The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1878-05-01
THE BRAZILIAN MAIL LINE.

Some of the Western papers object to the
sum allowed by the bill now before Congress
substituting a mail steamship service between
the United States and Brazil, on the ground
that 1t is extravagantly large. The bill au-
thorlzes the Postmaster General to establish
direct mall communication, semi-monthy, be-
tween the two countries by means of two
monthly lines. one between Now York and
Rio. touching at st. Thomas, Para pelnam-
huco and Bahia. and the other between New
Orleans and Rio, touching at Galveston and
such points In tho West Indies and Central
and South America as the Postmaster Gen
eral may deem expedicnt. Proposals are in
vted, the two contracts to be let separately
and the Postmaster General is instructed to
let them TO the lowest bidder who will give
proper security to furnish the requisite num-
her of iron ships of 5000 tons burden and
capable of O speed of thirteen knots an hour
These contracts are for ten years, and the
subsidy is limited to $50 per mile yearly, on
basis of 5000 miles, or. in plain terms to
SI5OOOO per year.
One Of our Western exchanges complains
that $50 mile is most exorbitant and tln-
heard Of subsidy, far in excess Of any allowed
by any commercial nation of the world The
largest subsidies allowed by England and
France amount to but a fraction over a sixth
Of this sum. In substantiatjon Of this it is
contended that the largest subsidy paid bv
England is 81 Is per mile to the Australian
line while the largest allowed by France. to
the lines to South and Central America and
the West Indies. are to the Gle des Messa-
geriee Maritimes ST % and to the Gle Trans
atlantigue SIS II. Yes, this is very true but
the English subsidy is based on the actual
number Of miles travelled. to Australia and
back. during the year, that is to say 145. 900
miles, making the subsidy $3.50, 900 per wear
The French subsidies are allowed on the
same basis, and to the first mentioned of
their companies the government pays a sub
sidy Of s72s,sOO per year on an estimate of
90 500 miles, and to the second $3.50. .651 50 on
basis of 13s, 400 miles. The difference be-
tween the two calculations is apparent The
French and English governments make an
estimate of the actual number of miles to be
trayersed by the vessels of their lines during
the year and this is the basis Of their subsi-
dies. This bill. on the other hand. estimates
the distance to Rio and back, from New Or
leans or Now York, at 5000 miles, and on this
basis it is proposed to allow $50 a year per
mile, or St5o,0OO. Upon the basis Of the Eng
lish and French subsidies each of these lines,
making monthly trips. would during the
year traverse twelve times 5000. or 1000
miles, and on this basis our proposed subsidy
amounts to but 50 SO per mile-considerably
less than onehalf of what France pays to
each Of her two lines to the same countries
From this explanation the falsity and in
justice of the statement to which we refer be-
comes apparent.
Wemust express our surprise, too. that an
objection Of this kind to this meagre subsidy
should come from any Western paper. There
is no section of the country SO deeply inter
ested in this measure as the West itself. and
none will profit by it to such great extent
as that section. The establishment of direct
communication between these countries and
New Orleans must create between them and
us reciprocal commercial relations, which
will open to the West a new and Unsuitable
market for all its products, m echanical and
agricultural a market than can never be
gutted. but whose demands will increase
with every succeeding year. Certainly
it does not lie in the mouth of the
West to throw any obstacle in the
way of this enterprise. New Orleans WILL Of
course. be greatly benefited but not dispro-
portionately to the rest OF the country. Our
to the Spanish Americas and Bra
zil, the infinitely greater safety of our sea
route to them. and the reopening of our mint
which will afford market here for the silver
of these countries, will give New Orleans
with its vastly superior facilities Of inland
commerce. an immense advantage over New
York or any Atlantic port in the competition
for this trade. TO it we must look for the
revival of our decayed commerce: but what
ever prosperity this may bring us will consist
only in our being the market place, the trading
post, where the rich products of the tropics
will be exchanged for the grain and pork
and plows and machinery Of the West. The
subsidy granted for the encouragement of
this trade is small indeed, but if it proves
sufficient to secure the existence Of these lines
until trade relations are established, we feel
assured that no subsidies at all will be re-
quired in very few years. For this we be-
Iieve it is sufficient, since Brazil has obligated
herself to allow these lines the same subs-
dies given them by the United States