Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-08

He established his ship agency business
in 1868, and in p years has witnessed
growth in travel that one in the ordinary
avocations of life would never suspect.
For instance, his experience shows conciu,
sively that "a life on the ocean wave" is
comparatively safer than one in avocations
not ordinarily classed as hazardous There
is scarcely large building or bridge erected
which does not cause the loss of one or more
lives but of the a. 600 people Mr.. McCor-
mick has booked for passage to Europe not
one lost his life by accident, and of more
than 1OO,O 900 he has provided with creden-
tials to travel on ocean, lake or rail, but one
| has been killed.
HE PREDICTED HIS DEATH.
Mr.. Mccormick says he predicted that
that man would be killed, as he was too
much under the Influence" when he leftthe
Office to be safe even on the street. Mr..
Mccormick states that while the Cunard
line claims that good management has ex-
empted it from loss he attributes his success
to good luck.
In q years there have been vast strides
made in ocean navigation, so vast that
trip to Europe has become matter of but
small consequence. In 1868 the fast ships
were the Scotia and Russia of the Cunard
line, and the City of Paris and the Brussels,
Of the Inman line. The best time made
then in trip across the Atlantic was about
eight davs. 1t has been made recently in
DAYS, 10 hours and 18 minutes.
Twenty years ago there were no smoking
rooms except under the bridge, and they
were only available in dry weather. The
price of passage then was not so high as that
commanded by fast steamers at the present
day, but there wasn't so much choice either.
The saloons were then below the staterooms.
Now they are amldships, and run from side
to side, and smoking and reading rooms are
now to be found on all lines. The White
Star line was the first to revolutionize the
steamship business, and it forced all others
to follow suit the struggle for patronage be-
ing intense.
SNEERED AT THE INTERMEDIATE.
Mr.. Mccormick states that when he first
established his agency first class lines did
not care to recognize intermediate passen-
gers. He was told 10 years ago in New
York that they would never consent to carry
intermediates. He replied that ere long
they would be only too glad to get this kind
of custom, and now they are all catering
to it. Second class business now commands
respectful attention from all first class
lines
The improvement in the lot of steerage
passengers is still more marked. They are
amply provided with superior accommoda-
tions and well furnished rooms for families,
and all for $40 head.
Mr.. Mccormick states that his business
this year was fully double the average, and
his first-class business surpassed that of any
other agency in the country. He attributes
his success to, first, his experience, and,
secondly, his facilities and capacity to ac-
commodate the travelling public with just |
what it wants. He represents 35 companies |
of all kinds.
WHAT INCREASED TRAVEL.
Another thing that largely increases
travel is the confidence and comfort with |
which people travel. Twenty years ago |
steamships were generally from $500 to
3, 900 tons burden, and they were so short |
that when their bows were in the water
their sterns were out, and vice versa. Now
a first-class ship is of 10, 500 tons burden,
and she does not bob up and down nose and
stern alternately in the water. She cuts
through three waves, and there is less dis
comforting motion. This, with water-tight
have given people confidence
to travel.
One thing learned, which was also news
to the inquirer, was that it is cheaper to
travel alive than dead, Notwithstanding
live person consumes food and is liable to
indulge in grumbling. The cost of taking
a corpse across the Atlantic is $500. ten
times that of a steerage passenger.