The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-01
PROTEST At SLOW
MAIL SERVICE
Bankers and Merchants Are
Outspoken in Demand for
Resumption of Fast Train
SEVEN DAYS ON ROAD


The unexpected action OF the rail-
roads in disseminating the fast mail
service between here and New York
is a severe blow to the business in
terests of this city. The mail train
which formerly left San Francisco in
the evening and which was scheduled
TO land the mails in New York on the
fourth day has been suddenly ordered
off the card. Two solid cars of i'm
portant mail matter had been taken
out of San Francisco for the East on
this train every evening, according to
the statement made yesterday at the
office of the superintendent of railway
mail service, where it was said that
the loss of the fast service would prove
a great detriment TO the interests of
the city, but that the Government was
powerleSs under the contract TO pre-
vent the railroads from acting capri
ciously, if they saw fit to do so.
The mail now leaves for New York
at IL o'clock in the forenoon on the
overland limited and takes one day
longer on the road than formerly. This,
however, is only a part of the loss
Mail that is ready at the close of the
days business and formerly was in the
car at 8 o'clock in the evening, must
now lie over fourteen hours until the
following morning. The railroad, it
is true, claims that there is an even
ing mail for the East, but as this is
now so slow that it is passed by the
morning train on the second day, the
claim is of no consequence.
Among those who will suffer most
are the banks. The bankers say that
the business of Monday is heavier than
that of any other day in the week.
Mondays letters will not leave until
Tuesday morning under the present
arrangement and as that will not
bring them to New York until Sunday
they win not be delivered until the
seventh day, even when the schedule
is maintained without loss of time.
Loss TO THE BANKS
a considerable loss to the banks will
result from this slower service, owing
to the added length of time which
drafts and checks on New York will
be on the road. When a bank buys
draft on New York it does so with
a payment of cash and the interest
from the day of the purchase till the
money is received from New York is
carried by the bank. Consequently the
act of the railroad in disseminating
the former mail service means that
two additional days interest will be
lost 10 the banks on all drafts and
Business firms which depend on quick
action on mail orders for goods. as well
as transfers of money! will also suf-
fer. and many complaints are being
made.
w. II. Croker, president of the
Croker National Bank, said yesterday
This frightening of the time of the
mail service to New York is most un-
fortunate. Coming at this time, when
quick service on the great volume Of
business being transacted is more de
sirable than ever, it will be great
detriment to the business interests of
the city. What we need is that the
time between here and New York be
shortened, but this action of the rail-
roads has put us back, when what we
want is an advance"
At the Wells Fsego Nevada Ma
tional. +. L. Lipman, the vice presi-
dent said: Our mail is ready to go at
o'clock in the evening. BY reason
of this change it will now have to lie
over fourteen hours before it starts
East The delay must be added to the
day which is lost in the slower time on
the road. We shall suffer particularly,
as under the slow service our Mondays
mail Will not be delivered in New York
before the following Monday, making
seven days in transit for our heaviest
days business. Formerly the Monday
mail left in the evening of that day and
was delivered in the hands of our cor
respondents in New York early Satur-
day morning This is a good two days
loss, even if the train is on time and
maintains its connections on the run.
The banks will probably feel the i'm
paired service most, but every business
house will be affected to some extent"
HURTS ALL BUSINESS
William c. Murdoch, cashier of the
Western Nationl, said: @fhe banks will
lose at least one days interest on all
New York paper which they take if the
railroad does not consent to return to
the former four-day service. Even then
we often found that it took sixteen
days to get an answer from our New
York correspondents
At the First National Vice President
James X. Lynch said: There is quite
difference between theoretical and
actual time for the transit of mails,
and we found that the four-day sched-
ule was very seldom carried out in
practice. Sometimes we got a letter on
the fourth day. but oftener it is the
fifth or sixth This change is going
to mean two days loss instead of one
day. as would appear. for the mall now
leaves at IL o'clock in the morning.
The hour could not be worse for as.
We do our clearing at noon and the
business of the day is ready for the
mail in the evening. Under this change
it will not leave until the next morn
ing. Consequently a day viii be lost
before letter starts, in addition to
the day which will be lost on the road"
William Haas of Haas Bros. said
that the change would be seriously felt
by business houses. The announce
ment comes as great disappointment
to u.s." he said. I'VE are sorry to
learn that we cannot get our mail
through in the same short time as for
merly A business house depends on
quick action in every department It
must have it, Two days lost in for
warding orders to New York is detri-
ment to every house doing business
in the city"
HANDICAPs REBUILDING
At Levi Strauss & Co.'s the members
of the firm were equally outspoken in
their condemnation OF the act of the
railroad in going back to the slow SER