The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-03-24
Qutok Transit to London.

| --~,-~-"s
The announcement has Just been
made of the abandonment of the plan
for organizing fast steamship line Of
American-built vessels to ply between
! this country and Great Britain, which
excited 80 much attention when first
made public about year ago. The
intention was to have vessels start from
Fort Pond Bay, at the easterly end of
Long Island, and 60 to Milford Haven.
Passengers were to be conveyed In
swift express trains to Fort Pond Bay
and from Milford Haven to London,
and the entiYe trip between New York
and London was to occupy Jess than
Six days. ESPECIAL featuresSW the plan
were that no steerage passengers or
freight should be carried; and that the
steamships, which were to be of steel,
should be built and equipped in this
country. The line was to begin with
three vessels, whose cost was to be
So, 600, 900. Higher rates than those
now III vogue were to be charged pas
sengers, but there was also to be an
increase in the luxuries and comforts on
the new vessels. After the first an
nouncement the project was pushed for
q while with vigor, end even until very
recently it was supposed to be still
under way. To find out the causes of
the abandonment reporter called yes
terday on Mr.. Jacob Lorillard, who
was its originator. Mr.. Lorillard was
quito communicative. He said:-
"When the American Express Line
was first projected we thought the dis
position Of Congress was to aid Amori-
can shipping, and that the best plan of
assistance would be to help establish
the finest steamship line in the world.
and we had reason to believe that we
should be able to effect mail contract
with the Government. We calculated
to issle $5, 900, 900 worth of bonds to
build our ships. Then to secure bond
holders we expected to assign the whole
mail contract, which would amount to
100000 per year, and was to run ten
years. We expected thus to be able, ut
the end of ten years, to pay off the
bonds, principal and interest, The
contract we proposed to make was that
the Government should pay us a GER
tain price if the mails were delivered
on the other side within five days, n
less price if they were not delivered
within six days. and nothing at all if
they were not delivered within seven
days. We also offered to carry Ameri-
can Consuls and American Government
officers on Government business FREQ Of
charge. Our application for mail
contract was made and reported favora-
bly, upon, but we failed to receive it.
Then tho Shipping bill before CnngrAaa
was knocked endways, and we feared
that with the additional cost of con-
struction of vessels Oh this side we
should be unable to make tho American
Express Line pay, as the English Lines
would put their passage rates down so
low that we would be unable to com
pete with them. Then, American ves-
sells are obliged to pay higher wages to
sailors aud officers, our wages account
being nearly double that on foreign
vessels. Incidental expenses are also
greater. Why, American sailors will
not cat the same food that Euglish
| ships provide, and where the latter arc
at an average expense of $8 per month
tor each mans food an American sal
lor's food will cost from $12 to $l4 per
month. In fact, without Government
| help Il line of American vessels Is i'm
practicable. Mr.. Lorlllard went on to
say that the only money lost in the
scheme was about $l0,OUO, which he
personally paid out Tor tho construction
OF models and designs.
The route whion the American Ex-
press Lime was to have used, from Fort
Pond Bay to Milford Haven, is to be
utilized, however, by the recently
organized British and American Express
Steamship Company Qimlted), whose
vessels are ut present building on the
| Clyde. The British aud American
Steamship Company is composed of
American and English capitalists. Its
| capital stock il G2,0GO,OO0. The
Company proposes to carry passengers
between New York and London in six
days by vessel and rail. The principal
difference between the British and /
American Line and the abandoned
American Express Line is that the for
mer will sail English ships. and will
| carry steerage passengers aud freight as
other lines are now doing. The gain in
sailing distance by the new route is
| about ITO miles at the other end, avoid
ing the inolosed waters and currents Of
st. Georges Channel; and l19 miles
at this end, avoiding the dangerous
coasts of Long Island and New Jersey.
A survey is now in progress by the
Long Island Railroad for the purpose
of luy ing steel rails from the present
eastern terminus Of the road to Fort
Pond Bay, to connect with the incoming
vessels OF vhe new company.
- -
A Marvellous Memory.
"
Frank Bangs, the well-known actor,