The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-04


The following letter from +. IL Gcoa-
man. general passenger agent of the
Southern Pacific road. TO the San Fran
cisco Alaska inforuasia bureau. win be
found To b. an exact statement OF the rel
asfye positions OF San Francisco and Sc
attic with reference 10 the ksonjske traf-
fic:
Mr.. J. F. Lewis. Manager Alaska In
formation Bureau. city:
Dear Sir: Replying to your communism
ton of the flfh inst. in which you sugges.
that our company reduce the rate between
Seattle and San Francisco as an incentive
Tor those destined to the Kfonaiike ard
who have used the northern lines ND 10
Tacoma or Seattle 10 visit San Francisco
ard there purchase their outfits
There are great many objections to
your plan. In the first place, IL is gen.
orally conceded that miners supplies and
outfits can be purchased as cheaply. II
not cheaper. at Seattle and Vancouver
snan IN San Francisco Even II the mer-
chants OF this city were TO offer as an
inducement the refund of the round trip
fare from Seattle to San Francisco and re-
surn in connection with every ousfit tina.
was purchased. representing a certain
amount. II Is very doubtful even then il
We could get a single passenger. az the
matter of time and delay would cat very
important figure I'm such transaction
While We fully appreciate yoar desire
10 Induce kfondikers TO make san Fran
cisco the place for Quitting, we regret TO
say that your pan 10 our mind is i'm
practicable. and We cannot under The
circumstances, indorse IL.
1T II. GOODMAN"
The Examiner uses this letter as a text
for great deal of sharp criticism Of the
Southern Pacific. accusing the railroad
of discriminating against the California
city and in favor of Seattle, and saying
among other things:
'Huntington's hostility 10 San Francisco
and her merchants was never more clearly
shown than In connection with the pres
ent klondike hegira from all parts OF the
east. Mr.. Goodman, In answer TO Mr..
Lewis letter OF inquiry as 10 how Kion-
dixie travel 10 this city can be encouraged
tries 10 beiittle San Francisco by virtually
saying Seattle is as good IL not A better
town in which 10 buy outfits In so doing
MIR. Goodman. In different words. re-
echoes Mr.. Stubs recent declaration tina,
Seattle Was bound to get the bulk OF east
ern travel In spite of anything San Fran
cisco might do"
Thee Examiner makes wild statements IN
the effect that before the rate war San
Francisco was securing as much or more.
klondike travel as Seattle: that Seattle
buys largely OF San Francisco merchants.
that the latter can sell cheaper; and that
the railroad fears only that by cutting
rates 1t cannot restore them after the war
is over
This is most absurd. The Southern Pa
cities chief coast interests are in Califor-
mia. and ii has no love to Seattle, IL the
klondike travel could be diverted to San
Francisco. 1t goes without saying that the
greatest beneficiary would be the railroad
Seattle buys very little klondike material
in California except fruits, and 1t is not
too much TO say that a Klondiker who has
reached Puget Sound could not be induced
10 go out Of his way to California by the
offer Of his railroad fare and bonus.
1t is popular among a certain class of
San Francisco newspapers to abuse the
Southern Pacific: and they are not partic-
uiar about the character or justice of
their alleged grievances, as long as they
can discover pretext to hammer away.