Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-28

nothing at all for this regular mail service.
In fact, the Old Dominion Steamship Com
panv's vessels plying between New York
CITY, Newport News and Richmond recejyIe
from our postal authorities for one, "Trip
along the coast more than the only lor1g dis
tance line carrying the American/ nag for
5000 miles of service.
OUR EXPORTS SOUTH.
But this postal service il only an accom-
paniment to other and greater bust ness
transactions carried OPT by this company.
Through a Misunderstanding on my part as
N tbe date of sailing, left Washington
suddenly one morning, arriving at Newport
News in the condition of the man who ran
for a train a.nd sank almost exhausted into
seat. while the train backed leisurely on to
a switcPA and waited for an hour or so. I
had "a hours more time than / wanted at
Ne 3port News, while the fine ship
tAllianca" g lay at her dock. 1t enabled
me, however, to get an insight as to the
cargo that was being taken in. The great
warehouses contained acres of -four, pork
and lard, which were rapidly being hidden
in the hold of our ship.
In addition to the cargo of general mer-
chandise taken on at New York, we re-
ceived from the Southern port, 5000 pack
ages OF -four, bacon and lard. The ships
officials say they do not ship nearly so much
-four as formerly, the Argentines being now
exporters to Brazil: bat we had here just
$500 proofs of the correctness OF Mr..
Blaine's statements to Mr.. Fry, that we
need to foster and encourage the trade with
South America.
COMES FROM THE WEST.
This lard and pork, as well as the -four, is
~ L
Representatives at Washington vote against
the encouragement OF this transportation
that fosters trade. West Virginian mines
supply here also the coal that is used to
force these steamers both to and from Brazil.
The hundreds of men who gain livelihood
by the handling of these products are voters,
and 1t is to be hoped they will try to elect
men to represent their interests. 1t may be
said with a degree of truth, that the prin-
cipal article of export is a product of the
South, Inasmuch as the lard is manufact-
ured from cottonseed.
1t is roughly estimated that pork is worth
cents per pound, the freight charges to
Brazil being 81 80 per barrel, on which the
Brazilian Government charges a duty of
So 60 per barrel, go per cent additional
being collected and applied to the charities
of the country. And this ships capacity is
22O0 tons. In exchange for this we get
from Brazil crude rubber, hides and coffee,
on which that Government also levies an
export duty. The sugar question is a sep
arate consideration.
ABOUT THE COMPANY.
The Brazilian Steamship Company is es-
sentially an American institution, being
owned and operated entirely by American
capital and energy, with headquarters in
New York. The company is fortunate in |
having for its general manager Captain |
James NJ. Lachlin, who is not only thor |
ouGh-going business man, but a practical |
seaman himself, familiar with the trade,
which results in the general advantage of
the traveller by this line. We were fortu-
nate in securing passage by the newest and
best steamer the Alliance, commanded BY
the popular Captain Crossman, who runs
his ship on the correct principle that the
passengers have some rights aboard which
even captain is bound to respect.
One of the surprising developments to me
was that so many apparently respectable
people were going TO South America. Com
prising our passenger list were some mis-
sionaries OF the Presbyterian and Methodist
Churches. bound iOr the Southern States of
Brazil. In the party were minister and
bride both residents of Washington Citv.
viz: the Rev. w. A. Darlington and wife
The Rev. Mr.. Waddell accompanied the
party and acted as chaperoue. We had also
a young Nirginian en- route for Rio,
teacher aud preacher for the Methodist
Church; also a Miss Cunningham, OF Johns
town, Pa, who goes to the State of Ceara in
Brazil teacher. Then there was lady
circus rider and hosts of all kinds of people.
ONE OF THE CAPTAINS DUTIES.
L had heard about how ocean captains
ere annoyed by questions. Captain Cross
n..D kindly invited me to a seat alongside
of lady passenger to his right, SO that
had an opportunity of hearing his answers
to many curious and amusing questions.
Our captain is a most courteous gentleman,
and when be seriously assured lady ques-
toner that he guided mis- ships course by
certain landmarks and expressed surprise
that she had not seen certain fences and a
red barn on our right, almost forgot that /
was seasick, and had to laugh. He subse-
quentlv assured me that a captains princi-
pal duty aboard ship was to lie to the ladv
passengers, and / can testify to his ability
in this direction.
We got to st. Thomas in five days, and
though it's not an attractive place. we were !
right glad to see any sort of land. Twenty
four hours rom ST. Thomas brings our ship
alongside oil the loveiest spot in the Indies,
the Island of Martinique. Another day
puts us into the harbor at Barbados, one of
the important possessions OF the English
Government In five days OF delightful
weather we jumped over the equator and
entered the "Old gold" colored water of the
mighty Amazon, sailing up its bosom with
some such sensations as must have been ex-
perienced by its first explorers.
j. o. KERBEY.
Tup rrrv rrr uyhrre ;