The Hawaiian gazette., 1908-09-18
WHY CALIFORNIA SHIPPERS ASK
FOR GOVERNMENT S. S. LINE


consequently is received in better con.
dition, Improbable, as II may seem it
is nevertheless fact that the average
time Of sixty days by the Magellan
route at the present time compares fav.
orably with that of the transcontnen.
tai railroads. Because of its freedom
from freight transfer and frequent dam.
age the Magellan route is preferred by
some large Pacific Coast importers to
feither the Panama or Tehuantepec sys.
tenn.
A factor that causes those interested
in California s great industry-fruit
growing-to favor the establishment of
a government steamship line is the be-
lief that if it was inaugurated now the
service would be continued after the
completion of the Panama canal With
the interoceanic waterway open it is
estimated that the great bulk of Cali
fornia S fresh fruit shipments would be
diverted from the transcontinental rail-
roads. Oranges, and all but the most
perishnble deciduous fruit, could be
handled under refrigeration, To sue
cessfully compete with the railroads,
however, this class of traffic would have
to be undertaken by fast freighters,
sailing upon weekly schedule.
There is little prospect that private
company will meet this problem in OPP
position to the transcontinental rail-
roads. The Pacific Mail Company cer-
tainly would not do so while dominated
by the railroad interests. 1t would in.
volve n very large Investment of capt.
tai and the strategic point in the situa-
tion would be in the hands of the rail.
roads, who would undoubtedly find it
profitable to lower rates to any figure
in the effort to rout the all-water com
petition. 1t is probable that the capt.
ttalists who could be expected to make
such an investment in the face of a
competitor able to sacrifice profit in
definitely to dispose of opposition, are
interested in one of the transcontinental
lines.
So the Pacific Coast looks to the gov
eminent to step forward and, in hand
ling.the problem of satisfactory freight
service at the present time, also provide
for the solving of n condition that
threatens--from the Pacific Coast,view-
point-to limit the usefulness of the
Panama canal. The Mexican govern
ment has shown great activity in in
creasing the effectiveness of its rail
road across the. Isthmus of Tehuantepec,
and has already secured for the line a
considerable volume of intercoast trade.
The success attending Mexico IS activity
is pointed out as an example of what
could be expected in a hundredfold
greater degree should the American
government extend policy of benef-
cent development of the merchant ma
'rine to the waters of the Pacific Coast.
San Francisco is the largest and most
important port on the Pacific Coast, and
to it flows the great bulk of the
products of California. The betterment
and maintenance of the coast service to
Panama is essential to its best inter
ests and the fostering and upbuilding
of the comparatively undeveloped op'
portunities of commercial and indus
trial enterprises that prevail on the
western coast. Permanent growth Is
the accompaniment of the exploiting OF
: CALIFORNIA; resources. A conservative
estimate shows that the products
shipped annually from the State reacl
an aggregate of between 100000 and
100000 tons. The States of the Allan
tic Coast receive more than one-half OF
: this great quantity. The Isthmus OF
| IdHdilld TOute TtctiNcb per ccub. VI
the shipments; Is per cent. is sent by
way of the Tehuantepec route, and the
remaining so per cent. is freighted
over the lines of the transcontinenta
railroads. The diverting of freight t.
, the Panama route is alone dependant
upon DOWNRIGHT charges and regular
7 and reliable service. Cheap transpor
t tation by the sea route would summar
, lily regulate the transcontinental rate
l and fill every freighter sailing for tn
, isthmus with full cargo.
/. The stock of the Panama railroad i
owned by the government, and to NEE
; the demands of commerce and the need
;. of the isthmian canal construction, j
o has established the ColonNew Yorl
q line. The completion of a through sys
y tenn by the placing of steamers on tn
= San Francisco-Panam route would Civ
a an instant impetus to commercial aC
q tivity on the Pacific Coast and put ga
4 end to the handicap that has MATERIAL
!, retarded its growth. The control, o
a fhe present service by the transconti
= mental railroads explains completed
= why nothing had been done to build u
; the sea traffic. And it also explain
: why San Francisco merchants and Cal
" ifOrnia producers are awaiting wit
u anxiety the termination of this restriC
) tion and the consistent development
, of San Francisco as great seapor
/ through the presence of an active regr
Q letor of rates by water and land.
Al PAUL ROBINSON BARTLETT.