New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-16
MAILS IN AMERICAN SHIPS.
THE PosTMASTERGENERAL INVITES BIDS
UNDER THE NEW LAW.
PLANS TO IMPROVE THE POSTAL SERVICE BY
QUICKER VESSELS AND MORE FREQUENT
TRIPs-scHEDULE OF THE PRO
POSED ROUTES.

Washington, July 15.-POstmasterGeneral Wanna
maker to-day issued his notice 10 bidders 10 the
United states mails In accordance with the provisions
Of the act Of March o. 1891 In this respect Post
masterGencral Wanamaker in his Official action stands
in bod relief against Postmaster.General Villas. The
former obeys the Will of Congress; the latter ignored
| It, The shipping interests Of the United states
certainly ought TO be congratulated. in the first place.
because ships will not be built and sailed under the
United States flag at this time without substantial
| encouragement from the Government OF the United
states; second, because Postmaster General OF TIC
United States 1T last has been found who will carry
out the will and intent Of Congress. In this part OF
the neither Mr Villas, the late Postmaster-Gen
era the Cleveland Administration should be held
responsible. In Mr.. Ceveland's Administration every
American interest ignored and In ignoring 1t the
President compelled to an attitude which
was regarded in foreign countries, however 1t may have
been regarded at home. direct bid for British
mercantile supremacy on the seas.
The advertisement issued to-day invites proposals
from steamship companies for carrying the American
mails 10 foreign countries in vessels Of American build,
OF the best construction and OF the highest speed in
their respective classes routes infinitely described
At present the United states has power to compel
the transportation Of any mails to foreign country.
6ipOwners~fx their time Of departure and follow
whatever sailing course they choose, and pay more
regard to picking cargoes along devious route than
20 the expeditions delivery of mails by direct course
In the fiscal year ended June 3d. 1890, just 90 cents
were earned by the American ships in carrying United
States mails to Europe. During the period there
was paid to foreign ships the Of 1897 6G5 40 for
conveying mails from the United States to Europe.
The PostmasterGenera seeks TO put frstcasS, rapid
weekly service on two transatlantic routes, one TO
Great Britain direct and the other to Continental
port also to make more frequent and reliable the mails
to Central and South American ports and 10 Australia
and Asia. The American ports from which it is pro
Philadelphia Baltimore Newport News, Norfolk Port
Tampa with service from MObile) New-Orleans,
Galveston, san Francisco Seattle and Tacoma.
Provision has been made TO quicker service by
all the old lines, reducing the time by onefOurth to
Panama and much as six days between Panama
and San Francisco The service between NewYOFk
and Brazil is to be reduced to nineteen DAYS instead
Of twenty-five and upward now. The service else
where is reduced to minimum by requiring ships,
and much more frequent and regular service will be
Insisted on.
The new service will require the building of
her of ships. probably not less than five of the first
class. seventeen of the second class five Of the third
class and four Of the fourth class, with aggregate
tonnage of $4,000 tons, and at q probable cost of
from $27,OOOOOO to S3OOOO,OOO The most i'm
portant requirements that only American-built
steamships constructed after the latest type shall be
poyed; they must be owned and differed by American
citizens and their crews must contain a certain pro-
portion Of American citizens. The first three classes
shall be Of iron and steel, wooden steamships being
allowed on the fourth class only The tonnage and
speed of these classes shall he respectively not less
than 5000 tons and twenty knots 5000 tons and six
teen knots $500 tons and fourteen knots, and 800
tons and twelve knots. These contracts are not de-
signed to interfere with ordinary passenger and freight
business. Vessels Of the first three classes shall be
constructed so as to admit of their prompt and eco
nomical conversion into Naval cruisers, capable Of
nj lpaSf riff and M
that end they shall be thoroughly inspected and APP
proved by the Secretary of the Navy before they
accepted by the Department. The bounty from the
Government shall consist Of not than the follow
ing sums for each mile of the shortest practicable out
ward voyage: First class, a. second class 81 third
class, 81, and fourth class wohirds of a dollar All
failures and Irregularities shall be subject to prorata
deductions suitable penalties.
The further stipuiatiOns OF the law free trans
potation and accommodation Of mail messengers the
employment of Naval officers when desired, the ad
mission Ct American boys as cadets apprentices IN
the proportion of to every thousand tons of gross
register majority fraction thereof, and the use Of
these steamers Government transports or cruisers
upon payment to the owners. Proposals will be re-
ceived at the PostOtIce Department until O'Clock
on Monday, october 2G, 1891. The contracts are for
ten years, except where otherwise particularly speci-
fed and begin from the date of the execution Of them
Tie complete schedule Of routes published in the adj
vertisement Is as follows From NewYorh TO Liver
pool via Queenstown. or from Neiv-York 10 sOuhamp
ton or Plymouth, weekly first class; from New-YorS
TO Antwerp via Southampton or Plymouth weekly first
class, from NewYorb TO Antwerp, weekly, second
class for three years, first class for years.
From NewYork to Buenos Ayres touching at
MOntevideO eighteen DAYS out), seventeen trips
year second class touching on return at Montevideo
and Rio and at Santos, at the contractors option;
trip, twenty-slx trips year, second class.
From NewYOrk to Tuxpam, Mexico, via Havana,
ProgresO and Tampco, stopping on return at Vera
Cruz, Fronero, ProTeso and Havana, weekly, third
class; route. weekly third class for three years.
second class for seven from New-York to Santiago
dc Cuba, via Nassau, weekly, third class or same
route, once IN two weeks fourth class.
From New-York to Laguayra, via Mayaguese.
Curacao and Porto Cabelo, three trips month, third
class; same route. same number OF trips third
class for first three years, second class for seven
from New York to Curacoa touching at Laguayra and
Malacabo on return), weekly, third class; from New
York to Domingo via Cape Haiti, thirty -six trips
a year. time not TO exceed nine days, or twenty-sx
trips year. fourth class for first three years, third
class for seven time for first three years not TO exceed
nine days and for remaining wears not to exceed
seven and one-half days. Also weekly, tllrd class
time not to exceed seven days. from Ncw-YOrk to
Colon thiry-six trips per year. third class for first
two years time not to exceed six and 0nehalf days
ana once a week for the remaining eight years second
class, trne not to exceed five and one-half days on
voyage OUT or once week, third class six ard one
half days for first three years, second class for the
remaining seven years, time on voyage out not to
exceed five days.
From Boston to Liverpool via Queenstown. weekly,
first class
From Philadelphia to Buenos Ayrcs. touching at
Montevdco. twenty-five days ont, seventeen trips
year. third class time twenty-five days.
From Baltimore TO Para twenty-slx trips year.
third class, time twelve days; from Baltimore to Brem
en-, weekly second class; twenty-Slx trips year.
second class
From Norfolk TO santos, via st. Thomas. Martinique,
Barbados Para. Pemambuco, Bahia and Rio twenty
six trips year mot more than nineteen days each
way). third class. touching return at Rio, Bahla
Pernambuco and NewYOrS from Norfolk to klo
twenty-sx trips year mot than nineteen DAYS
each wayl, touching at Bahia and Pcrnambu>o, third
class from Norfolk 10 santos. via ST. Thomas, Martin