The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-10-19
MERRILY
POURS THE
MONEY IN
Merchants Cheerfully Sub
scribe to the New Line
Of Steamers.
THE WORK OF CANVASSING BEGUN.
Vigorous Denial That Only the
Hardware Interest Is
at Stake.
ALLEGED SOPHlSTRIGS PUNCTURED.
Several stanch Vessels Soon to Be
Chartered-Why Captain Good
all Objects,
ALLEGED SOPHlSTRIGS PUNCTURED,
Several Stanch Vessels Soon to Be
Chartered-Why Captain Good
all Objects,

The war is now on in grim earnest. The
merchants Of this city have issued the
edict that they do not intend to be shut
out OF competition with the merchants of
Portland, let the Oregon Railroad and
Navigation Company say what it will.
Their work thus far to rid themselves of
the unjust discrimination by the estab-
fishing of new line to be operated and
controlled entirely by them selves has been
rich in practical results and enthusiasm
increases in proportion TO the advance
ment made.
A meeting of the mem bers of the com
mittee was held yesterday afternoon in
the Board OF Trade rooms to complete its
preliminary arrangements. Two things
were decided upon g. nerally: That the
chartering of vessels shall begin at once
and that the city shall be divided into d s.
tricts, each of which shall be thoroughly
canvassed for subscriptions. The work of
the committee was private and it is not
willing for the full details of what was
decided upon to be given to the public
yet, but promises that this hall be done
in due time.
No permanent officers of the association
have been chosen as yet, but the original
committee has been divided into sections,
each OF which will have charge of the can
wasting Of particular branch of mercan-
tile business. 1t is believed that by this
method the best results can be secured in
the shortest time.
The subscription lists for the movement
were put in active circulation yesterday
the committee reports, with the most
gratifying results. The various mem bers
unite in stating that the trouble does not
consist in getting subscribers, but in de-
Gliding who shall sign among the first.
Every body seems to be eager TO head the
list
at was openly stated" said A. c. Rulof-
son OF Bake & HamiIton's yesterday,
that the real test would come when we got
out our lists for subscriptions. Well,
they're out nov. Mine has been out all
morning and it has been handed round
and signed so industriously that l have
not had a chance 10 see il yet. Ii that
doesn t show that We are in fair way of
success. l would like to know what
would"
1t has also been asserted that the move
ment is confined exclusively among he
hardware-dealers or that, at least, ihev
are the ones responsible for its agitation.
This is denied by al. In speaking of this
w. r. Whee'er Of HoI brook, Merrill 81
Seasons said:
THE boot and shoe, the crockery, the
dry goods, the cigar and other industries
are well represented in the proposed trans
portation company. This IS not move
ment to benefit any one branch of trade,
but all"
at simply happened So" declared Mr..
Eulofson, that l was appointed a mem
Der OF the committee, and the fact that |
am connected with the hard ware business
had nothing 10 do with it. Mr.. Wheeler
Is connected with firm that deals in
stoves, plum bers' supplies, etc.. Mr..
Munson represents the tea and spice in
dustry; Mr.. Loveland represents the gro
Gerry and Mr. Block the crockery industry,
ana so 1t continues"
Freight Agent. Connors of the Oregon
Railway and Navigation Company has
INDUCED in some statements regarding
the cheapness OF transportation on his lin
that are com tated by the me m bers of the
committee. OF them, Mr. Wheeler saws:
His statements are sophisiical. for
practically all The rates he mentions are
III carload lots of "a, 900 pounds. All the
ARTICLES mentioned are in quantities oil over
II, 900 pounds, and com prise limited list
His general tariff is very high. If the
rates were only fair and equita bic. the
merchants could do vastly better Than thew
are. This has been coEclusively demon
strated in the past. He says that the
goods mentioned comprise nearly nine
tenths of the tonnage between this CITY
abu IOrtIanu. mat may be true, for the
rates are so very high no other goods can
be shipped.
He says his line is not reriunerative
but Is run merely as a convenience That.
is just what we have maintained all the
time. We are not going into this as
transportation business, but merely to
secure that territory which we regard as
our legitimate market. We are not try-
ing to down anybody else. We are fight
ing for self preservation
Captain Goodali, local superintendent
OF the Oregon Railway and Navigation
Company, is vigorous in his assertion
that tie new movement will find itself in
a bad box. He says the rate of his line
has teen "ridiculously low" and that no
money has been made tor several years.
He adds:
Now, however, that there is sign or
two Of prosperity the shippers want to
snatch all the plums. They ex ect too
much when they think they should pay
The same money on goods hauled from
Chicago here and up by water TO Portland
that their com petitors. the Portland mer-
chants, pay for the straight railroad haul