Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-05
FIGHT FOR GULF TRAFFIC
Morgan and Cromwell Lines Nsrgsa By tho
Southern Pacific.
ROCK IsLANO wILL BID TOR TNL IlAOL
Scheme 20 Enter Garveston ana
strengthen hat and other soutk-
ern Ports Involves sew
eral Interests.

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NEW YORK. Aug. L-Cspecial Teioeram.l
-on August 1 the southern Pacinc began
to operate a service to Galveston in add
tion to the existing service from New York
to New Orleans, service. says a South
ern Pacific onciai. will consist Of the Nor
gan and Cromwell lines merged into one
corporation under one management and
with one head once. although full details
are not yet ready for publication. Both
these lines have been under the domination
OF the Southern Pacific for some time and
the purpose to be served by their consoIida-
lion Is that they may be operated with
economy and with perfect harmony as the
New York-New Orleans link in the Harfi-
man trnnscontinentRl route. This Is an
Official statement on the somewhat widely
rumored change In the ~sailings Of the yes
sells Of these lines.
A Rock Island onicIaI states that the
Rock Island is going to make a bid for the
trade through gulf ports when the system
Is completed and that recent moves on the
part OF southern Pacific result from knowl-
edge Of tbs fact and preparation to meet
competition.
Importance Of Such Centred.
The paramount Importance Of. gulf tranic
control to the hartman interests will be
understood. when the statement can be
made that IL gives Mr.. Hartman absolute
control Of the ordinary freight tariff on
transcontinental business. 1t costs as much
to carry a ton Of freight one mile by rail-
as to carry It four miles By water. with
this fact before US II may be stated that on
a mileage cost basis Mr.. Hartman operates
a freight service across the continent 500
miles shorter than any other. This does
not apply TO passenger trafic. express, per-
ishable or rush freight. because. Of course.
the trunk lines from New York control
these By the fact that they are much faster.
Nor is this freight control the only reason
Hartman 10 strengthening his resources
along the gulf. Rock Island Is coming into
Galveston, international & Great Northern
Into New Orleans. Atchison. Topeka q
Santa Fe into one or other In time and
Frisco has lately made It very clear that
a gulf port Is among the things II IL going
to obtain before many years are past.
Therefore II behooves Southern Pacific to
take care OF resources. The tremendous
increase Of the percentage Of the grain from
the middle west which has gone through
gulf ports OF late years Is the prime cause
Of the anxiety Of all these roads to get a
foothold on the gulf.
Southern Paehac'a Bfs Scheme.
Southern Pacific has plans to spend
800. 900 in Galveston. The reasons for this
plan are stated by q Southern Pacific on
clal In close touch with Mr.. Hartman to be
three IN number. It was realized that COM
pvtisivn was yTvss;Is aas ras TsFT
plainly shown last year that the present
lines into New Orleans could not adequately
handle the trafac OF southern Pacinc. 1t
became necessary either to build more
Southern Pacific lines into that city or find
another port. The reasoning that leads to
the adoption Of the latter plan are inter-
esting.
The FIRST and. most important Is that
there Is much greater possibility in the fu-
ture OF the Galveston plan. It would be
possible to add to tho lines, running into
New Orleans and handle trafic satisfacto-
rily for a few years at least. but Southern
Pacific can only Increase It's strength In
New Orleans to a limited extent, beyond
which 1t capRot 90, while by taking time
by the forelock in Galveston It secures q
port In which II will be possible to expand
and increase facilities, no matter how
greatly trafic may increase.
Hartman Anticipates Rivals.
The second reason that Galveston was
favored is that Mr.. Hartman desired to
anticipate the establishment OF q rival
shipping point at Galveston by other lines,
Atchlson, Rock Island and possibly Frisco.
Two Of these at least are aiming at the
establishment OF steamship services from
Galveston or Sabine Pass to New York.
Frisco, according to it's o~flclals. certainly
Will get a gulf port. but Indications are
that It Will be New Orleans rather than
any port further west. At any rate. when
other lines come to Galveston they Will
ind Southern Pacific ready to fight for the
gulf trafhc. with a strong line OF modern
steamers. a well-lfked and fully estah-
llshed land line and all the facilities that
are needed for terminal and other pur-
poses. It Is apparent from the remarks
Of Southern Pacific people that the close
relations recently established between the
Rock Island and the Mallory line are not
regarded without some anxiety in Southern
Pacific circles.
The third reason for the occupation OF
Galveston 10 that the city 10 regarded Al
the natural distributing and receiving point
for franc, both local and Oriental. The
full development OF the resources OF the
rich territory north and west Of the gull
certainly will make Galveston a great poini
OF export grain trade. both 70 the Atlantic
seaboard via the ~eoasting lines and TO thu
world a. large.
Distribnte TO Orisns.
OF this trade the southern Pacific takes
full account and iB determined to be read,
for It when II comes. Oriental trahac vii
use this port for distribution. and trans
bound for the orient viii so via this port
The local trade with South America an.
Mexico is also said to be very carefully
/ watched by the Southern Pacific. and Gal
weston is certain to get more Of thi
through its geographical position than an,
other port along the coast.
The reason Galveston was neglected Il
the pact. II Is said. has been that the har
Dor was exposed 10 danger OF cyclones an
other disturbances. At present the road
the government and other interests ar
bent upon the Improvement Of the por
IN such a way Is to preclude forever III
possibility OF a occurrences Of the GaivestoI
disaster. Fifteen million dollars will b
spent there within the next few years. !
sea wall is to be built. jetties 10 be pa
IN. the channel deepened 10 a depth Q
thirty fset at least, and the candbars tina
guard the harbor raised 70 such q beigh
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