The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-05-20
WILL FLY THE STARS AND STRIPES.
Austin Corbin Tells How His Ships May
Reduce Atlantic Records.

New YORK, May 19.--Mr. Austin Cor
bin explained yesterday in general way
the plans of the American Steamship
Company, which proposes to enter into
competition with the present steamship
companies doing general passenger and
freight business between this port and
the ports of Great Britain. The bill in
trodueed in the Senate on Tuesday by
Senator Chandler, recites that Austin
Corbin and his associates propose to in
corporate the American Steamship Com
pany under the laws of New York. with
a capital of at least $10,000,000, and to
construct purchase and conduct fleet
of tirst-class passenger steamers. One
paragraph of the bill provides that all
the vessels SO owned of not less than
1000 tons and capable of a speed of not
less than 10 knots an hour, which may
be acquired by purchase OF otherwise by
the company after the passage of the act,
shall be entitled to American registry on
the same terms as those granted to the
City OF Paris and City of New York, and
to all the other privileges granted by the
act of May 10, 1892, if, on making appli-
cation for such registry for a foreign
built ship, the company shows that it has
contracted to build in an American ship
yard a vessel Of equal or greater tonnage.
This must not be understood to
mean," said Mr.. Corbin, that our YES
sells will be of less tonnage or capable of
less speed than the vessels of the compa-
MES now existing-not by any means. In
fact, we propose to make better time be-
tween New York and London or Liver
pool than any vessel now ahoat. Our
ships will be the very best, and we will
have the advantage of quicker time at
both ends in this way: Our docks on this
side will be at Fresh Pond Bay, near Mon
tauk Point. Passengers and mail will go
from New York to the ship by rail, say
ing at least four hours in that way over
the passage through the Narrows. On
the other side we have mapped out a
short cut to London by connecting with
the London and Northwestern railroad.
figure thatwe can land the mails in
London about ten hours quicker than any
vessel afoat. Now, if we can do that, or
land them even five hours ahead of the
others, we are bound to win.
ssThe smaller vessels referred to in the
bill are intended for different class of
travellers. take it there are many
persons in moderate circumstances
who would prefer to pay $75
for the passage on an eight day steamer
rather than $500 for the passage on a
six day steamer IT is for this class that
these steamers are designed.
until now there has been an unjust
discrimination against American ship
owners. The privileges extended to for
eigners have been withheld from Ameri-
cans. If / were to buy sister ship to
! the City of Paris could sail it under the
American flag in British waters, 1 BN fIl
| came to New York with the stars and
stripes floating from her. masthead L
| would be put in prison and my ship
would be confscated. This bill Of Sena-
tor Chandler's will remedy this condi-
| ton of affairs.
Sat first two ships will be built abroad
and at the same time we shall build two
here. These will be first class vessels.
They can build ships cheaper abroad at
present. Ibelieve, because they have SO
much better appliances and have somuch
more experience but there is going to be
revival of shipbuilding in this country
before long, and we will move abreast of
any of them. Every ship of ours will
float the American flag"