The principal purpose of the North American Navigation Company was, beyond question, to compel a reduction in transcontinental rates by rail and water by demonstrating that the business men of San Francisco could establish an independent connection of their own. This accounts for the enthusiasm with which the project was greeted in the community at large. The Navigation Company was looked upon as a kind of St. George tilting against the dragon of monopoly. The newspapers printed columns of description with pictures of the boats chartered by the new line, the promoters gave out interviews, and crowds gathered at the wharves to see the vessels leave. And it was by pointing to the rate reductions accomplished that the company subsequently justified itself. Mr. Leeds, manager of the Traffic Association, estimated that the 84,000 tons which he thought the new steamship line would handle, added to what the clipper ships were carrying, would leave about 250,000 tons for the railroads to transport from coast to coast. On this he expected to see a decline in rates of not less than 20 per cent. More exactly, he calculated that the saving to shippers due directly to the operation of the North American Navigation Company would amount to $660,000; that due to clipper ship competition would total $1,110,000; and that secured through a decline in railroad rates would be $1,248,000; or a total of $3,018,000.[446] Captain Merry, president of the Navigation Company, declared when all was over that a saving of $3,500,000 had been made on Pacific Coast products shipped east during the life of the company, in addition to the saving of perhaps $1,500,000 on westbound freight.[447] Undoubtedly the operations of the Navigation Company intensified the rate war started by the clipper ships, and the reductions in transcontinental charges were considerable. According to Mr. Leeds the cuts on eastbound transcontinental freight, all-rail, on representative articles, by January, 1894, were as follows:[448] REDUCTIONS IN TRANSCONTINENTAL RAIL RATES TO JANUARY, 1894 Old Rate per New Rate per Reduction Article 100 pounds 100 pounds per cent Beans $1.10 $ .50 55 Canned goods 1.00 .50 50 Barley .90 .30 66⅔ Dried fruits, raisins, and prunes (in boxes) 1.40 1.00 28 Wine 1.50 .37½ 80 Mustard seed 1.10 .30 73 Wool, in grease 1.50 .75 50 Wool, scoured 2.50 .75 70 Uncertain Benefit