The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-05-22
SEA AND SHORE
The Trans-PaCifC Rates
Advance.
| Conference Ends Its La bors--Scar-
city of Sailors in San Francisco.
Other Items.

conference, a big advance in passenger
rates between Oriental points and San
Francisco and between Oriental points
and Europe via San Francisco and the
other transpacific gateways will go into
effect June 18th. Rates outbound from
San Francisco are not to be disturbed,
but inbound rates from the Orient are
to be advanced in degree that is al
most startling, as the increase approx
mates nearly 25 per cent.
When the transpacific traffic confer
ence adjourned it left the question of
passenger rates to subcommittee,
which has since been holding Iaily ses-
sions in an endeavor to bring about an
understanding and a reimbursement OF
fares
The principal question considered b.
the committee was the equalization OF
cabin rates. The rate from San Fran
CISCO to Hongkong has been $225, and
the rate in the opposite direction has
been $1S5. The same rates also applied
to and from other Pacific coast ports
reached by the transpacific lines. 1t was
agreed to allow the outbound rate to
remain undisturbed and to advance the
inbound rate $40, thus making the rate
the same in both directions. At the
same time it was agreed to advance the
rate from Hongkong to London via Pa
cific coast gatewayS from 81 to j. 62.
This action, it is announced, is in ac-
coTdance with an agreement with the
Suez lines, the representatives of which
will meet in London and take similar
action.
Rates for cabin La sage from al other
Japanese and Chinese points to the Pa
cific coast are advanced N about the
same proportion as the rate from Hong
kong. The new rates will be as follows:
From Yokohama, $500; from Kobe
s2975O; from Nagasaki, $21S, and from
Shanghai, 1925. These are all big ad-
vances over existing rates.
Storage rates were considered at
some length with view to readJustlns
them on basis more favorable to the
carriers. 1t was decided to change the
present rate of $40 gold to Hongkong,
but the new rate and the date on which
it will be made effective were left for
future consideration. The rate of S1OO
Mexican from Hongkong to San Fran
cisco was allowed to remain at that
figure. Rates from Japanese ports have
been greatly demoraliZed on account OF
the competition of tramp steamers,
which have taken steerage passengers
for as low as SIS and $40. The COM
mittee decided to establish a rate of So
yen from Yokohama and other Japan
csc ports, but not with the idea of
maintaining it for some time to come.
| It was announced at the meeting that
/ the Japanese Government was expected
| TO take steps shortly looking TO the
| curtailment of japanese emigration
This is expected to operate to the dis
advantage and probably to the entire
abolition of tramp steamer competi-
| ton, in which event the rate of sc
yen will be permanently established
and maintained. In the meantime the
regular lines will make variable rates
| to meet the competition existing at
each sailing.
. This concludes the labors of the pas
| senger conference. The new rates
agreed upon will be Immediately incor-
! porated in a new transpacific tariff, and
the officials from distant points will
| then take their departure. 1t is an
nounced that all of the new rates will
| go into effect on the same date, June
15ths-S. F. Chronicle, May 10.
May Come to r onoiulu
The schooner Hattie E. Smith, of 1O2
tons, which was built at Edgartown,
Mass, in 1869, and intended for Arctic
cruising, is now at Brooklyn, N. Y,
| being fitted out for pleasure cruising
| purposes. She has been purchased by
| Mr.. Kent, merchant of Hongkong.
who intends to take her out there and
cruise with her on the China and Jap
an coasts and through the South Sea
Islands. The Smith is a substantial
fore-and-aft rugged schooner and is be-
| ing fitted up in a comfortable manner
under the supervision of Captain D. N
Pratt The schooner will be under the
command of Captain James A. Lord.
Scarcity of Sailors.
Twenty sailors have unceremonious-
ly left the revenue cutter Manning since
she arrived in San Francisco from New
York, though on account of the scare
| ity of sailors at that port wages were
raised from $25 to $35 a month for able
! seamen. The Manning has been able
to secure a few men to take the places
! OI InOSe VINO leIC, put St1ll lacks sea-
men, and was not able to sail for the
north ON schedule time, May 18th Most
of the twenty men, it is said, got the
| Nome fever. The same scarcity of sail
ors exists all along the water front in
| San Francisco. The barkentine Jane
| l.. Stanford, the ship Glory of the Seas
and other vessels were short of men.
f The Italian bark Precursors is not only
| hampered for lack Of men, but is said
to be in distress on account of lack of
| funds, and may not sail as soon as ex-
pected
Chicago and Liverpool.
CHICAGO, April PA direct line of
steamers from Chicag, to Liverpool
doubtless will be the outcome of num-
Der of projects now on foot From pres
ent indications the ships will be the
Welland canal size, capable of carrying
/ $4,000 bushels of wheat on a draft of
Ia feet. The promoters of one of
posed line estimate that it would take
between eighteen and twenty days to
make the trip between Chicago and
Liverpool. Careful Investigations are
4 t.