The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-08
OUR GERMAN LETTER.

f,hse rvaafons of a New Orleanian Abroad
BERLIN, July IA, 1875.
Dear Buzetin-In previous letter mad
inquiry, as will perhaps be remembered, il
regard to the prospects Of that great firemen'
excursion to Europe, and as to the proba
biIity of its coming off, and after dispatchinf
my letter the thought occurred to me that
might drop line to ons of the well-knowr
steamship companies, and ask what they
would be willing to do in the way OF taking
such contract; SO acting upon this thought,
at once addressed letter of considerable
length to one of the great English companies,
setting forth certain ideas of my own as to how
the necessary arrangements should be made,
and asking whether they agreed with me in
regard to the same, in doing which was
prompted more by curiosity than by any
oficious spirit of wishing to interfere, or
thrust my services as q negotiator upon the
public; but at the same time feeling that if 1
could be in any way instrumental in helping
the fremen of New Orleans to gather items
in relation to their proposed trip, that
would be most happy to do so. stated in
my letter that was in no way authorized to
negotiate in the matter, and that the inquiry
made was simply to crafty my own curiosity,
but adding further thatif the figures given by
the company to which I made application,
should seem reasonable, it was probable that
might publish the same, and so get the par
ties directly interested on either side into a
position to communicate with each other. l
am gratified to-day to receive reply, stating
that my suggestions have received due con-
sideration, and that as soon as possible they
will report on the terms at which they will un-
dertake the contract and that in the mean
time copy of my letter has been forwarded
to the New York agents in order to get their
ideas as to the arrangement of contract for
such an extensive excursion. Before
this appears in print the whole matter
will have been decided, and therefore
it will only remain to place the steam
ship company and head managers of
the Fire Department in communication. The
company to which l wrote are the owners of
and Glasgow steamers, and I now only add |
that was influenced in deciding to apply to |
them for the following reasons They have a |
great number of vessels, more perhaps than
any other company extant, and most of their
ships are of large size, which would be most
important consideration in selecting vessel
for crowded ocean voyage; and further, be-
cause their rates of transportation are ex-
tremely low. Therefore, on the appearance
of this letter, if no other arrangement has
been made before it reaches Ameri-
ca, 1 would respectfully suggest that
the chief officers of the New Orleans Fire De-
partment drop line to New York asking the
result of the company's deliberations, and by
that time the question will undoubtedly have
been decided, for my letter was forwarded
several days ago, and it will not take long for
these prompt men Of business to determine
their figures. l thought at the beginning of I
this that it might be well to abstain for the
present from giving either the name of the
company to which had applied or any def {
mite statement of the suggestions which / 9
offered them, but inasmuch as the matter q
will have been decided long before this letter
is published, it will in no wise interfere with l
he deliberations to have the whole plan d. b
7ulged. So here goes. wrote substantially t
IS follows: U
"Gentlemen, it is proposed by the Fire a
Department of New Orleans to make grand 4
to Europe, some time shortly, the il
party to consist Of 1000 or 1900 d
persons, among whom will be doubtless 8
aumber of ladies and distinguished gentle
men, and having recently written an article &
% one of the New Orleans papers encourag- !,
ng the project and offering few hints as to 8
he manner of carrying it out, l have thought p
~, in N xub of orI u
'ou would be willing to undertake the con- "
ract of carrying the party to and from G
europe; and, if so, at what rate per person 81
vould be the lowest you could offer. 81
then stated that had no interest in the ii
natter, except as newspaper correspondent, q
nd that in making this inquiry was acting u
ntirely upon my own authority, and, further. o.
hat they might expect me to publish their Il
etter of reply, in case the terms offered C
eemed fair. | then went on to mention the "
gure that had originally been proposed, (S60 Il
or person) and asked whether that estimate
7as fair one, or in excess of what they az
ould afford to do it for. Then proceeded 81
detail the plan that had suggested itself to te
ay mind. said something like this !: "After Of
be Fire Department has given the company hi
security for the payment OF the tr
ontract, the company to fit out one or two is
Ieamers, depending, of course, upon the m
lumber OF eXcurSlonlstS, ana IN the following al
lanner Sc
The intermediate and steerage compart- tie
tents to be thoroughly renovated, cleaned Gu
ut, painted, fitted with neat beds, tables,
to-, and otherwise prepared for the comforta-
lie but simple accommodation of the young th
nd single men of the party, while the saloons 81
ould be reserved for the ladies and distin- wi
nished gentlemen, all passengers of course vi
} be on an equal footing. Then the steamer he
proceed to New Orleans, carrying a cargo TT
freight and frst-class passengers SO as to an
,able the company to realize as much as pos ar
bic, take on the excursionists, and perhaps ex
small cargo of paying freight, by which par tn
al remuneration might be obtained for the tn
Itremely low rate of passageat which the hui
an freight was undertaken, and then for the 70
Gamer to remain at the disposal of the party mi
r the time of their excursion the contract tn
end with their delivery in New Orleans in
,ain. be
then added as a still better suggestion the cd
blowing: 4" Let this excursion take place SO Ca
, IN IA Ipbi Al &c