New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-03-15
BIRTH AND GROWTH OF A GREAT LINE.
sTAnIING FROM BOSTON WITH POUR VESSELS
RAIsING TIE SPEED 10 TWENTY KNOTS.


BIRTH AND GROWTH OF A GREAT LINE.
sTARIING FROM BOSTON WITH FOUR VESSELS
RAISING THE SIZED TO TWENTY KNOTS.
A new arrangement of the Cunard Steamship
Line looking to an Improvement in its service by the
plOyment OF OF It's fast and large vessels on the
Boston and Liverpool route, been recently topic OF
interesting discussion in steamship circles The change
anged viewed dinorout points some sue-
costing that the principal object IS give employment;
TO some OF the surplus tonnage that has not baen
erative Others that hoped fUrestAl the COrbn
express line scheme from Fort Pond Bay, to which few
gave serious thought ana others that the company
TO attract much OF tue New England and Western trade
to Boston that has previously come to New York
The Cunard Company has had an interesting career
Its first steamship from Liverpool to Boston forty
Eve years Tho wooden pandlewheol steamer Great
Western built expressly for the trade, started in 1888
rom Bristol tor New York and made several successful
voyages. which impressed the British Government
hat II authorized the issue OF circulars inviting tenders
or steam mail service between Englnd and the United
states. one Of these circulars falling into the hands
Of samuel Cunard then a merchant 10 Halifax, he went
" England and later with George Burns an extensive
shipowner. and his partner, David MIcIvcr, raised
100000, and then arranged with the Government to
line of fortnigbty steamships between Liverpool
Halifax and Boston, with subsidy OF sSl 900 year.
The first four vessels OF the wooden paddlewhee
type, and Amed the Britannia, Acadia Caledonia and
Columbia Their average speed was eight ana hall
knots hour and the Britannia sailed her maiden
trip Friday, July H. 1870. Some regarded the Friday
departure omnous OF misfortune, but it offset by
the fact OF being the anniversary Ince
pendcnce The first trip from Liverpool TO Boston was
made In IA days hours. Later February, 1871 this
same ship was cobOund in Boston h,tbOr. and the
chants at their expense, liberated her by cutting
canal through the ice miles long and 100 feet
wide. Owing to the Increasing traffic the ITberna was
added to the feet I'm lS43 and the Cambria I'm 1919
When building vessels tho aim OF the cOmI any las
always been that should be superior those which
preceded IT, including the latest improvements for the
comfort and convenience OF passengers In 1917 tho
compaay entered INTO contract with the Govern.
ment with subsidy or ai79,2io year. ~ increase the
transatlantic mail service by establishing New York
and Liverpool lima IN addition the one to Boston The
trade begun in S4S With the America fol-
lowed Iy the Niagara, Canada Europa, Asia, Africa, and
Arabia For ten years tho Cuuarl Company had rraC-
tcay monopoly OF the Atlantic trade, until the benin
prior 1852 marine builders had been urging the build
Ing OF iron vessels and the substitution OF tins
GGnmarers q Su he oH screw steamships Istrsn
sydney Andes aud Alps And these were the first steam
vessels fitted with accommodations for emf grants
Notwithstanding the adoption Of the screw propeller,
pssNongers we've unwilling to take leave Of the old pad
dlewhecl and the company, in 1886 built the iron
paddle steamer Persia In 1860 five iron steamers
built for the Boston trade fhe last OF the
paddle of this line the Scotia built in 1852,
she made the trip from New York 10 Liverpool IN
days % hours BY this tins there several rival
lines IN the field, bat te Cuuard held It's own and for
eight years the company had one or more vessels on tue
The comranys contract FOR carrying the mais expired
December 81 1867, ard owing to the competition
which existed the subsidy allowed ouy 9SOOOO, and
was reduced to 10000 later years contract
AT the expiration OF this contract December 81 1879,
new system OF postal remuneration came lsO opera
ton, based upon the amount OF correspondence; and
under 1t the Cunard Company has carried the English
time.
The latest evolution in the science OF marine engineer.
Ing was tue Invention OF the compound engines in 1869
and the Batavia and Parthia were fitted with them. In
the subsequent six yotrs the Cunard fleet increased
10y six steamers the last OF which was the Galiia The
next Improvement the substitution OF steel for iron,
and tho Seryia the rst OF the Cuuard vessels built
from this material She was completed In 1881 and was
the large, and most powerful steamer excepting the
siructed. Her fastest passage was made IN August
1888. from New YORK 70 Queenstown, IN days 10
Of about 5000 tons. followed the seIvia The advent of
s bnt Tor Tf the non Ine s By pe branhf @ on
"a, part OF JonU burns oOneagues VIr,oL
was secured for the Cunard I.ue and has since sailed
zach OF 77Is tons, built for the line. Their aver
age speed is about Is IL knots an hour slight In
marine architecture in the forty five years existence OF
this company best be grasped by institnhng com
iiset The Britannia was POI feet long. "a 1-3 feet
beam. 30 IL feet depth OF hold. 5i tons, and steamed
= knots hour Tho EtTuria Is Sol . feet long
81 Is feet beam 81 10 feet depth 77ls tons, and has
attained speed OF 20 1 knots an hour The former
could carry IL cabin passengers and 225 tons OF cargo
while the latter carry $50 cabin and 900 seerago
The sTisnai SHAREHOLDERS were by degrees bought
by the founders until tho whole concern became
voted exclusively in three families of Cunard, Burns
and MacIyer Upon the death OF Sir Samuel CunaId in
1868 his shares inherited by his son Sir Edward,
and when the latter died in 500 the Cunsrd interest
went to sir Edwards brother william When George
Burns retiI ed from business quarter OF century
his interest foil to his eldest John. present
manager who with his brother James owns the stock
formerly held By their father. In 1873 1t consi
cred expedent 10 consolidate the interests OF the
partners ny registering the company under tue
Limited Liability Acts" Accordingly joint stock
company was formed, with capital Of e2OOO,OOO, OF
which FL 900 600 was issued and taken by the families
OF Cunad BurDs and Mac Iyor. part payment for tuc
prouerty transferred by them 10 the new company