Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-05
THE FREIGHT WAR.
Dealers in Bangor and Vicin-
ity Watch it With Interest.
Maine Central, Maine Steamship Co.
and Metropolitan Co. Concerned.
A Bangor Trading Scheme That Is a Bonanza
For the Operators.

settlement of the big freight war,
which has been carried on for some
weeks by the Maine Central Railroad.
the Maine Steamship Co. and the Met
ropolitan Steamship Co., is said to be
near at hand. Maine people are fami-
liar with the territory which these lines
cover and their movements during the
past two Or three months have been
watched with great interest especially
by the business men who depend al
most entirely on Boston and New York
for market. Several months ago, N
l.. NeWcomb of New York. who is we'll
known to Maine men as a man of more
than ordinary ability and energy, an
nounced that he was to establish line
of steamers between Bangor and New
York, Portland and New York and
PASSPORT and New York. This an
nouncement was made long before, the
war with Spain began and it was stat
ed that the steamers would begin run
ming in July
July came and no steamers appeared
and the business men, especially those
in this city, began to think that the
scheme had fallen through, but one day
| they We're notified that the new COM
pany would be unable to begin business
as announced, because the government
| had purchased several steamers which
| they hoped to get for the lines touch.
ing the Maine coast
| Mr. Newcomb's company made great
| preparations for starting the new
steamboat lines. Money seemed to be
no object with him and the ball was
started rolling, with the lease of one of
the finest wharf privileges in New York
at rental of something like $4,000 u
year. The company leased the Eagle
| wharf in this city and for several
| months prior to opening the line, they
| kept an-agent here and at points along
| the Penobscot river on a salary. Peo-
pie wondered why they did this bur
things We're explained later when the
! announcement was made that the
steamship Pentagoet would arrive here
on such a day on her first trip from
| New York. The Pentagoet come and
the new. line has since been doing a
paying business.
The freight war began about as soon
as Newcomb started his first steamer.
The lines above mentioned got their
heads together and made a sweeping
reduction in rates from New York and
Boston to this city and points in Aroos-
took county, The rates We're cut down
almost one-half and now the different
transportation lines are carrying all
kinds of merchandise so cheap that the
profit account is beginning to grow
small
Prior to the deal of the two railroads
and the two steamship lines, the Maine
Central, at every opportunity turned
it's freight, when it was not otherwise
routed, to the Boston & Maine and
Metropolitan Steamship Co, and the
Maine Steamship people were obliged
to work hard for business. The Man
haitian line, which is Mr.. Newcomb's S,
caused the four other companies to link
| together and a circular was sent out
that the rates on freight to or from
New York to this city, would be just
the same via the Maine Steamship line
to Portland, or by the way of the Bos-
ton & Maine Railroad and the Metro
politan Steamship Co. to New York.
| When the cut in rates was made all
If the business from this way turned
for some reason towards the Maine
l
have almost been unable to handle the
| big freight business and the Metropoli-
ltan boats from Boston to New York
have been going back and forth. prac-
| tically light Now it is said that there
are two directors in the metropolitan
company, who are also directors in the
Boston & Maine, and they are dissat-
isfied with the way business is going
and want things changed. There Is
also another interesting phase to the
question The cut rates do not effect
Portland business men. They do moi
get the benefit of this low tariff bu'
, have to pay the old rates. Manager
s Newcomb is to put on two boats be
81 tween New York and Portland, TINS
month, and the Portland business mef
are anxiously awaiting their coming
slJ. H. Sherman of Camden, will be agen
for the Manhattan line in Portland, ant
it is stated that Mr.. Newcomb ha'
made arrangements with the Crane
Trunk Railroad whereby he will get al
immense amount of business from TN
section reached by that line.
al In the meantime Bangor merchant
are looking for an advance in the New
I'll York rates and many of them say tina
lust as soon as the river closes so ina
Manager Newcomb will be shut OUT
4 that the old rates will again go into Ell
q feet The outcome of the war il
: watched with interest.
| The latets scheme to induce people
TO do their trading with a aparticuia
concern is the result of the cleve
! | working brain of a Bangor merchant
This mans scheme is entirely new.
is a money maker for him, and mon
~ maker for the other merchants wh'
] are in it, Books are issued contalnlnt
Eve coupons, worth Is cents each. IN
bearer of the book sells these coupons
to his friends, and he then presents nj
book at the Office and gets an orde
on a dry goods house, druggist or
Iboot and shoe dealer for $500 worth Q
goods. He presents this order which j
laccepted as cash, and the next day tn
merchant takes the orders TO tn
..banker" and gets the cash for then
LESS a commission of 10 per cent.
5Continuad on page 81