The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-29
THE EUROPEAN STEAMERS.
TIE RAILROAD FRETGITT ZINES MUIR
ING THE OLD coma MES.


seme of the Companie. said TO he on the Verge
or Bnnkruptcy-rhe Cause OF Their de-
ciIne-Ihe Condition OF tho several Lines.
The falling off In immigration and the es-
;ablislincnt of railrond freight lines have had q
depressing effect upon tho old European
steamship companies. They stand back to
buck IN an effort to retain fair and paying
snarc Of the froights. or all the lines in the
combination the National has probably suffered
the least. Its steamships wore built for freight
ing the carrying Of passengers being n -cc-
ondary consideration. and in tho future It il
Jess likely than tho other lines to bc affected. II
has been managed with grout prudence and
ekin. Everything has been done IN an
unostcntatious manner and there have been
no leaks. The increase in it, feet was made
with an eye 90 tho future. While its vessels
onn compete with any frst-cluss freight line.
they have ample and inexpensive passenger
accommodations. In the Taco Of the crisis tho
line probably stands at the head Of the list. Its
steamers are adapted TO all classes Of passen-
ger and freight traffic including live stock.
md hnve a speed suitable for ordinary mail
service.
Tho second in tho list ia the Guon line II
has fleet Of superior frciehters. with good
passenger accommodations aud n speed thut ut
one time gave them the mails. Under its
American management it has been. consider
Ing the circumstances. a success. Its mistake
was the construction Of tho Montana and
Dakota. very costly vessels. which failed to
come up to the standard Of their designers.
Tho loss of the latter was not mourncd. Tho
ships were very fast, and many thought now
era had dawned in transatlantic travel. They
will not however, he duplicated. Tho
Guion company is said 10 be building u large
ireighting steamer. with an eye To speed and
economy. Its managers are conservative.
The Cunnrd line Is now working on the lin
tied plan. In immunity from accidents II is
the oldest and luckiest Of all. but 1t has proha-
bly, felt the pressure rs much as my OF the
others. In the last four years its earnings have
steadily decreased 1t has always Carried the
cream OF the passenger trade to and rom Brit
ish ports hut Of late years the White star
line. Offering better accommodations. has cut in
upon its cabin lists. A new steamer. the tialltH.
has recently been launched. II is reported that
the Cunnrd piers will not bc removed to this
city. II is said that the PENNSYLVANIA Railroad
Company has agreed to take the Cunard freight
across the river free and to pay them money
Tho French line would quickly die wore It
not for the assistance II receives from the
French Government. II never WAS n paying
under the management OF "A practical steam
ship man. IL receives liberal passenger sup
port and formerly had u large inward freight
The Hamburg IA probably the most successful
n nRI Ts oyf S t9G or Fasn awn n b mas
lectors. and not branched Off into West India
New Orleans, and Bnltimore ventures. as did
troubled 10y the lesser German Dutch. and Bel
gian lines which appear To do a fair business in
The White Star line grew rapidly in public
favor. The speed and luxurious accOmmOda-
tons Of It's steamers drew heavily from the
passenger lists OF its rivals. But il has not been
paying concern. II cost mint of money, for
its projectors aimed at carrying the mails and
passengers ut n high rate OF speed and sncrt-
feed freight capacity TO gain their ends. They
have found that mails and passengers alone
will not pay. They thought that quick trips
would control flrst-class freight. but 1t was n
mistake. The PASSENGER business also. ga not
quarter Of the year The managers OF the nne
apparently never dreamed that they were 10 en-
counter AN opposition in eheap-built freight
ships the rates being cut down 20 starvation
prices and their ships must rank among the
most Improbable in the trade
The Anchor line has had its share Of suffer-
ing. but its vessels are small and its manage
ment Scotchy. Its Mediterranean trade has
enabled 1t TO pull along without any serious
difficulty. Many OF its vessels come here bal
lnst.laden with mud from the bottom OF the
Ued in ns IN NrR Re Is A T d
crease In immigration is severe blow to this
line,
has probably been the greatest sufferer 1t has
been one Of the most lavish In the expenditure
OF It's earnings. II was the first To- atrnct immi-
grants to steam vessels. and Il has always con-
trOlled nm enormous amount of steerage travel
il has built a fine fleet oi vessels. but II has
lacked discriminating head. No precautions
for the future wore taken. All wis for the
present. II battled energctcally for the ieetest
ships. and lost sight OF its freightng interests
Each new ship was an improvement upon its
predecessor. but speed. and not space, was the
objective point. Everything was sacrificed 10
speed. change in policy was demanded. Tho
company was reOrEanlZel upon the limited
plan. Some Of the ships were sold. and others
altered but business grew wors' immigration
decrcased. and ireghts dropped down 10 n
song The railroads began ruinous cutting.
and. worse than all. transient steamers came
here. taking freight away under rates. The
Hull line was started with steamers that had
been used in the Suez Canal trade: then the
State line levanted in. tapping a heavy Irish
trade; and now the Unicorn appears. Things
look blue all around the horizon.
The great question is: How long can the old
lines stand the prcssurey Time alone can tell