The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-10-29
RAILROADS INTEND
TO INCREASE RATES
New Tariff Schedule Expected
TO Take Effect January ] Is
Perturbing the Shippers
Traffic Officials Now Admit That
There Will Be Increase
All Around

shippers all over the country have
been more or less perturbed as TO the
expected raise in railroad rates, and
ali requests for information as TO what
commodities are TO be affected by the
new tariff have been evaded.
II has been announced that the raise
sn the rates would be light confined TO
about - classes, not exceeding 10 per
cent, but private advices received by
the larger shippers in the city DO not
bear out this statement, and IL is re-
ported that products in California viii
be materially affected by the new
tariff.
At one time the California lines in
fimated that the raise would not affect
west bound business, which meant that
ali our products would be protected by
the old rates.
1t was limited, too. that the old rate
on canned goods would be maintained,
also on dried fruits. while it was limited
also that the wine rate might be in
creased.
The new tariff has been the subject
or veXatious discussions, and well
known traffic official said last week
that fresh difficulties had arisen which
might stiu further delay its publica-
tion.
This much is known. that some ad-
vance copies have been received by
the railroads I'm this city. but have not
even been given out to the rate clerks,
presumably because OF the new diff
5culties.
NESTBOUND BUSINESS
The allegations by the railroad COM
psnies that the rates on certain lines
of westbound business would be pro-
tected by the old rate. or the advance
would be so slight as 10 be scarcely
noticeable. is received with incredulity
by the shippers.
Some of the larger shippers have re-
ceived information TO the changes,
snd assert that the rate on canned
goods, and also on dried fruit, is to be
increased at least Is per cent
Traffic officials, when questioned on
The matter, now say that there Will be
an increase all around, but insist that
the increase on Californian products
viii not be as high as Is per cent.
In fact they say that the tariff is
not ready TO be given out for publica-
.Uon. When it will be given out they
- are not prepared TO say, but content
themselves with saying that the in
erease viii not affect the present bust
ness. the tariff can not possibly go
into effect until the first Of the year
Or close after the first Of January.
DISCUSSES SITUATION
IsidOr Jacobs, president of the Cali
fOrnia canneries company. stated yes
terdsy that il was understood by the
canners and fruitmen that their inter
ssts in particular would be affected.
Jacobs said:
In reference TO the proposed ad-
vance in freight rates on California
products TO the east, there can be no
doubt that this was agreed upon some
time ago by the transcontinental rail-
roads. l called the attention of the
commercial bodies of this city, includ-
ing lne chamber Of commerce and the
merchants association. to the pro-
posed advance, and asked them to call
. meetings Of their members to protest,
as is being done by all of the leading
commercial bodies and manufacturing
- associations of the east. l received re-
plies from the chamber of commerce
land the merchants association that
?. they were advised that no advance in
. freight rates was intended, and there
fore no action was necessary
The new rates, we understand, We're
agreed upon some time ago to be made
public in about 10 days. ana to be eff
lective January 1 next How far they
viii affect the sale of California
products and how many lines of diff
ferent goods will be affected I can not
teA But from information obtained
tariff rates viii be advanced January
on east and westbound business, af-
fecting nearly all lines, including par
ticularly canned goods, raisins, dried
fruits and other California products
east bound, amounting to upwards OF
F. 1oO.00 cars.
When the tariff schedules are is
sued shippers viii then be able to tell
exactly how far the advances will af-
fect any particular product, whether
east bound or west bound. These tar
IN schedules have not yet been made
public, but viii be shortly"