The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-08-31
SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

Opposition is still manifested in
many quarters to a continuance of
this service either by subsidy or
otherwise, and this has arisen mainly
from a feeling that the United States
Government have not met the col
onies in the fair and candid spirit
expected. However, it is probable
that different action will be taken
by the United States Government
as to Substituting their mail service.
As a proof that this feeling is grow
ing,a large and influential gathering
of business men in New York was
held in May, when it was pointed
out that every commercial nation
except America assists its ocean
steamers, and that action should be
taken to impress upon Congress the
desirability of suhsidising ocean
going steamers. There can be no
doubt that the San Francisco SER
vice will still continue between
America and Australia, subsidy or
no subsidy, and it will be standing
disgrace to New Zealand to allow
this service to lapse for mere SEN
timent, and thus cut themselves off
from an English-speaking popula-
ton of 60,O00,000 1t is said that
this line does not extend our COM
MERGE in commensurate degree.
To show that no small trade at
present exists, our exports in 1888
= 80 were 6207 1922 to the East Coast
G112,946 to the West Coast, making
a total of G320,76S. That in itself is
not to be ignored; and though the
passenger traffic at present IS COM
paratively small, each year will tend
to its increase. We are very desir-
Gus of opening up our Wonderland
to tourists, and invite the travelling
world to visit them, and yet suicid-
ally cut off any chance of receiving
visitors from half the world. From
return just presented to the House,
the following figures will show for
themselves how the route is appreci-
ated over all others:-
From Europe, letters, books. and
papers, via San Francisco, 1,225, 443;
via Direct Service, 1,O36,576. To
Europe, via San Francisco, 800,436;
via Direct Service, 307,284. Total
carried, via San Francisco, 2,025, 979;
via Direct Service, 1,343,860. Post
age collected on correspondence, via
San Francisco-Home, G14, PA; from
Home, G9,605; total, 923,879. Via
Direct Service-Home, 95, 1894; from
Home, G19,994; total, G16,89S.
Estimated cost for conveyance of
American, mail, if paid for at rates
now charged ny non-contracting
companies for use of the San Fran
cisco Service, viz, letters, Is. cd. per
ounce; books, Is. Cd. per h.; papers,
Cd. per lb.-to San Francisco, 92,180
14s. 3d.; from San Francisco, 93,637
0s. 3d.; total, G5,817 15s. Id.
Thus it will be seen that we have
sent and received to and from
Europe, by San Francisco, 2,025, 879
books, letters, and papers, receiving
postage for same, G23,879; by Direct
Service, 81 ; S4S $50 books, letters, and
papers, receiving for same rs 55f6;ss ss8;
thus showing nearly SO per cent. of
our correspondence is carried in a
monthly service as against fourteen
days direct service. By return
made to the House in 1888, it was
estimated that if all the mail matter
were sent by San Francisco upon the
same terms as now exists a sum Of
G14,754 would be net profit to the
colony, after paying subsidies and
other charges, amounting in the
whole to G31, 1896. Ii the mail matter
was sent by direct steamers on same
terms as now exist profit of only
go, 585 would accrue. The number
of passengers carried by San Fran
cisco during the year ending De-
cember 81, 1887, was: arrivals, 1886;
departures, 716.- N. 2. Herald.
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