The San Francisco call., 1899-12-24
PACIFIC MAIL
STEAMERS MAY
TAP SAN DIEGO
Promise Good Times
for the South.
RATES LIKELY TO TUMBLE
LIVELY COMPETITION Fol
COAST TRADE PROMISED.

There is a rumor current among rail
road and shipping men which viii be OF
much interest 10 tho residents OF the
southern part OF the State.
II concerns the Pacific Mail Company
and viii. y founded on fact. make that
corporation a competitor for the coast
wise freight and passenger business cut
90 The port OF san Diego.
Heretofore the Paclhc Mail has been
obliged - keep its hands of all coast
wise freight and passenger business that
might be picked up ~ the different ports
~ the southern part OF the State owing
20 restrictions placed upon IL in this par
ocular by its contract with the Pacific
Coast Steamship Company. The contract
hy which The Pacific Mail 81 prohibited
from competing Tor the patronage that
has Until the recent advent OF he Cos
mos steamers. been the exclusive plum OF
GoOdal a. Perkins. was entered into at
the time ~ the purchase IN 1870 and VIII
expire next January. Then INC Bacinc
Mail viii Doe left untrammeled by any
outside agreements 10 20 as II pleases
and the talk 81 the street says thar II Will
please 20 enter into COmpt tition with the
Coast line and the kosmOs people for the
trade of san Diego.
II this he true il Will mean much 20
the farmers and business men OF the en-
tire southern portion Of the State. i
VIII mean sharp competition. providing
20 agreement is entered into by the three
companies. among rival corporations
backed Dy all sorts Ot capital. and viii
result IN a knocking down OF rates that
VIII enable those OF that section OF the
state 10 set their goods 10 market az a
profit which viii insure them a fair re-
turn Tor The capital they have Invested
ir their different pursuits.
The reason Tor this contemplated move
on the part 81 the Pacific Mail $ not
alone thai IT'S agreement with the Pacinc
coast Steamship people IS about 10 cX-
Iire. THAT, ct course, has something 10
do with IL. but the principal factor IN the
case is the kOsmOe line that, starting from
European ports takes IN The ertfra Coz -
~ South. Central and North America.
picking up whatever in the way Of frei ight
or passenger business may lie IN its path
ana tapping the entire territory from the
straits OF Magellan 20 san Francisco
This not only iutcrferes with the pres
ent monopoly of the Pacific Coast steam
ship Company, but By tackling the bust
ness of The Central American ports seri-
ously iuterfcres with what the Paciuc
Mall has heretofore considered its par
Lcular nie.
IN order 10 ofLss. this and extend equal
accomplishing - lhe shippers Of the
Central American States Il is thourht
that the Pacific Nail viii be forced to
take IN san Diego and other Southern
California ports both going and coming.
once iu there n viii naturally make a
strong play for whatever local business
~ can get hold of and the consequence
WILL De rate war which viii be thing
~ SOY for those who have mo friend no
brother in any one OF The companies and
whose only interest IS centcred in low
rates.
When seen yesterday concerning the re-
ported plans ~ the company Of which he
Us The head, General Manager Schwei m
said n was true that the contract be-
tween the Pacific Mail and the Pacific
Coast steamship Company expired next
month. After that date the Huntington
people would be az liberty 10 make SAN
Diego port OF can IL they so desired.
As yet no plans looking 10 such a change
In their route had been made
"Of course said Mr.. Schwerfn IF The
business AZ San Diego warrants such an
action on our part. we Will call there. At
present ~ does not. The freight and rrs-
serger business We would get from San
Diego with the existing competition would
not pay for our pilot. dock or cleara-ce
entry and other charges incident TO the
general expenses that our ships would
Incur by crterirg that port. We con-
template no such move at present. but
when our contract expires we have the
riEht 70 enter san Diego and mix in the
coastWlse trade II We so desire. and II the
business should warrant II we would prob
ably do so. We naturally go wherever il
VIII pay US 20 send our ships and enter
any trade wherein there IS a reasonable
profit"