The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-02-03

rangements in behalf OF the San Fran
cisco merchants has aroused a quick
ening enthusiasm in business circles.
To make the proposition effective it re-
qUires only the decision of the local
Independent line of steamships between
San Francisco and Panama This, it
may be stated, may be accomplished
within the next few months.
Independent Line
The arrangements for the independent
steamship line have been made through
the firm Of Bates & Chesebrough. H. S
Bates of the firm is now in New York
with the federal officials. and it is re-
ported that negotiations have already
been opened for two steamships.
The proposal of the canal commission
hes been n1ads afse.r e cores, ,,ondsnce
covering several weeks. Through its
secretary, T. II. Rossbottom, the COM
mission has now placed q definite state
ment before the local businessmen.
The commission announces that 1t Is
prepared to carry freight across the
isthmus by rail and transship to New
York for 40 per cent of the through
rate from San Francisco 1t is the de-
sire of the commission to make ex-
penses on the haul and nothing more.
That will leave the bulk of the tariff
for the Independent line making the
trip down the Pacific.
The commission has stated further
that it will put the rate down as low
as possible. In fact the commission has
spoken of rate of So ton to points
on the Atlantic for which the railroads
charge SIT ton and the American.
Hawaiian steamship company $40.
Trade Possibilities
The trade possibilities opened by
these proposals are among the great
est that have ever come to San Fran
cisco. At Colon, on the Atlantic side
of the isthmus, more than a score of
Independent steamship companies are
prepared to carry freight to all parts
of the United States and to foreign
ports. From Galveston California
products could be distributed through
out Texas for far less than under the
present rail tariffs. The rigid railroad
laws of Texas would prevent any dis
elimination against water carried
freight. From New Orleans the ship
ments from this state would gain an
outlet up the Mississippi river on inde-
pendent boat lines, reaching an enor-
nous territory. embracing such trade
centers as St Louis and Memphis.
Many Markets Opened
The shipments could be carried from
the isthmus to all the important points
on the Atlantic and distributed inland
from there. The New York market
would, of course, offer the greatest op
portunities. and The facilities would be
particularly effective for freight
destined to the eastern metropolis as
it would be carried in the canal com
pany's own boats.
The canal commission could not dis
criminate and its rates would there
fore be open to any line running on the
Pacific coast. The Pacific Mail could
take advantage Of this condition of af
fairs, but in order to prevent an at
tempt from that corporation to thwart
the local merchants the Bates & Cheese
brough line will be guaranteed full
cargoes for term of three years.
New Rate Protest Planned
A plan has been launched by mem
bers of the state legislature, after a
conference with representatives of the
local shippers committee. to make a
protest on behalf of the state of Cali
fornia against the recent increase in
transcontinental freight rates. The
proposal will take definite form in a
few days, when a bill will be intro
duced in the legislature calling for an
appropriation of $4,000 for the pur-
nose of contesting the rate advance
before the interstate commerce COM
mission. The bill will be fathered by
Senators Cartwright of Fresno county
and Senator Caminetti of Amador.
The members of the legislature who
are in favor of the idea take the stand
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