The daily morning Alaskan., 1901-05-03

F The steamship companies doing busi- ness with Southeastern Alaska having headquarters on Puget Sound and in British Columbia got out some great big pruning knives down there last week, and in this the springtime Of their prosperity did unmercifully prune the tree of rates which heretofore has bore the golden fruit. At the time the Dolphin. by which the news was re- ceived, left Seattle, which was last Sun day evening. there was every indica- ton of still further cutting To change the metaphor. the greatest rate war m the history of northern transporta- ton is now on, and where it will end no man is wise enough to foretell.
 Last Friday representatives Of the Association of Alaski transportation companies, which has been in bushes three years principally to prevent a ruinouS cut in rates, net m Seattle. The old question of American boats keeping out of British Columbia ports in their quest for Alaska business was brought mp. The Canadian Pacific Nav igation Company it is stated. insisted that this must be done-that the Brit ish trade for the north be left to it and it would keep out of the American ports. The American companies which have been doing a nice business with Victoria and Vancouver. particularly the latter refused. it is said to accede to this demand. whereupor the English company withdrew The Pacific Coast Steamship Company quickly followed and then came the Humboldt Steam ship Co.,. and the Alaska Steamship company When the thing was up to the Washington & Alaska Steamship | Company. there was nothing left to withdraw from. for the association had gone to pieces. This is the way it was told here.
 Anyhow the association disbanded and each of it's former members is now on it's own hook. WhIe at first the affair took the form of a fight be tween the American companies on one side and the Canadian Pacific on the other. the former have been chahng under the restraints of the compact ior some time and have not been working harmoniously together There has been, it is claimed sharp practices re- sorted to among some of them 10 get business and this has enpendered un- friendly feelings. SO much SO that the chance for break away presented Fri day, was seized upon by some of the companies with avidity.
 The news from below is in SubStanc that the breach is a hopeless one and that each line is out after business for itself. The Canadian Pacific people arC going to invade the enemy'S territory and have instructed their Seattle agent to book business in bond. The Ameri can lines will also carry the war into | Africa.
 The fact that the British corporation 1 is soon to add the rehtted Islander and the magnificent Haytian or Hay ting. as she is called below. to its fleet has doubtless had something to do ir precipitating the conflict
 Agent Frank F.. Burns. of the Alas ka Steamship Company. got in inc first blow in the local fight. Scarcel, had the Dolphin tied up when he had cut-rate oi ten dollars hrSt-claSs ana five dollar Second-claSs placarded on his spacious bulletin board and the fly CTS lines had not been cast off ten min utes before he had the Dirigo billed tc carry first and second-class passengers at five dollars and two dollars and ; half respectively The other agentt smiled but did not say anything. Witt knowing look they said "our time i'
 The Senator is billed 10 sail on tl' coming
 fifth J. II. Kelly. her agent. was mol quoting any fares yesterday. but mad, the magnificent statement that th, Pacific Coast Steamship Company would meet any rate made by the othei companies" and seemed to intimat, that it might take hand in establish ing some Said he: "My company i here to do business and now that th, reducing of rates has commenced. ", will go just as far as any of them. Tn, contingencies of the future will b, dealt with as they arise regard it a a fight in earnest and you can bet d., Pacific Coast will be in it to the end. i Mir F.. T. Pope. who represents th, l Washington & Alaska Steamship Com