The herald., 1897-02-19
TRACK AND TRAFFIC NOTES
Better Ferry Service Needed at
the Bay
A SPEEDY STEEL VESSEL
VIII Be Added TO the Southern Pacific
Fleet
The National Traffic Association In Session at
Chicago Considers the Duties
of Common Carriers
Associated Press Special Wire

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 1S.-The
Southern Pacific railroad company is
preparing to make an important i'm
provement in its local broad gauge fer
ry service between San Francisco and
Oakland. The increasing traffic be-
tween San Francisco and the towns on
the east side of the bay has caused the
Southern Pacific company to discover
the need of better facilities for handling
the business. The Southern Pacific di-
rectors have agreed that it's ferry fleet
is rapidly becoming inadequate for the
purposes of the local traffic and that
it must be enlarged without further de-
lay. 1t has been agreed that an extra
boat is needed to permit Of the running
of boats every twenty minutes on the
broadgauge line during the busy hours
of the morning and evening, and the
Union Iron works has been asked to
funish the company with plans for a
modern and speedy steel vessel and an
estimate of its cost.
The new vessel will be modern boat
in every sense of the word. 1t will be
vessel of approximately the same
displacement of the steamers Piedmont
and Oakland, but with more cabin ac-
commodations and more facilities for
the comfort of passengers. Ii will be
a screw steamer and 1t the same time
double-ender, and 1t will be equipped
with boilers and machinery of suf1i-
cient horsepower to make the trip be-
tween San Francisco ard Oakland mole
including the time consumed in starting
and landing, in Is minutes.
WANT A FAIR DEAL
CHICAGO Feb. 1S.--Represen
of the great commercial enterprises
gathered at the board of trade today to
attend the annual meeting of the Ma
tional Tfansportati tioa association.
About twenty-five delegates were pres
ent, prominent shippers and business
men from all parts of the country, rep
resenting membership of about 20 600
The meeting, which was held behind
closed doors, was called to order by
President Frank Barry of Milwaukee,
who delivered the annual address
In his address, President Barry said
the National Transportation association
had been in existence for nearly seven
years. 1t had accomplished much, both
directly and indirectly for those whom
1t represented. 1t stood as a restraining
influence for all who viewed might as
right, ready to act forcibly and effective
ly in emergency and endeavoring to ac-
complish needed reforms and benefits
The association had ever been the
frind of the interstate commerce act
and had been frequently called upon by
the commission for advice and assist
ance. 1t had been persstently at work
for the establishment of a uniform clas-
sitcation and bill of leding for use by
all transportation companies in the
country. 1t had advocated fair and
equitabl car service rules which should
not be one-sided in operation but would
give demurrage to the shipper or re-
ceiver of freight who suffered injury or
loss through delay on the part of the
carrier, just as it gave to the railroad
company compensation for tardy un-
loading of its goods. These and other
measures would be persistently followed
until the purposes of the association
were accomplished.
Secretary Stones address dealt with
the interstate commerce act. He said
in part:
THE law itself was largely the result
of evils which grow out of pooling. 1t
is now proposed not only to forbid pool
ing, but actually to install ii in the BODY
of the law itself. This is a high handed
proposition and attacks the very citadel
of the law, contemplating pra ctically its
overthrow. A part of this proposition
which gives it plausibility is that pooling
sion.
This means but little in view of the
history of the commission whose man.
dates have in so many instances been
set aside or evaded by those who set up
this proposition. Let the railroad cor
operations first obey the law and CO.
operate for it's enforcement. Let these
gentlemen cleanse their hands before
they raise them in petition a the bar of
this tribunal, remembering that they
must come into court with clean hands
as only such can plead in the temple of
justice"
resolution was adopted deprecat-
Ing the agitation in certain sections
against the interstate commerce law
and the interstate commerce commits
sion. The resolution also urges such leg
islation amendatory of the law as will
give the commission power to enforce its
decisions.
Another resolution was adopted urg-
ing such modification of existing rail-
road rates as will afford to the trans
mississippi states another outlet for
their products to gulf ports, all rates
equally advantageous as compared with
rates via the northern routes.
The resolution recommends the adop-
ton of distance or actual mileage as
the basis of such rates
JAPANESE SHIPPING
TACOMA, Feb 1S-It is rumored in
Japan that a new steamship company
will operate a line of steamers on the
Pacific with Tacoma as the terminal
point. 1t is known the company expects
to secure a large bonus from the govern
ment and that it is the intention to have
the head office in Kobe, with branch
offices in Japan, Corea, China and Aus
tralian ports.
Chancellor Somyea of the Tacoma
consulate, says he has noticed reports
in the native japanese papers of the
intention to establish such a line. He
said according to accounts the company
proposed to build an excellent class OF