The San Francisco call., 1907-02-09
BIC VESSELS FOR
THE GOULD
system
Western Pacific VIII Main
tain Line of Fine Ships
From This Port to Orient
LARGE BUSINESS IN
PROSPECT FOR CITY

No Official action has yet been taken
g. the matter. but on good authority
It has been announced in steamship
circles that the Western Pacific Com
pany has decided to operate a fleet of
as fine vessels as sail the Pacific in
connection with its coast to coast
and Through 10 the Far East" system
Of railroads. To compete with the Hill
line steamers OF Puget Sound and the
several companies that operate vessels
from this port the Gould people Will
cause TO be constructed at least three
and perhaps five ships thai viii equal
the great liners of the Hamburg
American. Cunard and other corpora
1ions that maintain floating palaces
on the Atlantic between New York
and Europe.
The building Of the largest drydock
in the world at Hunters Point is the
forerUnner Of preparations for han
ding the great trans Pacific business
of this port, together with the i'm
mense army and navy contingent that
is TO serve as a protector of coast and
island commerce.
The Government realizes that a
great naval feet Will have TO be main
tanned and in addition to this San
Francisco harbor is TO be the depot
for the entire Pacific Coast of the
ARMY transport service. TO maintain
which the War Department has set
aside an appropriation Of three mil
lions OF dollars for docks and facilities
at Fort Mason. Enlarged drydock
facilities viii be necessary to handle
the extraordinary business that is eX-
pected TO concentrate here.
Another reason given for the pro-
posed expenditure Of over $l,250,o0o
for a great drydock is that il is ex-
pected that the trans Pacific business
OF the various steamship lines running
out OF this port viii be greatly In
creasd with the advent of the Western
Pacific Railroad.
The only obstacle in the way of the
Gould people in establishing a new
steamship line between here and the
Far East is that the japanese have
been underwriting the American yes
sells and ships Of other countries to
such an extent that the shipping busi-
ness of the Pacific Ocean is threatened
by Cheap Charlie and his little brown
cousins. Puget Sound has already be-
gun TO feel the effect of the competition
Of the Nippon steamers and six or
eight vessels OF the Japanese line are
already listed for ports of the Sound
in active competition with the Hill lin
ers. The Great Northern Steamship
Company has found that its steamship
connections are not a profitable though
necessary investment
san Francisco has been in a better
position than Seattle or Portland to
stand of the competition of the Japan
csc The cargoes that go from here by
steamer are mostly transshipped. This
port does an enormous through freight
business with the Orient and consider
able direct traffic. The japanese liners
can get coast cargoes of coal, lumber
and -four in the Northwest, whereas
the railroad lines to San Francisco can
handle on a direct routing from the
point Of shipment. making contracts
, that avoid shipment by Japanese steam
ers.
In event of the maintenance Of a
great naval feet on the Pacific side
there is no doubt that this port will be
selected as the base Of supplies. The
fact of the transport service being con-
B centrated here and the harbor being the
best protected and the most easily de-
Tended on the Pacific Coast make it
, sure that the navy will demand ex-
traordinary service both from Mare
Island and the repair works on this
peninsula.
The general trend of all Improvements
by individuals corporations and the
: Government is toward preparing for
the business Of future years. which
may be augmented by the serious ne
cessity OF dispensing war material or
by the handling Of the great commerce
OF the port, which, Notwithstanding the
: fire Of April, has given signs OF sur
prising activity.