The San Francisco call., 1908-08-29
Shipping News and Gossip
of the Water Front
Will Guarantee Delivery of Freight at
European Ports in Six Weeks

Lendal NJ. Gray, manager on this
coast of the Kosmos line, who returned
recently from Europe, brought word of
a big steamship combination, which
will bring the ports of this coast into
closer relations with the markets of
Europe. Under the new arrangement
goods for Europe will be accepted here
weeks at any OF the European ports at
which ships in the combine call. Euro
pean freight for this coast will be ac-
cepted on the same terms.
The lines in the combine are the
Kosmos line. Hamburg American line,
Companie Generate Transatlantique,
Royal Mail steam packet company, Har-
rison line, Leyland line, La Veloce
and Italian line, and line of Spanish
steamers running from Barcelona. The
freight viii be handled over the Te-
huantepec National railroad, over which
the American Hawaiian steamship COM
pany is now handling a large and in
creasing tonnage of American freight.
Puerto Mexico, the railroad terminal
on the Atlantic, and Salina Cruz, the
Pacific terminal, are bonded zones and
now rate among the best equipped
ports in the world. The piers are of
solid masonry and steel, and the freight,
handled by electric cranes, goes direct
from the ship to the cars and vice
versa. There are more than &c miles
Of trackage at each of the terminal
ports. inSuring expeditions handling of
cars and quick dispatch of steamers.
In anticipation of the big increase in
business that this speedy transporta-
ton is expected to bring, the Kosmos
line will put a number of large, twin
screw steamers into service on this
coast. The first of the big ships will
be here early in November In addi-
tion to cutting down the time between
here and the old world the new ar
rangement, says Manager Gray, also
Will make possible low rate of freight.
There will be six steamers a month
from this port for Salina Cruz
Liner Asia Is Due Today
Special preparations have been made
at the Pacific Mail wharf for the speedy
handling Of the raw silk which the
liner Asia, due here this morning, is
bringing from the orient. The Asia is
bringing the largest shipment that has
been carried in one vessel for many
years IS value is about $4,000, coo.
money grows rapidly no time will be
lost in getting The silk to the New
York market. A special train will be
waiting at the Pacific Mail wharf and
before the mooring of the Asia has
been completed the bales of silk will
be rolling from the ship to the cars.
Before the passengers have completed
their engagement with the customs Of
hcials the silk train will be on its way
to the Atlantic with the same kind of
clear track that is accorded TO a
Hartman special
In addition to the silk the Asia is
bringing a large general cargo and
about 20 cabin passengers.
HongkOng Maru Sails Today
The japanese liner Hongkong Maru.
captain E'ilmer Jr., will sail at l O'clock
this afternoon for the orient The
Hongkong will carry a full cargo and
about 40 cabin passengers. Chinese
passengers in the Asiatic steerage will
be conspicuous by their absence. E.
J. Roberts. who has been on leave has
reJoined the Hongkong Maru as purser.
Water Front Notes
Receipts of lumber yesterday by sea
amounted to 500, 900 feet.
The steamer Elizabeth, which was
damaged recently by striking on the
Humboldt bar. was towed to this port
yesterday by the tug Hercules
The wind off Point Reyes at 5 O'Clock
yesterday afternoon was blowing 20
miles an hour from the northwest and
"A miles an hour off the Farallones.
The Pacific Mail liner San Juan
Captain Frazier, cleared yesterday and
will sail at noon today for the isthmus
The Standard oil steamer Dakota h
cleared yesterday for Hongkong
new smokestack was installed yes
terday on the Pacific Mail steamer City
of Panama.