New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-16
4 NEW ERI II OCE1N MIL SERIICE


The remarkable achievements of the steam
ships St Louis and st. Paul during the last two
weeks in shortening the time between South
ampton and New-York, have justly excited
thrills of patriotic pride in every true American
breast 1t is doubtful. however. whether the
full significance of these two triumphs has yet
been generally recognized. Upon critical exam
nation a new factor will be detected in the sit
uation. An advantage never before enjoyed has
within the last fortnight been secured to the
American people This has not been developed
to its proper proportions; but that will come in
time Ii ought TO be short t:me too.
This matter has its practical rs we'll as its
sentimental phases. 1t is great fun TO see the
Stars and Stripes, flying from the masthcads of
American vessels come over the bar mt
Sandy Hook ahead of the Union Jack borne by
the crack steamships of rival line But it is
more substantial gain. for passengers whose
destination is some point outside the metropolis,
to be able to catch an earlier train out of town.
This is often made possible when two or three
hours is cut off from all previous records. Such
an advantage, however, Is not to be compared
with the arrival of foreign mails at such Il time
and in such a condition that they can be de-
livered In the lower districts of this city on Fri
day afternoon. Bankers, brokers. shippers.
transportation agents and scores Of other classes
of business men are thus enabled to read and
answer their letters in time for the Saturday
steamer. They thus save three days. Hitherto
it has been necessary to wait until the following
Tuesday before replies were dispatched. BY
this Improvement in service, it is fair to suppose,
the recipients of these replies are quite as great
~ accommodated rs their American correspond
.ents
To be sure. AZ present the American Line boats
do not carry on their westward voyages rs
heavy mails as the Cunard vessels do. That is
the fault Of the British postal administration.
Again. one Of the reasons why the St Louis and
St Paul have given Ncw-York business men
letters on Friday is that Oh those vessels the
mails carefully sorted on board. so that let
ter packages can be put right into the hands of
carriers OH reaching the PostOfce The Cunard
Line has not yet introduced that system. Its
mails come here unsOrted, exactly rs put up on
the other side. Ii would take several hours 10
separate letters for local delivery from those go
Ing 10 other parts of the country: and even if
the Iucanias or Campania's sacks actually got
into the General Postofiicc as early as the ST.
I.ous's and the 81. Paul's the contents could not
we'll be distributed and sent out before the close
of business hours downtown. At any rate, ac-
cording to the Superintendent of the Mails. it
has not been practicable to do So hitherto. An
additional difficulty is found In the fact that
Friday is particularly busy day in the main
office owing 10 large accumualons of outgoing
domestic mail The magnificent speed of the
American Liners therefore, is only one Of the
causes that have contributed TO this important
result 1t Is II little too soon. moreover to ex-
pect this Friday afternoon delivery of the for
eign mails Systematically. We may need 10 wait
until the Cramps build one or two more vessels
for the American Line or until England follows
the example OF America and Germany. and au-
thorizes the employment OF postal clerks on her
transatlantic mail steamers But the new era