New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-18
AMERICAN LINE TO FRANCE.
PROPOSITION TO ESTABLISH ONE Be
TWEEN NETWORK AND
LA ROCHELLE
[nY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrpUSE.l

Washington. July l7.-Consul jackson. at cognae,
writes a most interesting and. from tho trade
point Of view. valuable communication 10 tho
State Department relating to the establishment OF
an American steamship line between La Rochelle
and New-York. He presents number OF facts
which II may be well consider IN a somewhat
abridged form. and so arranged as to meet the
wants OF the readers OF daily newspaper For
four or five years. he says, there has been moro
or less speculation the establishment OF
"A steamship line between these points, and re-
Gently both English and German companies have
been considering the project He has the assurance
that an American line would be far more accept
able the interested parties on that side OF the
Atlantic
Consul Jackson considers first. naturally. the
question Would such line pay? He canddly
admits that perhaps for the first few months Il
would not, but II the service has some organza-
ton at the start It could he made 10 pay almost
from the beginning The cargo going TO the
United States. he states could be collected from
these places:
First-From Cognac. La Pallice. Rochelle Is ,,s
natural port. The brandy shipments 70 the United
states from this grea, distilllng centre amount
in value to $4,000 annually Not $4,000 worth
would 20 anywhere else in tho event OF direct
communication. At present the shipments to
Boston. Philadelphia and Baltimore are from LA
Rochelle to Liverpool
Second-From Angouleme. the exports chiefly
manufactures of brass goods. netting, fine French
notepaper. eta
nurser.esan extensive trade in the latter with this
country.
Fourth-From Bordeaux. exports by way o. la
Rochelle. largely increasing account Of the
shallow waters OF the Gronde preventing Bor-
deaux from being reached by large ocean steamers.
Immense quantities OF wines shipped hl'her.
Fifth-From Nantes and saumur famous. res
pectivey for fancy biscuits and preserves and for
wines
sxth-From Biscny parts At present much
cargo IS gathered by coast vessels and carried 10
English French Belgian and duties ports for
transfer TO vessels sailing TO the United States.
I. w. Morch. president OF the La Rochelle Cham
Der Of Commerce. says N a recent letter: AZ
whatever moment such project becomes reality
1t IS certain that the State railways which enter
port would he ready TO grant every facility
for the establishment or special trains FOR pas
sengers. TO reduce rates for carrying expectations
or inpOrtatiors of merchandise"
Pursuing his statement. the Consul says: 'Ons
can more than reasonably expect secure the
carrying Of the great quantities OF porcelain from
Limoges, large part II not all. OF the exports
from Lyons, besides much from Southern Germany
The next question he asks and answers IS VIVA;
cargo could be brought from the United States!
He finds these articles 70 be grain. cotton. WOOD
pulp. lumber and miscellaneous; Imports OF agrI.
cultural machinery bicycles lubricatlng and othef
oils railroad steel and iron from this country couIa
enter France direct instead of by Liverpool, as a.
present. The following are brief excerpts from. .
long quotation ne makes from the letter OF MI
Morch. above quoted:
1T is certain that there are merchandise and
passengers for New-York In the centre OF France
In all the eastern region in the west and south
and that these passen GERS and this merchandise
now forced 10 TO the channel ports would gao.
Is avail themselves OF a service which sailed from
a more convenient point" .
III the line sailed under the American flag 90
you believe that a goOiy number Of your com.
patriots visiting Paris would prefer 10 sail In .
ship of their own nationality. rather than take
foreign yessel?' ,a
Mr. Jackson is assured that special trains woula
be from Paris on the arrival and departure ..
steamers. and long journey TO Paris would W
saved American travellers going 10 Bordeaux b,s
ritz. Bayonne. Lourdes Poitiers, Tours. Nahsss
and the French of the Mediterranean. ana ~
PyrCnees. The port OF Pallce-RocheIe
situated three miles from the historical to"n W
La Rochelle and Is sheltered from the sea by tnrss
large natural hreakwaters The roadstead oneI..s
an excellent anchorage and Is reputed for r ts
safety. The port Is acceptable any weather ~
Quays are servlceaDle to the extent OF 100 ya.u,c
The railway accommodations are ample, ar az
the facilities for storing and transforms rom
Quite an extensive account Is furnished IT,. 10
French official records OF the depth Of water 1o,nts
etc. distances 10 Paris. Lyons and other us
The pilotaee rates vary from 50 Is per hufdren 80
to Sl5 CO per hundred tons for steamers SAILING
sells being charged double, except when In DaiiaS"