Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-07-17
AGRKTMENT OF TRhrFIC-MEN
OURFOREIGN MAIL FACILITIES.
Propositions for Their improvement I'm
der the Postal Aid Bill.

WASHINGTON, July 15.-The Postmaster
General to-day issued the advertisement
Of the mail-lettlngs under the postal AID bill
passed by tho last Congress. IL invites pro-
pOsals from steamship companies for carrying
the American mails to foreign countries In YES
sells OF American build of the best construction
and Of the highest speed IN their respective classes
over routes minutely described. The adver-
tiscment IL the product OF three months OF confer
ence at the d apartment. The Postmaster-General
has met at frequent intervals during the whole
OF that time representatives OF the principal
American steamship lines and OF the principal
coast cities, especially in the South, where II
might be possible 10 encourage the establish
ment Of new lines, In order both 70 give them his
views to the best methods under the bill OF I'M
proving the foreign mail facilities and OF en-
cOuraglng American commerce, and to receive
tentative propositions as TO what they on their
part might be willing 10 contract TO do.
At present the United states has no power 10
compel the transportation OF any mails 10
foreign country. No ship-owner or ship-Inaster
il obliged TO receive or carry American mails
When ahip-owners or ship-masters do carry
them they tx their own time OF departure ana
follow whatever sailing-course they choose.
Only very small portion OF American mails
Is carried in American bottoms. In many cases
the service IL slow and irregular by whatever
vessels IL Is performed, as the payment allowed
being inconsderable as an item OF earning
shlp-owners necessarily pay more regard 20
picking up cargoes along devious routes than TO
the expeditions delivery OF mails by direct
courses.
There are nfty-four paragraphs covering tho
routes, many Of them repetitions of the same
routes for ditferent ports Of CALL classifying tho
vessels differently, or inviting different propo-
sails IA TO frequency OF service In order 10 get Of
fers Of service In various forms. 40 that the best
selection may DO made. Compendiously stated
the American ports from which the service Is
proposed to start, are: Boston, New FORK, Phila-
delphla, Baltimore, Newport News. Norfolk. Port
Tampa with service from Mobile). New Orleans,
Galveston, san Francisco Seattle. and Tacoma.
From the conferences that have taken place,
there is said TO be good reason 20 expect that
certain new service viii be put en- speedily. Ihis
new service. In connection with the enlargement
OF tho old, will require the building OF number
Of ships, probably not less than five OF the nrst
class, seventeen of the second class, I'VE OF tho
third class and four OF the fourth class, with an
aggregate tonnage of l54, 900 pounds. and at a
probable cost of from s27,000,OO0 TO $4,000
600 Newport News or Norfolk has been chosen
as the best point for tho upper southern coast
and Port Tampa (starting at Mobile, New Or
leans, and Galveston as the best ports Tor tho
lower southern coast. While a small part OF tho
service can be put on Immediately, IL will re-
qulre the whole term Of three years TO put ON
many OF the larger ships. Three years Is the
limit prescribed by the law.