The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-27

sey. just above Liverpool. Naval arch-
tects believe that before the year 1900, we
VIII ne crossing the ocean in steamships of
10000 to 10000 tons burthen, upwards of
75O feet i'll length, which will make the
passage IN from four to four and one-half
DAYS, and comfortably carry 1000 passen-
gers, while their safety may be absolutely
assured. All this is claimed to be simply a
question of money; and it is believed the
vast increase of ocean travel will warrant
the necessary expenditure. One hundred
thousand people now annually cross the
outlay of &l0,O0O,O0J. Each year this in
creases. Shortening the time of passage is
held by steamship managers to greatly aug
ment the proportion of natural increase in
ocean travel. Briefly, it is the general con-
v1ctlun that while the travel amounts
70 To-, loo.oo t annually with six and seven
DAY boats, it would reach 10000 with
five day boats, 100000 with four-and- "a half
day boats, and 300 600 with four day boats.
The builders on the Clyde say to the com
panles: Gentlemen. if you wish to put
S2OoO,0oO instead of $1,0OO,OOO into single
steamships, steam, we can produce the four-day
boat.' This is an open secret, and it is to-
day not SO much question of whether it
can be done, as whether the steamship COM
panles are willing to have it done. The
reason for their hesitancy, and that they are
approaching the limit by easy stages, is OBJ
Vlous. Any one company which would dare
to astoundingly out-do the others by putting
upon the ocean lanes four or even five, day
ships, must be prepared financially to with
stand a deadly war of passenger and freight
rates from the combined transatlantic
lines, as we'll rs at the same moment to find
all other of their own steamships dead
loss on their own hands. None of
this an ' American s9nps eospany will With do
capital of $5O,ooO,ooO 1of COURSE
building on the Clyde, and flying the Brit
lsh t1ag) could do SO; and could instantly
command the cream of the ocean traffic.
There is an important element in the matter
not usually considered. That is the al
ready. established fact that the class of
Americans who are most desirable passen-
gers. to the steampship lines, and indeed
VINO aggregate the great bulk of ocean
travel, are positively independent of any
consideration rs to fares. The fast and
luxurious steamers now get, without ques-
tlon or objection, from 500 to $1,000 a
very steamships have, every trip, proper
tionately larger number of passengers at
these figures than for their ordinary and
still luxurious accommodations at from $50
to $500. Only this season leading line
nearly doubled its rates for it's two crack
slx,day boats. expecting to thus give their
higher-priced passengers q little more ell
bow room: but there has SO far been scarce
ly perceptible diminution in the numbers
carried.
When the four day ship arrives in New
York hsshuy, and believe good while be-
fore that time, there will come revolution
in the manner of serving food on the Allan
tic liners. A present there is enough wasted
to provide for twice the number served
And yet with very meagre exception the
ocean cuisine is an abominable travesty OF
delicate dining. There is no excuse on ship
board for illy-served food. The catering il
system of compelling 500 ladies and gentle
men to partake of cold and clammy course!
at given hours, whether or no, is unquali
fedly repulsiye and beastly. II there is on,
| spot or time IN the individuals life whel
| captivating dishes should be served in a cap
| tivating manner it is when that individual
is perhaps first realizing what a horrible in
strument of torture the stomach may be
come. At best at sea the average person i
mood about food. At one hour of one da,
he may be ravenously hungry: at the sam
hour of the next. wholly untitled for evel
the contemplation of food. It is barborou
to force repletion or starvation upon on
after this Anticipated fashion. This is en-
tirely outside Of the manner in which tn
ships food il cooked. The long waits a
the pantries and the long, cold drafts il
the passages chill our soups. cuts and roast
grease and flesh. OF all the great oceal
passenger lines. but one serves food an
other way; and this line makes celebrity an
sauce do what remedy is done. Its system
is quite as faulty as the rest. Within tn
past few years, have suggested the chang
would substitute. to between 90 and 50
Of the millionaire frequent ocean travellers