The record-union., 1891-04-17
OCEAN STEAMSHIP LINES.
THE PACIFIC MAIL ANXIOUS TO
IMPROVE IT'S SERVICE.
Proposition to Increase the Number
Of Steamers on Both Sides OF
the IsthmuS.
specia, to the REcoRD-US1oS.

WASHINGTON, April Lett Is known
to be the earnest desire of the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company to support in
every way the policy of the present Ad-
ministration, carrying out the postal sub
sidy bill in way to show that it is for
the best interests of the country, and so
to place the general policy of subsidies on
foundation that shall commend itself to
the people generally as being one of great
advantage.
The Postmaster-Gene has already
been aware that the Pacific Mail Steam
ship Company will be glad to improve
its service by making quicker time on
its routes, by calling at all of its ports on
the routes more frequently, and by in
creasing its present tonnage perhaps to
the extent of fifteen or twenty thousand
tons. This is on the supposition, OF
course, that the Postmaster General finds
it OF advantage to the department to
| make the required contracts.
1t is believed that the Pacific Mail
service between Panama and San Fran
cisco can easily be increased one trip per
month. This would make the perma-
nent service three trips per month be-
tween New York and San Francisco, OF
what has been heretofore only d semi
monthly service between Panama and
San Francisco, except in short and ir-
regular periods. 1t is believed, too, that
| the time between New York and Colon
can be decreased twenty-four hours, and
that the time between San Francisco and
| Panama may be shortened by four days
at least, and that, too, without omitting
| the present stops.
The Pacific Mail has at present a
monthly line between Panama and Aca-
pulco. This, it is thought, can be in.
| creased to a tri-monthly service, or, il
that improvement were not made, an en-
| tirely new line, to be semi-monthly, be.
tween Panama and Champerto, might be
| established, although this service would
| involve 1900 tons of entirely new ships.
1t is believed that it could be put on
| within six months. Two ships of ] 900
| tons each for the Central American serv-
ice, and two ships of 1900 tons each for
service between New York and San
Francisco, would probably be required.
| One of the new big ships could be used
on each side of the isthmus. The Pacific
Mail would look forward, under the pro-
visions of the postal subsidy bill, to the
| building of two new ships for the China
| line, each of {, 900 tons and eighteen lknots
speed. But these vessels could probably
not be completed for two years.
The difficult problem before the Post
| Office Department is how best to give this
country and the western coast Of South
America the largest advantages under
the subsidy bill. One suggestion is that
a fast line of large steamers, say of four
or five thousand tons each, which could
be put on in two years, be operated by
| the same company to carry mails, passen-
| gers and through freight between New
York and Valparaiso, stopping only al
the principal port in each country on the
gulf, transhipping at the isthmus and
then on the other line, stopping only al
one principal port in each country on the
west coast of South America, the distance
| from Panama to Valparaiso could be COW
ere in eight or ten days.
This arrangement would naturally in
volve the local lines of steamers to stop
at intermediate ports, and to connect fo1
their mails, passengers and freight at the
principal ports. If there were twelve OF
| fourteen-knot boats, they might servethe
| purpose. The distance from New York
| to Panama could be made in five days
| An arrangement by which they might
sail once in ten days, and connect directly
with the South Pacific steamers al
| Panama, without delay, is confidently
! looked forward to by many shipping peo.
pie who have presented their views tc
| the department.