The San Francisco call., 1908-09-25
GREAT TRAFFIC
COMPACT MADE
BY STEAMSHIPS
Ten Companies Form Alliance
to Handle Freight From
Coast to Points in Europe
Trip From This City to Conti=
mental Ports Made in About
Forty Days
Cargoes Will Be Transported
Across Isthmus at Salinas
Cruz to Atlantic Lines

An agreement of far reaching con-
sequences to this port has just been
entered into by 10 of the largest
steamship companies of the world.
These 10 companies have concluded
traffic arrangement for the handling
of freight direct from San Francisco
and other Pacific coast points to
Europe by way of the isthmus of
Tehuantepec. This move creates an
effective opposition to the transconti-
mental railroads. The steamship lines
have begun their fight for the through
freight by putting forth a schedule of
rates from 10 to 80 per cent below
those previously in force.
Steamship lines have been in opera
tion for some time between San Fran
cisco and Europe, but for the most part
they have reshipped from New York.
Under the terms of the new agree
ment three lines will operate on the
Pacific coast in conjunction with seven
on the Atlantic.
The trade of the Pacific will be
looked after by the American Hawaiian
line, the Kosmos company and the
Canadian Mexican Pacific line. The
vessels of these companies will oper-
ate as far south as Salina Cruz, the
Pacific terminus of the Tehuantepec
railroad. Freight will be carried across
the 1S9 miles of the isthmus to Puerto
Mexico. where the vessels of seven
companies. known as the West India
Atlantic conference steamship lines.
will call. The companies in this union
are the Compagnie Generate Transat-
lantique of Paris, Compania Transatlan-
tica of Barcelona, the Cuban line of
London, the Hamburg American line,
the Harrison line of Liverpool, Leyland
line of the same port and the Royal
Mail steam packet company of London.
HALF THE USUAL TIME
This combination will make one of
the most effective steamship alliances
that has been formed in recent years.
Freight from San Francisco will be
distributed to all the big ports of
Europe in 40 or 40 days 1t is claimed
by the steamship agents that this time
can not be surpassed by the railroad
companies which are compelled to
transship at New York. 1t will short
en- by nearly half the time now re-
quired by the all ocean route.
News of the arrangement has been re-
ceived by the American Hawaiian
steamship company from L. II. Nun
day. it's European agent. The terms of
the agreement have already been put
into effect and sailing schedule has
been perfected. The American Ha-
waiian boats will leave San Francisco
every 81 days and the Kosmos lines
will provide intermediate fortnight
ly service. The run to Salina Cruz will
be made in eight days. The Nevadan
and Nebraskan viii handle the trade
for the American Hawaiian company
and will take care of the business at
San Francisco, Puget sound, Los An
geles and San Diego. The Kosmos COM
pany will handle the local and Puget
sound business, While the Canadian
Mexican Pacific line will operate from
Victoria and Vancouver.
SIX COUNTRIES REPREsENTED
A unique feature of the agreement
is the fact that it brings into an alli-
ance ships that fly the flags of five
different nations. America, Great Brit
ain, Germany, France and Spain are
represented and the agreement further
includes the Mexican government en-
bracing as it does the use of the Te-
huantepec railroad
Steamshipmen pointed out yesterday
that this was a development that fol-
lowed the opening of the Tehuantepec
route. 1t was stated that it was but
an indication of what would follow the
opening of the Panama canal.
A. NJ. Sutton, freight agent for the
American Hawaiian line, said yesterday
that the first cargo had already gone
out under the new agreement He
stated that it was too early to tell what
effect the arrangement would have on
the through freight business.