Evening journal., 1892-11-03
ATLANTIC PASSENGER FARES.
Some Interesting Information About Ocean
Steamships and Ocean Travel.
special Correspondonce.l ]

and reads SO much about the develop
ment Of the modern steamship that that
phase of the question which concerns
the pocketbook is to a certain extent lost
sight Of.
Nest people Of course are aware that
they can get across the Atlantic pretty
comfortably for about hundred dol
lars; perhaps little more, perhaps lit
tie less. But at that point, unless they
are in the habit Of frequently crossing
the "herring pond,' their knowledge
ceases.
The rates of passage charged by the
different steamship companies from New
York to Europe vary greatly, according
to the season of the year. During the
summer months they are fixed at as high
a figure as possible, while in winter they
fall correspondingly.
The statement may sound paradox
cal, but il is nevertheless true that
steamship rates were never so high and
yet never so low as they are in this pres
ent year of grace. For fifty or sixty
dollars one can today obtain accom-
modations that it was simply impossible
to get at any price fifteen, even ten,
years ago, while ON the other hand the
genial passenger clerk of any of the fast
lines will cheerfully relieve you of $500,
5000, OF even $3.50, in exchange for a
ticket to Liverpool, Havre, Southampton
or Hamburg. Such rates as those just
named were never dreamed Of until
within tho last few years.
The highest rates are those charged
by the lnman and White Star people for
accommodations in their crack steam
ers. City Of New York, City of Paris,
and Teutonic and Majestic. All these
steamers have quarters for the rental Of
which for 8, 6iS or z days $500 and
$3.50 are asked. The suites for which this
enormous rate is demanded consist of "a
stateroom, bath and toilet room, and a
small reception or drawing room, and
can be occupied by one. two, three or
four persons. The Hamburg-American
company follows closely. On its new
Augusta Victoria, Norinannia and Co
lumbia there are staterooms and deck
cabins renting for as much as $500. The
North German Lloyd also has accommo.
datiOns for which a similar price is OBJ
tained. SO has the French Transat-
lantique. The Cunard line (as have also
! the Arizona and Alaska of the Guion
hne) has excellent deck cabins, for which
a good round sum is charged. There
/ are Of course lots of cheaper berths on
the steamers named. Most Of them have
accommodations which rent for only
$50. Others (and better) bring $50 500,
! 800, 1925, $780, 5000 or $3.50, as the case
may be. Every taste and pocketbool1
are provided for, and passengers, whether
they pay $50 or 5000, have equal deck and
saloon privileges.
Now as 10 second cabin rates. Natu-
rally enough there is not here the diver
sity of fares that prevails in the cabin.
The accommodations offered are too
nearly alike, and, moreover, the class of
1 travel for which they are designed is
not such as to make necessary any great
differences. Generally speaking the
rate in the case of steamships plying TO
4 English ports runs from $50 TO $40. In
a few cases $i5 is asked, but that is the
limit. The French and German lines,
however, ask considerably more, and
doubtless offer better accommodations.
Their rate is from 500 TO $65.
The steerage fare is 500, with a small
additional charge when the travellers
objective point is a Swedish, Norwegian
or Danish port.
Until about 1875 the cabin rates of
most of the lines were pretty much alike
varying from $40 to 500, according tC
the berth. Then the Cunard and White
Star forged ahead of their rivals, fur
nished better accommodations and
charged more for them. The results ar,
now evident on every hand. The sec
ond cabin rates at that time We're $40
sometimes S45, and the steerage-to ol
from British ports-$2S. So long as the
stream of immigration to the United
States lasted everything was lovely. Tn,
steamship companies had all they cOult
J do TO handle the tremendous food O
travel which sped westward, and the,
! could not spare time to cut rates. But tn
; year 1880, which saw the climax of steer
, age travel across the Atlantic, witnesse,
! also the commencing struggles of bite
competition for business. So keen did tn
rivalry become that in 1885 passenger
We're being conveyed from Liverpool 4
. New York for ten dollars. When ON
4 remembers that out of this sum tn
/ selling agent was allowed a commission
t of two dollars, one is at loss to under
B stand how the business could be CARRIE
g on. However, such state Of affair
p could not long endure, and the rate wa
4 gradually increased to twenty dollars
P its present figure.
= The influence of this long lasting Ill.
+ turbance in steerage fares was fell
4 though not to very great extent. in th
K second cabin and resulted in a reducuo
e in several cases of from five TO ten do
j. lars in intermediate fares.
{ The greatest factor in the unsettling
K steerage rates is the Scandinavian trad
e Properly the business belongs to the 4
= rect lines from Swedish and Norwegio
K ports, but the Liverpool companies ever
a spring make most determined efforts
secure a good share of it. The result
t ,hat the month of April almost invari
o bly, ushers in war of rates that co
y tinues with more or less bitterness f
e weeks or months. J. NJ. CAMPBELL.