The morning call., 1891-07-23
OCEAN MAIL CONTRACTS.

The official call of the POstmaster-General
for bids for the transportation OF the ocean
mails has now come to hand. and we ma
therein that portion of the call which con-
Germs San Francisco. As to the Panama
service bidders are offered their choice of
three contracts, all of which contemplate
stoppages at Mazailan, San Bias. Mama
Milo, Acapulco, Port Angel, Salina Cruz,
Tonala, San Benito. Ocos, Cham perico, San
Jose, Acajutla, Libertad, La Union, ANA
pala. Corint0, San Juan and Punta Arenas,
on both the outward and homeward voyages.
Bidders for mail contracts on this line
may offer tri-monthly service on ships OF
not less than 15C0 tons, with speed OF
not less than twelve knots, so as to make the
trip to Panama in sixteen days; but a con-
tract on this basis is only to last five years;
after five years the service must be weekly,
in ships of not less than $500 tons, capable
of steamlng fourteen knots, and of making
the voyage to Panama in fourteen days.
This second contract is also TO last five
years. The successful bidder will receive
from Government &c cents per mile travelled
on the outward voyage for the first five
years, and 81 per mile travelled on the out
ward voyage tor the second five years.
Or the bidder may offer tri-monthly ser
vice in ships of $500 tons and capable Of
steaming fourteen knots an hour and max
ing the voyage in fourteen days, for five
years, and for the second term Of five years
weekly service in vessels of 5000 tons. with
speed of sixteen knots, and capable of
making the voyage in twelve days. The
successful bidder will be entitled to receive
from Government 81 per mile Travelled on
the outward voyage during the first five
years and So per mile Travelled on the out
ward voyage for the second five years.
Or The bidder may offer a tri-monthly ser
vice in 250o-ton 14-knot vessels for three
years, and a weekly service in 5000-ton 10
knot ships for the remaining seven years,
and if lie is successful he may claim from
Government s. per mile sailed on the out
ward voyage for three years, and SIS per
mile sailed OF the outward voyage for the
next seven.
The department only contemplates one
schedule for the Valparaiso service. 1t calls
for bids for a fortnightly service from San
Francisco to Valparaiso. touching at Pana-
ma, Buena Ventura, Guayaquil, Callao and
Iquique, in 25C0-ton 14-knot ships for FIVE
years, and in 50O0-ton 10 knot ships for the
next five. The subsidy would be the same
rs in the last mentioned offer for the Panama
line
The call goes on to enumerate the con-
tracts which will be let for mail service be-
tween San Francisco, Japan, China and
Australia; it contemplates a fortnightly
service in both cases.
The subsidy act was drawn without suf-
icient inquiry into the requirements of trade
OF the four classes of steamers for which it
provides. only one. the third class, can be
nFpfifo hlV n Oh "a gflyisa a n this 10
iSphere or in the trans Pacific trade. Vessels
Of 500O and 5000 tons are far too large for
such commerce, and no one would think at
the present day Of building 1500-ton wooden
ships to ply between San Francisco and Val
paraiso, or Panama, or Sydney, or Yoke
hama. The San Bias is relic Of the past.
The ships best suited for the trade must
from the necessities of the case be from $500
TO 5000 tons, and capable of steaming from
fifteen to sixteen knots. The Pacific Mail
steamer Colima and the Oceanic and Oriental
Compahy's Belgic are about what the trade
needs. Under the subsidy act vessels OF
this class would be entitled to something
like $500 for each round trip between San
Francisco and Panama, aud say twice as
much money for a round trip between San
Francisco ard Valparaiso. Such subsidies
would not tempt a Ship-owner 10 put a
steamer on tile berth unless he felt assured
of a traffic which would sustain her without
any subsidy at all.
The object which the public sought in
urging Congress to grant subsidies in the
shape of mail contracts was to build up lines
Of steamers on routes upon which there is
no present traffic TO sustain steamship line.
The act which is now being put in force
will scarcely accomplish that object. 1t is
in fact a mistake right through. 1t grants
too little money TO tempt ship-Owners to
establish new lines of steamers. and TOO
much to suit those who object to subsidies
on principle There is little prospect of its
being amended in the right direction by the
Fifty-second Congress, and it will probably
remain dead letter so;far as this Coast is
pnupernad