Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-08
MOST COSTLY OF ALL CUPS.
The international Yachting Trophy, Oh
Which 100000 Has Been Spent.

If the Americas cup were melted
down and sold for Old silver today it
would probably not be worth more
than $50 at the market price of silver
Its original cost as an alleged work Of
art on the part of the SilyerSmith who
made it was 100 guineas, or, III Amer
lean money, about S025 Nevertheless.
this supremacy ugly piece of silver
ware has cost at least 100000 to the
two great EngliSh7speaking nations,
(which have for half a century St1-iven
with each other OH the high seas for
its possession. 1T is easy to count up
how the United States have spent di-
rectly 100000 to keep the cup on this
side. The British have spent much
more to get possession of it. The ex-
penSe Of the British as been greater
because they have been under the
necessity of building their boats on the
other side, trying them on the other
side, sending them over here and tax
ing them back again.
To build a yacht and put her IN rae
ing trim, send her across the Atlantic
in cruising trim, to put her back again
when she has safely completed her
voyage into racing trim again, and
then, finally, after she has sailed her
races, to transform heT a second time
into a cruising yacht and send her
back across the Atlantic, costs a great
deal Of money.
Every Englishman who has come
over here seeking the cup, with the
possible exception of Lieutenant HEM,
has brought with him a sort of adj
visOry committee, consisting either OF
his personal friends or her sails. When
Lord Dunrayen came over here two
years ago, for instance, he brought
with him Watson, the designer Of
Valkyrie H., and LaPthom, the sail
maker, and in all probability paid
| their expenses. When Sir Richard
Sutton came over in the Genesta ne
brought with him the designer of the
yacht, J. Beaver Webb.
1t is safe to say that the English, in
trying to regain the cup, have spent
considerably over million dollars.
The futile attempts Of Canada with
the Countess of Dufferin and the At
| Atlanta were small things from none
tary point of view, as they We're from
a yachting view point. The expense
| to Canada was probably less in trying
to get the cup than it was to the New
| York Yacht club in retaining it, and
| both expenses were comparatively
| trifling. When the V;gilant had fin
| ished her races and achieved her final
| victory over Valyrie H., it is estimated
| that, as she lay at anchor that night
off the Atlantic Yacht club, she had
cost the syndicate which built and
| sailed her no less than 100000.
| The ColOnia, all told, cost about SSo,-
| 000-that is, including all the eX-
| penses of her building and the man
ming and sailing Of her up to the end
of the trial races. Upon the Jubilee
| including all the expenses, General
Paine is supposed to have spent alb at
100000. The Pilgrim, in her construc.
| ton, running, etc, cost all told about
| $4,000. This makes a total of $500.
900, which it directly costs to keep the
cup on this side the last time that the
| English Stroye to get it from lis.
The Volunteer, when she had fin
ished her victories over the Thistle
had been the cause of the outlay OF
100000, to say nothing Of the ex
penses of running the Mayfiower and
Puritan against her N the trial races
and 1T costs a good deal TO put bis
SloOps like the Mayfiower and Puritan
In trim and TO man and race then
properly. The Mayfower had cos
about $4,000 when she was through
i with her races against the Galatea
! About $4,000 may also be put down Il
the Puritan, which raced against The
i Genesta. In the trial races to selec
an opponent for the GeEesta it will bt
: and Atlantic were entered These