New-York tribune., 1873-05-23
OCEAN MAIL SERVICE.

COMPETITION BFTWEEN THE STEAMSHIP LINES.
Much has been said of Late concerning the
contract made by the Government with the White star
line for the transfer of Saturdays foreign mans. lno
loss OF the Atlantic few weeks since the preaAs Vi
machinery In the Oceanic the 10th inst, anu oter
recent msfOrunes been the cause OF more OF
irregularity the mails and other lines have not Oeeh
slow 10 take advantage of these circumstances 10 press
their own claims for the Government contract.
TRIBUNE reporter yesterday called on the agents OF the
White Star, Inman, and Bremen lines for niorma'loh'
Thirteen years ago the mail contract was awarded 10
the Inman ne by which it was held until 1862 AT tnse
time owing 10 dissatisfaction with the compensation re
ceived the Inman declined the contract Tor longer
period and the Bremen line received It, by tho bremen
steamers the mails transferred until the FRANCO
Prussan war; when owing to tho irreguarty and occa-
sional failures of the German steamers 1t was found -
possible to carry out successfully the contract and again
the Inman line received It, This contract remained In
their hands until October 1872, when the White star
steamer Atlantic sailed for Liverpool with the Unlted
States mail. Tho contract was then awarded 10 tne
White Star line the ground OF the superior speeu vi
It's steamers, which had shown much better average
than the steamersof the Inman line For ame all went
smoothly but the number Of steamers belonging 10 the
new White Star line small and in case OF unforeseen
accidents 10 reserve boats at hand Small loss OF
time however was occasiOned, for whenever Whlte
Star steamer lost trip the mail was carried by che
Bremen line some Of whose boats made nearly equal
speed The misfortune TO the Oceanic, however, TWO
weeks ago. Involved o serious delay to the mails
as the other European steamers out OF port before
the accident occurred The delay this occasion was
about As hours.
Mr. Sparks the agent Of the White Star ne' IN answer
to the reporters inquiries replied that the White Star
steamers had lost only two Saturday trips between
Oct and April The loss of the Atlantic at that time
however disarranged the Companys plans and two or
three delays have occurred since that time. The mails
three new steamers will be added to the White star line
during the months aud the Germania Is nearly
completed. In addition to these regular steamers Dy
which the fleet il increased two smaller vessels now
engaged In trade the west coast OF south America
and belonging TO the OF the White star line VIII
be held In reserve extra boats that much peter
provision will be made against accidents than has
existed heretofore.
The claims OF the Iuman line next received attention
These claims made said the agent on account OF the
rregularty with which the White star line mas per
formed the mail service during the eight mouths SINCE II
received the This rregularty has been mostly
due the small number of its steamers ana III case OF
an accident the line has steamer In reserve during
the ~ years during which the Inman line carried the
steamers to supply the place Of any that might be dis
abed The application for the contract was made oy the
nnan line about 10 days and no reply mas yet Deen
The agent OF the Bremen line said that the line had not
made application for the contract had been generally
supposed. New and faster steamers had recently been
added TO the line and list Of the sailing OF these had
been sent Washington, indicating, oil course, that IL
change TO be made, the Bremen hue was ready 70
compete.