Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-11-09
LAST SUMMERS OCEAN TRAVEL A
RECORD BREAKER
LINERS ALWAYS CROWDED
to Have Been Carried Across the
Sea and Left by the 100000 Ameri
cans Who Made the Charming Voy-
age.


States to Europe about 100000 first and
second-class cabin passengers. A small
percentage of these went to Europe tC
} stay, but the vast majority were mere
ly visitors and nearly all of them have
returned by this time. 1t has always
been claimed that the extreme carry
ing capacity of these steamers was
about 100000 persons in one year, that
is to say, only that number of persons
could make an European trip in the
same year from the United States This
statement appears to have been veri-
fed in the year 1899 for every boat
that went to Europe early in the sum
mer had more than could be comfort
ably accommodated, and every boat
returning this fall was equally
crowded.
Several reasons for this great rush
to Europe are assigned by the agents of
the lines. The war with Spain kept
many persons at home in 1898 and two
persons business was crowded into
one. More persons go to Europe now
than ever before. Business relations
between the United States and foreign
countries are closer and more personal,
There are now more persons with
money and leisure for a foreign trip
| than in the younger days of the ma
| ton, and the improvement in methods
Of ocean going have stimulated travel
During the ordinary rush of travel
there are occasional accidents. Steam
| ship companies are prone TO be lax in
complying with the maritime laws of
safety With such a rush as there will
! be next summer and with the unusual
number of vessels which will engage
in the business, it is evident that the
much-discussed question of interna-
! tioEal control of the highways of the
ocean becomes more pertinent than
ever. Considering the number of per-
sons who cross and the risks of deep
sea navigation, it is a remarkable fact
! that travel by sea is equally safe with
travel by land When an accident
does occur, however, it is usually &C
companied by such shocking conditions
that people are appalled, and forget the
hundreds of thousands of voyages
made without incident.
| The boats of the big steamship COM
panies travel regular courses, and the
chances of collision between them are
practically nil, but there is always the
element of danger in the irregular
tramp which goes up and down the
ocean as cargo, wind and tides or the
fancy of her owner may dictate. With
| the temptation away from the dock
with a load of passengers, the govern
ments concerned can well afford to be
most strict in all matters of inspec-
! ton and license. If the laws are per-
/ rectly enforced the dangers of sea
! travel. even with great number OF
vessels. will be reduced to minimum.
! A large number of new excursion
schemes have also been originated
whereby person of moderate means
| can pay for an European tour on the
/ installment plan, and big agencies have
made it so easy and comparatively
CHEAP that a Journey abroad is not as
! formidable or expensive as one over
land from the Atlantic to the Pacific
coast.
\ great rush of travel to Europe Is
anticipated next year owing to the
holding of the French exposition. Some
persons TO whom an European trip is
yearly event, will very probably stay
at home to avoid the crowd. This Will
be but a small percentage, however,
! and will be more than offset by the old
world. The carrying capacity of the
vessels now in the business was tested
to the limit this year How 1t is to be
expanded next year is question.
Every steamer capable of carrying pas
sengers across the ocean will be com
missioned for the service, and the ac-
Icammodations will be increased in that
way. for there are many tramp vessels
ana vessels on less travelled lines which
can be utilized.
| If the war between England and the
beers is continued any length of time
/ IL will affect their business, for Eng
! land has drawn heavily upon the Eng
Insh passenger ines for troop ships
land would doubtless retain them in
war service until peace was declared,
| Many persons VINO nave oeeh counting
| on an European trip for some time
/ past are already engaging their pas
Sages for next summer, and steamship
/ agents say that this feature OF their
business has never started so early or
with such volume as it has for the
coming season II this is any indica-
ton OF what is to come there will be a
tremendous exodus abroad from the
UNITED states early next spring.
The fear which haunts the captain
of liner most persistently is that Of
meeting a derelict six of these are
known 10 be floating about, and the
English government is considering the
fitting ont Of an expedition in which
other nations viii be asked TO join. to
search for these dangerous hulks and
sink them 1t was last summer. one
day. in the haze Of early morning that
Vt ~, t,5l-,,,+ on tho bridge OF the