Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-15
AMERICAN SHIPS.
The Advertisement Prepared to Garry Out
the Postal Subsidy Law.
FOUR CLASSES OF VESSELS MAY BE ENPLoYED-
THEY MUST BE AMERICAN BUILT AND orFIcEREp
By ANERIcANs-ro BUILD UP AN AMERICAN MIR
CHANT MARINE

POSTMASTER General wsnamaker is now pre-
pared to carry into effect the act passed by the
last Congress and known ~ the postal subsidy
Dill. 1t Is designed to provide for ocean mail
service between the United States and foreign
ports and to promote commerce. The Post
master General is authorized TO enter into con-
tracts for term not less than Eve nor more
than ten years in duration with American citi-
zens To- the carrying Of mails on American
steamships between ports Of the United States
and such ports in foreign countries, the Do
minion OF Canada excepted as in the Judgment
OF the Postmaster General will best pro-
mote the postal and commercial interests OF
the United States. In pursuance Of
the act the Postmaster General has pre-
pared an advertisement which is to
be inserted in the daily papers Of the
principal coast cities Of the country. describing
OF trips and other details which may be neces-
sary, In order that intelligent bids may be made
Tor performing the service.
ANERIcAN-BULT VESSELS.
An important provision Of the law is that the
vessels employed in this service shall be Amer
ican-built steamships. owned and Offered by
American citizens. II further provides that
certain proportion Of the crew shall be citizens
OF the United States. The steam vessels TO be
employed are of four classes. The first class is
to be iron or steel screw steamships, capable Of
maintaining a speed of twenty knots an
hour at sea in ordinary weather
and OF q gross registered tonnage OF not less
than 5000 tons. The vessels OF the second
class are to be iron or steel steamships. having
o speed OF sixteen knots an hour and a tonnage
OF 5000 tons. The third class are 20 be iron or
steel steamships Of fourteen knots an hour and
OF not less than $500 tons. The fourth class
may be iron, steel or wooden steamships Of
twelve knots an hour and OF a tonnage
not less than l,500 tons. The vessels of
the first, second and third classes are to be
constructed with special reference to prompt
and economical conversion into auxiliary
naval cruisers and according TO plans and speci-
ncations to be agreed upon between the owners
and the Secretary of TIE Navy. The rate Of
compensation to be paid for such ocean mail
service of the ships of the first class shall not
exceed the rum of "a mile, for the second
Class ships 81 per mile, for the third-class ships
II per milo and for the fourth-class ships two
thirds of a dollar per mile for the actual num-
Der of miles required to be travelled on the OUT
ward voyage.
SECRETARY TRACY GoEs ovEE THE DETAILS.
Secretary Tracy called at the department
this morning and went over with the Post
master General the details of the proposed
adveI tisement. As the vessels of the first
three classes are to be built from plans ap-
proved by the Secretary of the Navy, and ms
naval officers may be detailed to inspect the
vessels when built. Mr.. Tracy naturally has q
good deal of interest in seeing that the
proposals are in good shape. The vessels
are also TO be designed that they may be
utilized by the navy in of necessity. The
routes determined upon by Mr.. Wanamaker
are mainly to points in South America. The
bill Is regarded as one of great importance. If
Il Is found to be practicable the result will be
the creation OF a merchant marine and the ap-
pearance again on the ocean highways of
American ships.