1924 Los Angeles Steamship Company employee pass - Kansas City Southern Railroad

The Los Angeles Steamship Company (LASSCO) was a passenger and freight shipping company based in Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1920, it initially provided fast passenger service between Los Angeles and San Francisco. In 1921, LASSCO added service to Hawaii in competition with the San Francisco-based Matson Navigation Company using two former North German Lloyd ocean liners that had been in US Navy service during World War I. Despite the sinking of one of the former German liners on her maiden voyage for the company, business in the booming 1920s thrived, and the company continued to add ships and services. The worsening economic conditions in the United States, and the burning of another ship in Hawaii, caused financial problems for the LASSCO. After beginning talks in 1930, LASSCO was taken over by Matson Navigation in 1931 but continued to operate as a subsidiary until it ceased operations in 1937.

For auction is a unique and rare collectible from LASSCO, an employee pass for the year 1924. Steamship companies, like railroads, provided passes to employees as well as to employees of other companies to include railroads. This pass was for an officer of the Kansas City Southern Railroad. The pass, which measures appx 4 x 2 1/2 inches, is printed on light-weight paperstock. It is in excellent condition, with no rips or tears; all writing/markings are from its issuance and processing.

A nice item for either steamship or railroad pass collectors.