The Alaska Steamship Price War
Seattle's shipping giants slash fares to the North, vowing to drive competitors out of business.
The Pacific Coast Steamship Company slashed passenger rates yesterday between this port and Alaska and announced the intention of placing the steamer Al-Ki on the run in connection with the regular boat, City of Topeka. The cut is aimed at the rival steamers Willapa and Chilcat, both of which have as yet made no change in their rates. First-class passage to Wrangell on the City of Topeka, sailing on March 9, and on the Al-Ki, sailing on March 17, has been placed at $10 and steerage at $5; to Juneau at $12 and $6, and to Sitka at $15 and $7. Superintendent Johnson, of the Pacific Coast Company, says the fight is on for good, and states that his company will carry people to Alaska for nothing before it will let the opposition boats do any business. George H. Lent, one of the promoters of the Willapa, says the Pacific Coast Company is trying to scare them off and his company does not intend to be scared. He says it is on to stay and will give the Pacific Coast all it wants, even if its boat is smaller.
“The Pacific Coast Company will carry people to Alaska for nothing before it will let the opposition boats do any business.”
The fierce competition for the Alaska trade in 1895 mirrors the modern-day battles between tech giants and logistics firms vying for control over Seattle's shipping and transport corridors. The 'race to the bottom' in pricing remains a classic tactic for established monopolies to crush smaller, upstart challengers.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.