Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-07-21
GOLDEN BRIDGE TO SPAIN.
GREAT COST OF TRANSPORTING
OUR PRISONERS HOME.
steamship Companies Would Charge
Probably 500 n Hcad-M Many viii
Not Bid at all Fear of yellow
Fever In the Ships.

The problem for transporting the Spnn-
sh prisoners at Santiago grows moro Sc
ioGS the moro 1t is considered, says the
Commercial Advertiser None of the
tcamship agents land nearly all of them
OF this city Welc seem would definitely
commit himself to any project, but the
fact was developed that If bids for trans-
portatlon per head are invited, the cost
will range very much higher than the reg
ular storage rate of $50 from New York
to Liverpool; and one agent said at least
twice, and another said at least three
times as large.
the reason Of this comparatively high
rate Is that the vessels viii have to UNDER
go more or less preparation and alteration
for the work, they must sail in ballast
to Cuba. and after delivering their human
cargo in Spain. they must return to their
home ports, again in ballast, for no freight
can be procured in Spain or cuba. MI
this might easily consume five or six
weeks for one round trip and payment
would have TO be arranged on that basis.
Another point considered Is the scarcity
f vessels The steamers on the regular
ines cannot be taken off for this service
: aside from their contracts for carrying
the mails, IL Is only the grdvest necessity
which would induce the managers TO can
eel their regular sailing dates. 1t is said
that only the German lines have any
steamers available for this purpose. ana
the Ilamburg-AmcriCan Is the only lidc
which 50 far processes willingness to
bid. In the terms Of surrender made pub
| lie recently there was proVso that the
prisoners shcaid ue shipped under a neu-
trial flag. and If this condition is retained
! In the inal agreement, the foreign lines
viii control tho situation.
| The protect which has been suggested
| OF shipping the prisoners in transports
now off Santiago to some Florida port
| whore fOIIlI NO m rti, trI
| brought to New York is regarded by INC
steamship agents az wholly impracticabe
partly because the rate Of railroad trans
portaton would double the cost nut
principally because such Il procedure
would Dr almost certain to introduce VOL
low fever into the United States. With the
| facilities now available in Santiago harbor
the prisoners could be embarked with far
less dfhculty than attended the landing
of the troops, Notwithstanding the case
with that feat was accomplished.
IT is said that some English lines have
already expressed a willingness to bid,
and it Is probable that ono at least Of the
German lines will enter the competition,
but Notwithstanding this the ouartermas-
ter's department has on its hands one of
the most difficult problems II has ever
had to meet There is little doubt that
the cost will be far in excess of the figure
winch some of the officers now have in
mind, and 1t may rise as high as 800
head. The steamship agents this morn
ing fought shy Of figures. although most
of them believed that the lowest rate
which could be made would be at least
twice the usual Storage rate. If the
number OF prisoners is 10000. as is now es-
timated, ii may cost 100000 to be rid of
them. II is. as one of the steamship men
slid. case of building Il golden bridge
for a fleeing enemy"
The problem looks difficult from the
standpoint of the army. Officers in the
quarteimaster's department in the army
building were thinking a good deal to-day
about the job. Although no orders have
yet been received from Washington. it Is
generally expected that the quartermas-
ter VIII be instructed to advertise for bids
Tor their transportation. An officer of the
, department said that. should bids be ask
, ed for, 1t might turn out that transporta-
ton could he secured at as low a rate as
~" per capita on some of the smaller
tranSocranic steamship lines.
, 1T Is possible, however" he added, 9TH 4
, the transatlantic line steamship COM
: panies may refuse to bid owing TO the
danger of yellow fever breaking out on
their vessels, 1t is almost impossible 10
eradicate this disease if 1t once get into
ship. With proper quarantine protec-
ton there should be very little danger.
5 I'm the event of the transatlantic COM
I panieS refusing TO bid. the government
$ would be forced to charter tramp stelm-
4 ships. If We are instructed to advertise
t for bids 1t will not be in New York alone.
r but in every eastern port in the United
1 states, and probably abroad also. Plenty
- of use VIII be found for the government
I transports in the movement Of our own
4 troops from Santiago and to Porto Rico. y