The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-24
WHERE RAILWAY MANAGEMENT
TELLS

y SAN FRANCISCAN now on his way to
Alaska. in a private letter from Seattle, under
date of June u, states that Seattle is doing a
great deal more Alaskan business than San Fran
CISCO and notes as an evidence that six steamers,
heavily laden with freight and passengers, lett on as
many days this last week He also noted during his
stay the arrival OF large number OF miners and
others from Alaskan ports at Seattle, so 1t is ap-
parent the little city to the north OF is getting the
Klondike trade going coming, while We are re-
ceiving comparatively but small amount.
The explanation OF the abnormal course the
Alaskan trade is taking in going to small city when
the metropolis OF the coast is Just convenient Tor
its uses is to be found in the policy OF the railroads
of the one place as contrasted with that OF the other
President Hill OF the Great Northern is necessarily
busy in building up the country through which his
road passes and is particularly Jealous in promoting
the interests OF its terminal points He has offered to
tourists to immigrants, freight shippers-n short,
to all classes OF persons in the East who wish either
to come West to ship goods to or from the West
large inducements patronize his lines. Any move
ment calculated to build up St. Paul or Puget Sound
ports finds in him a cordial, prompt and power
ful supporter.
Very different is the policy pursued by Huntington
and his colleagues OF the Southern Pacific with refer
ence 10 San Francisco SO far from helping to build
up the trade of the city, they lie in wait for it. as
bandit lies in wait for traveller that they may levy
tribute upon by extorting from it all the traffic will
bear. having no more regard for the welfare of San
Francisco than backmaer has for the welfare OF his
victim.
SO extensively have the railway managers of roads
leading Puget Sound ports advertised the facilities
of those cities that they in Eastern 10
cates better known trading places than San Fran
cisco itself Marked attention has been given to the
Alaskan trade and Eastern adventures eager to try
their fortunes in the gold fields are induced to go to
Seattle or Tacoma to outfit instead Of coming here.
In that way the trade taken away from the metropo
lis to cities that have less facilities for handling it.
less adequate supplies for equippng it and less induce
ments to offer it
Nothing can be expected OF Mr.. Huntington but
by resolute and combined efforts the merchants Of
San Francisco can yet succeed in overcoming the
handicap which the Southern Pacific monopoly puts
upon them Now that the first wild excitement and
the exaggerated boom over the Klondke gold dis
cOveres have passed away it is clearly to be seen the
Alaskan trade is one OF great and growing value
Experience has shown that the climate is by no
seans so rigorous as was supposed Quartz mining
sff soon take the place of the surface scrapng which
Ia now going on and the results are certain to be rich
for years to come. The trade with such territory
Is not only worth having but worth working for and
despite the railway handicap can be attained if the
work be undertaken with energy and sagacity.