The Portland daily press., 1899-01-07
NEXT SEASONS OCEAN TRAFFIC.
A New Factor Tn the Transatlantic
Passenger Business.

The PRESS, yesterday morning, pub
lished an article on the Beaver Steamship
line and the controversy created by its
sale. The Montreal Star Of Thursday af-
tsrnoon says;
Present appearances would indicate
that the shipping season OF 1899 will see
much lively competition In the spsssen-
ger service between the ports of Montreal
and Liverpool. In the first place the Ell
der-Dempster Company, with the energy
with which they are accustomed to do
things, have entered into the trade and
the promise Is made that the company
will place four fast passenger steamships
on the route the coming season. Indeed
faster than anything now running ON the
81. Lawrence and will have speed not
far short of eighteen knots.
IL is evidently the company's intention
TO place the present vessels Of the Beaver
Line, which they have purchased, In the
background and operate modern passen
ger steamers In their stead.
The use of the title beaver Line''is the
cause Of q dispute In England at the pres
ent tine, and the matter may be settled
In court. The McIvers, who own the
Gallia, and who control the lease Of the
Ioneariro, and who have acted as the
English agents OF the Beaver Line claim
that the name Beaver Line' was not In
cluded In the sale Of the company's fleet,
which included what are commonly known
as the Lake" steamships. They make
the claim that the name belongs TO them
and threaten to enter the Canadian trade
with the Gallia and the Tongariro under
the title Of the Beaver Line. Thus they
suddenly become an altogether new factor
In the trade.
1t Is said here In Montreal that the
United States Government has offered the
Mel vers q very fair price for the Gallia,
desiring that vessel for transport purposes
and the opinion Is that the owners would
be standing in their own light II they did
not take il. II they decide to do this the
atmosphere will clear perceptibly, as only
being Iessees OF the remaining steamship
the Tongariro, they would be altogether
out of the Canadian trade.
The Allan Line the coming season viii
have two new and fast steamships In the
Montreal Liverpool service. They are the
Bavarian and the 1unisian and one Of the
two vessels will be ready in May, 1899.
Both of these steamships are good for six
teen knots and are of large passenger and
freight capacity.
The question of mail contracts and
what the Government will eventually do
In regard to the matter is serious con-
sideration with the different lines. In
May next "a new contract Will go into
effect, the requirements Of which are
practically unknown at the present time.
The steamship companies are OF course
adverse TO making up their sailing lists
for the coming season until this matter. lie
decided upon.
Up to the time the Elder Dempster line
bought out the Beaver line there were but
two steamship companies in the field
which had a ghost of "a show OF obtaining
the contract, the Allan and the Dominion
Lines Now, however, the Elder Demps-
tiers are in the running and this may have
u tendency to change the complexion OF
matters.
The mail contract, when given out will
he for two years and will no doubt be
worth the having.