until the next
regular meeting