The San Francisco call., 1909-04-06
Railroads and Steamers
Serve Great rade

n NE Of the finest natural seaports in
in the world. and backed UP by a
. ~ country OF great wealth San
Francisco IS largely interested in
shipping and transportation. BY sea
.tae transportation routes lead in all
- al ErectiOns. For many years sailing
ships have arrived in large numbers
from foreign ports. bringing freight at
eheap rates as ballast and carrying
IWay the grain crops, wines, brandies
and other products from California.
Before any transcontinental railway
.Ves completed across the United States,
:rne sole means Of communication with
The outside world was by sailing yes
SCI and very few steam craft.
The fastest sailing ships that have
ever been constructed were laid on the
stocks for the sole use OF the trade
with California While that situation
was radically changed by the con-
struction Of the Central and Union Pa
cine railway lines, and their more re-
cent competitors, the fact has always
been apparent that the sea affords the
way 10 move great bulks Of freight at
comparatively low cost and also TO reg
Nlate rates TO some extent on freights
that are carried by the costly railroads
that were constructed over the noun
lains and across deserts at enormous
eopnectiOn between San Francisco and
other continental points. east, north
and south. has become more extensive.
IMPORTANCE OF SHIPPING
Shipping viii always be of the high
est Importance 10 San Francisco be-
cause Of its geographical removal by
SO many leagues from the more pop
ulous parts OF the United States and
from Europe and Asia. Transporta-
Ion on the way TO ana from San Fran
cisco, as il ultimately will. The tend
- ency steadily is TO shorten the time
occupied in moving freights and pas
sengers and 10 minimize the expense
From one end Of California to the
other there are products peculiar TO
..srhe soil and climate. Fortunately for
california the greater number OF
. Characteristic products are either not
produced elsewhere in the United
States, or else the climate Of Califor-
MA permits them TO be produced here
at seasons when their growth else
where in the United States is impos-
sible
with sufficient tariff protection these
distinctive products are able to COM
mand the American market. being
equal in quality. and in many instances
superior to articles OF a similar kind
that are grown elsewhere.
An enormous freight tonnage on ar
ticles originating in California is held
out 10 transportation lines by rail and
by sea knowledge of this fact. and
knowledge Of profits 10 be derived by
moving the freights TO points OF sale
in markets has been the incentive for
the entrance Of competing transcon-
tinental lines into the California terri
tory both on the water and on the
land
Nm H-CF F~arE-
This incentive viii continue TO act
with increasing force. because the
capacity Of the country TO produce
freights is almost boundless; also, be-
cause the inevitable increase In popu-
lstiOn viii multiply the volume Of
freights TO be brought 10 this state for
the use Of Inhabitants many fold. AS it
used 10 be said that ''all roads lead to
Rome" 50 IL may be said with equal
truth that all transportation routes
now lead TO or through San Francisco.
There are steamship lines that do
business from San Francisco northward
10 Alaska. southwark to the isthmus
Of Panama; that connect with trans
continental carriers through Mexico
and at the isthmus of Panama with
lines TO various ports in Europe and
Africa and 10 points on the entire west
coast Of the American continents
The government maintains a trans
port service between San Francisco and
The Philippines and the other island
possessions Of the United States in the
- Pacific ocean. Three lines between San
Francisco and the oriental ports run
steam vessels at regular intervals to
China and Japan. with connections TO
other countries on the Pacific ocean op-
uoEite America Local steamship lines
equipped with vessels of large ton
mage, 90 business along the coast ports
Of California, north and south. and the
coasts Of Oregon and Washington.
Within the confines of California
there are two large rivers that are
navigable for long distances-the Sac
ramento and the San joaquin rivers
which are regularly voyaged by yes
seis operated by steamship lines. Local
freight and passenger service by wa
ter is supplied TO points on and
around the inland hays. while freights
snd passengers are transported by
number OF lines between the west and
east shores OF the bay OF San Fran
cisco.
TRANSCONTINENTAL LINES
The transcontinental railway lines
that DO business with San Francisco
run north, south and east TO connec-
1ions that carry freights and passen-
gers TO all parts Of the United States
and form links OF Importance in the
chain Of round the globe travel and
movement OF lIdilc. Nltnln the con-
fines Of California the movement Of
passengers and freight is largely facil-
itated by the very slight grades that
extend from one end TO the other of
both the great Sacramento and San
Joaquin valleys, the length of which.
p combined, amounts to hundreds of
miles.
For the cheaper freights. like grain
and some other products. cheap trans
Dortation by barges, IS afforded on the
Sacramento river and also on the
San Joaquin, to places where the
depth Of water is sufficient 10 float
sea going vessels OF large draft and
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