New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-01
THE POSTAL SUBSIDY.
PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS IN THE OCEAN
MAIL SERVICE.
WHAT THE PACIFIC NAIL COMPANY is wILLiNU
TO doom THE WEST AND EAST COAST
OF SOUTH AMERI Cattle Ex-

WHAT THE PACIFIC MAIL COMPANY is WILLING
TO doom THE WEST AND EAST COAST
OF SOUTH AMERIcA-THE Ex-
TENSION OF COMMERCE.
washington, May 30 (specian-It is known TO De
the earnest desire of the Pacific Mall Steamship Com
pany to support In every way the policy Of the pesen.
Administration In carrying out the Postal subsidy Dill
in way to show that IL is for the best Interests OF inc
country and place the general policy OF supsoies
on foundation that shall commend Itself to the people
generally as being one of great advantage Inc fcsT
masterGeneral has already been made aware that the
Pacific Mail Steamship Company will be glad TO I'M
prove It's service by making quicker time on It's routes
nv calling at all OF the ports on the routes more ITO
ouently and by increasing Its present tonnage perhaps
10 the extent OF $4,000 5000 tonnage THIS is on
the supposton Of course, that the Postmaster0enera
finds it of advantage to the Department 10 make tno
reoured contracts 1t is believed that the PACING
Mail service between Panama and San Francisco
can easily be increased trip month Ih's
woud make permanent service of three trips
month between New-York and San Francisco Oh
what has been heretofore only semfmontnly
service between Panama and San Francisco except al
short and irregular periods. 1t Is believed 100 that
the time between New-York and Colon can be de-
creased twentyfour hours and that the time between
San Francisco and Panama may be shortened by four
DAYS at least and that, too without omltng any OIL
the nresent stops The Pacific Mail has at present
monthly line between Panama and Acapulco ms
ia thought can be increased to trmonthly service
or ~ that Improvement not made. an entirely new
line 10 be semmonthly, between Panama and Chain-
nerfo mort on the same coast might be established
Although this service would involve 1900 tons OF
entirely new ships II is believed that 1t could be put
on within six months. Two ships OF 1'ooo IONS
each for the Central American service, and two shpS
~ 900 tons EACH for the service between NcwforA
and San Francisco, would probably be required one
IL. naHh
fsthmus. -
The service performed by the Pacific Mall on the
China line is in competition with the Occidental ana
Oriental Steamship Company, the vessels OF winch arc
owned by the White Star Steamship Company OF
Liverpool and are operated by the Union ana oen'ra
Pacific Railroads conformity; and in competuon WIN
the line running from Vancouver to Yokohama anu
Hong Kong. which is owned by the Canadian Pacino
Railway and subsidized to the extent Of hall million
dollars wear by the British Government THIS emma
line Of the Pacific Mail would have to have three ne"
ships OF the highest class On this line now are three
ships. one of which built in England The racine
Mail vould look forward under the provisions OF the
Postal Subsidy BILL to the building of two new ships
fr this China line each Of 5000 tons and of eighteen
tnos sneed but these vessels could probably not DO
completed for two years
difficult problem before the Postoffce Department.
4. how best to give this country and the western coast
Of South America the largest advantages under the
paraso Chilli is 1852 miles, which could be covered
in from eighteen to twenty days If too many stops were
NOT made The distance from NewIo DIRK to Valparaiso
Is 500 miles which could probably be covered under
similar circumstances in from fifteen to eighteen oass
The steamers between San Francisco and Panama stop
at from eighteen TO twenty-five ports, and Detweeh
Panama and Valparaiso they stop at perhaps twenty
These ports, having hardly any other communicate
with the world are loath Of course to Awe up their
s4aa chi is
lines also whether it pays them to accommodate all
these places or 10 go quickly and ACCOMMODATE
the larger ports better
One suggestion is that the fast line OF large steam
ers say of 5000 tons each, which could be put Oh
in two years be operated by the same company 70
carry mails passengers and through freights between
New-York and Valparaiso, stopping only at one prln
cipal port In each country on the Gulf trahssmpphs
at the Isthmus, and then on the other line Stopping
only at principal port in each country on the
west coast Of South America. The distance south
from Panama to Valparaiso Is about $500 miles, ana
IL Is thought this distance could easily be covered
in eight or ten days. This arrangement would nat
uray involve local lines Of steamers to stop at In
termediate ports and to connect for their mails pas
sengers and freight at the principal ports IL these
were twelve fourteen knot boats they might serve
the purpose The distance from NewYork to Panama
s about 900 miles and is covered in nine days
1t is believed that the 5OOotOn steamers would make
the trip in five days. An arrangement by whch
these might sail once in ten days and connect decuy
with the South Pacific steamers at Panama Without
delay is confidently looked forward TO by many snip
ping people who have presented their views to the
Department.
The Chamber OF Commerce OF New-Oreans mas
already begun to take lively interest In new arrange
ments to connect their city with the 1sthmus, ana
with the intermediate ports, If not to Brazil. SER
vice every ten days between New-Orleans and Colon
with 2,5OO-ton, fourteenknot steamers making the
vra in ahNuf four
discussed line like tits could also drop mails,
passengers and freight for the South Pacific ports, and
the steamers might also proceed TO Cartlagena ana
savanlla in Colombia with mails, before returning to
New-OVleans with their cargoes OF freight from the
Central American ports 1t has been stated that the
Illinois Central Railway is ready to put on line Oh
steamers for this purpose, and the projectors OF the
great Transcontinental Railway have already begun to
mako inouiries to see how their enterprise may be
snnnlemened and improved, the better TO handle this
Central and South American trade This service rom
New-Orleans may possibly be supplemented by nhe
from Tampa TO the Isthmus, stopping at Kingston,
Jamaica, both going and coming This distance OF
a thousand miles might be covered in three days,
which would bring Colon within five days of New-fork
The Cuban mails now go by way Of the Atlantic
roast line 10 Tampa and the Plant Line Of steamers
from Tampa to Havana. The Tampa service runs
three times a week in winter and twice week in
summer Ordinarily letter reaches Havana from
NewYork twenty four hours quicker by way OF Tampa
than by way Of the Ward Line Of steamers from New
York to Havana but If the Ward steamers were to sail
on the odd days 1t be seen that they would take
the mails to Havana as quickly and the southern ports
OF Cuba would be served as quickly. In view, how
ever of the present condition of the Tampa service 1t
is thought that the additional benefit of extra service
between New-York and Havana would hardly warrant
the Department and the Ward Line in entering upon
an arrangement for new vessels
hoe pp Cur 81 n ar
vice for the east coast OF South America similar TO that
outlined for the west coast. II is maintained by
that there should be line Of fast 5000 ton vessels be-
tween New-York and Buenos Ayres every two weeks.
stopping at ST. Thomas Rio de Janelro and Montevdeo
only and that during the summer yelowfever season
they should stop only az RIO to drop mall and passen
gers and leave all freight at Rio TO be discharged on
the return voyage. The quarantine regulations Of the