Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-23
OUR MERCHANT NAVY
Interesting Facts About the Different
Steamship Lines.
NOVEL METHODS OF NAMING SHIPS.
Boats Built and Owned by Americans Now
Flying British Flags.
MONEY INVESTED BY PiTTSBURGERs

Few inland residents have more
Knowledge of nautical matters than j. h
Mullett, of 1920 Carson street, Southside.
He has had considerable experience in mat
ters pertaining to steamship lines, and
talks entertaIningly of them. In chat
yesterday Mr.. MulIett gave some facts which
have come under his notice regarding the
merchant navy of the United States. He
said:
Gas everybody knows, we have very in-
significant navy of either kind, but still we
make our influence felt. The only purely
American line that sails to Great Britain is
from Philadelphia, but, singularly enough
every ship is named after some English
celebrity, such as the Lord Cough Lord
Clyde British Prince etc. This is but
second class, or slow line, and carries but
few irst-class passengers.
FLYING THE BRITISH FLAG.
'The Inman line, with its magnificent
City ships, while ostensibly British line,
and flying the British flag, is in reality an
American institution, and considerable
Pittsburg money is invested in it. The late
William Thaw owned considerable stock in
the line.
"The Cunard line is purely English
concern. They started first in giving first
class accommodations to ocean travellers
and have kept up their reputation since.
Like the B. and o. railway under the older
Garrett, and when they were doing we'll
they viewed suspieiously any suggestion as
to doing better, and were so conservative in
their methods that they were nearly out
stripped by more youthful rivals. The old
| fogies died and younger blood came in, and
hence, you have the EIuris, Umbria and
Aurania. When the first generation of
| Cunard built the Russia, Scythia, Bothnia,
| Gallia and Servia, they thought they were
doing wonders, but these are far behind the
| times now, and will soon be relegated to
their places as freight ships to ports other
! than New York.
"Aiter the collapse of the Collins line
the White Star was the first dangerous
competitor to the Cunard, and the company
| is in tie same line yet. Their ships are
magnlfcently built in their own yards by
DAYS work at Belfast, ireland, and are
splendidly oficered and manned. As fast
| as one ship gets to be a little out OF order
she is sent to other waters and her place
taken by other and newer ships. Thus we
have lost the Oceanic, Belglc, Gaelic and
Baltic, while we have the Brita nnie, Ger
| manic, AQIldLlC3 OCAbACy 1SuhOAAS eA0
jestic lett.
A REPUTATION MADE.
'"The White Star line was unpopular for
several years IN consequence of the loss OF
one of their first steamers, the Atlantic,
with all on board. But they have lived it
down, and have now deservedly splendid
reputation.
''Next we come to the Inman Line, which
was not considered first class Until Ameri-
can capital enabled it to build its City OF
Chester, CITY OF Berlin, City of Chicago,
CITY of New York and City OF Paris. This
is now the record-breaking champion line,
and deserves credit, for its ships are hrst
class and luxurious. But to the Guion Line
belongs the credit of establishing the rival
nv that now exists to make fast passages.
The Guion had been jogging along with its
old iron-decked Montana, Nevada and Wy
oming, when it suddenly put in an appear
ance one morning with the Arizona. and fol-
lowed it up with the Alaska, both of which
proved to be world beaters. The old lines
rubbed their eyes and brushed their clothes
and started in after the bold Guion Com
pany, loaded and primed. The Guions are
holding their own to-day with their twin
greyhounds, and are always there or there
abouts at the end of a race. They refused to
take the Oregon, which was built for them,
off the builders hands for some reason or
other. and she was sold to the Cunard Com
pany and lost by them just outside OF New
York harbor.
THE CITY OF ROME.
1.-THE palatial City of Rome is another ves-
sci that was refused BY the parties she was
built for, the Inman Company, and it was q
bad day for them when they refused her.
She was bought by the Anchor line, which
owns large number of second-class passen-
ger and freight ships, running to and from
all parts of the world. but never considered
in the frst-class passenger line to Europe.
Yet. they continue to send their splendid
CITY OF Rome making seven day passages,
and cut wide swaths into the passenger lists
of other lines and prevent any pooling or
consolidation.
"The National line is another competitor
for trade. but does very little 6rst-class pas
senger business. Their ships are very large
.. and roomy, and they carry large numbers of
emierants and immense cargoes, but are
yery slow. One of their largest boats, the
Egypt, was lost last week by tre In mid
ocean.
''The Allan line is another large and i'm
portant line, but does its business to Europe
from Baltimore and Canada.
''Did you ever learn how to tell what line
a ship belongs to by its name?"
ST will tell you. All frst-class Oanard
steamers end their names with the letters
sia:' all White Star ships with 'ic;' all AL
Ian vessels with 'ian;' all Inman boats are
'City Of all Guion steamers are named
! alter American Territories; all State line
ships are named after American States; all
National line boats are named after foreign
countries"