Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-05
THE MAILS TO PARA.
Very Unsatisfactory Results From
the New Postal Subsidy Law.
NO; ATTENTION PAID TO TIME.
Facts That Go to Show Aid Isn't Needed by
4 the Steamship Lines.
HOW THE ENGLISH COMPANIES FARE

better classes of Brazilians, rejoiced with
exceeding great joy over the receipt of the
intelligence that the postal subsidy bill had
become q law. We were not familiar with
its provisions, but everybody took it for
granted that it was intended by this law to
increase our regular steamship communica-
cations, and of course to add additional
mail facilities, upon the regularity and
promptness of which, 1 may say, depend
not only reciprocity, but all outside trade
with Brazil. However, the first application
of the new law, as exemplifed by the
United States and Brazil Steamship Com
pany, caused very great disappointment to
the people and leaves the impression that
the law was solely and only enacted in the
interests of this one American steamship
company that reaches Brazilian ports at ir-
regular intervals with its five second-class
ships.
April Is the United States and Brazil
steamer Seguranca, advertised to sail for the
regular ports, concluded at the last moment
that as it was behind time in its schedule
movements they would catch up by skip
ping Para and the Islands, sailing directly
from New York to Pernambuco. Patrons
in Brazil are as rule easy going, and were
not disposed to make much of row about
this sighting of their port, as it was un-
derstood that the company forfeited part of
their Brazilian subsidy when they failed to
reach Rio at certain specified dates. But
the people of Para of all classes are unit
in their indignation at the hoggishness of
grabbing the Para mail bags and carrying
them thousand miles beyond to Per-
nambuco and returning them to Para nine
days later by one of the other steamers of
this line. which fortunately happened to be
coming up the coast. If the company is al
lowed mileage on the carrying OF mails
this was good for them. But there was no
possible excuse for the act, as the Booth
line steamer Ambrose sailed from New
York for Para on the same date,
April 10, and had given the us
ual notice to the postoffce authorities.
The Ambrose is of a line that has been
doing an extensive New York and Para
trade for upward of 40 years. She sails
under mail privileges-is fast and reliable,
having previously carried mails in salts
factory manner-but she brought no mails
at all. Attention is called to these dates:
The Ambrose sailing simultaneously with
Seguranca, arrived at Para April 80. The
U. s. & B. NJ. steamer Finance arrived from
Para May g. The people of this city who
are so largely dependent on mail service
were deprived of their important business
mail for nine days. A second instance of
this same character so closely followed that
it has an appearance of forcing the mails by
the U. S. & b. NJ. Co. without regard to ex-
pediencY or the business interests of Para
and America.
Enough Trade to Pay the Lines.
Apropos of subsidies, L do not know that
they are needed. That part Of North
Brazil known as AmaZOnia, which is geo
raphically and commercially the closest to
us. comprises an area equal in extent TO that
part of the United States east of the Rocky
Mountains. Large ocean steamers may
ascend the Amazon q 900 miles, to the very
base of the Andes in Peru, delivering at
the very doors almost their cargoes, and
carrying away the valuable natural product
of the valley, j. e., rubber and cocoa. But
practically nothing is produced in the val
ley which nature supplies so bountifully
with a rich soil, humidity and heat, because
the business of collecting the rubber is so
profitable that all labor is diverted in that
direction. Everything necessary to sustain
civilized life is imported and pays heavy
import duties. Three-fourths of the rubber
is consumed in the United States, on which
an export duty of q per cent is charged.
Four-ffths of the import duties are from
Europe.
There is not an American steamer as
cends the Amazon above Para, the enormous
trade of the valley being developed by the
English ompanies-principally the Anna
zon company, which is a local enterprise
and confning its business to the river trans
portation, and the Red Cross and Booth
steamship companies, which extend their
commerce from Manoas, 1000 miles up
the Amazon, direct to Europe and the
United States. The English companies are
well managed in the interests of shippers to
and from North Brazil to Europe and the
United States. Each of the two have been
engaged in their exclusive trade with North
Brazil for a number of years. They do not
receive any subsidies from the English Gov
eminent nor from the General Government
of Brazil Each, however, has contracts
with the State Government of Amazonas,
but as matter of fact no cash has yet been
paid the companies, the arrearages dating
back some three years. The conditions of
the contract are such that practically the
balance is against the steamship companies.
The Booth line, which extends direct from
Manaos to New York via Para, is entitled
to 900 per year. For this they are
obliged to perform nine round trip voyages
a wear between Manaos and New York until
1891 after that IL voyages, or one per
month, between Manaos and New York.
They are also obliged to carry the mails
free also three tons OF State cargo free, three
frst-class and six third-class governmental
passengers free on each voyage.
The Subsidies Are a Nuisance.
1t will be observed that the Brazilian
State Government of Amazonas get full
benefit for their S24 900 of promise to pay
In addition to this the steamship people are
required to carry all State cargo exceeding
the above three tons at 20 per cent reduc-
tion on their tariff rates. They are also
obliged to maintain fixed tariff of freight
and passenger rates, approved by the Gov
eminent. The penalties are so severe and
the requirements SO exacting that the steam
ship officials do not hesitate to say that they
would be better off without any subsidies.
A heavy fine is imposed for the non-per-
formance of any contract voyage, and a loss
of the contract ifthe voyages are interrupted
more than three times in succession. Ihe
steamers in contract voyages enjoy packet
privileges, but pay all the exhorbitant
taxes and port dues demanded in Brazil.
Substantially the same conditions are re-
uuired in the contract with the Red Gross
line which extends from Manaos direct to
Europe. The State Government pays no
cash, but in settlement of any balances 1t
tenders what is known as ''titulos, +" that are
receivable for State dues. 1t will be seen
therefore that the "subventions," as the
English call their subsidies, are not of very
material benefit to those companies. They
have sustained their lines for some years by
the good hard cash freight rates paid by
American shippers of rubber. The freight
rates on rubber, Para to New York, Is %