The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-11-23
A Weekly Line to Liverpool Practical.
" Certain.
Operated by Dominion
and Allan Lines.
A Steamships Officials Views
Regarding Gen. Man. Reeve.

1t Is not only probable, but almost GER
tain that weekly steamship service to
Liverpool win begin at the end of the
winter season and continue through the
summer. No definite steps have been
taken in this direction but from pers ons
in position to understand the 90 ndi-
tions this is said to be very well under
stood. There would have been weekly
service from Portland to Liverpool last
summer had 1t not been Tor the fact that
the steamship service was weakened by
tho South African war and the with
urawal from the business some ships for
transports by the British government.
The Dominion line has now two ships In
this service. They do not know when they
will be released,
The Thompson line has run weekly
boats from Portland during the summer
to London and this year have been very
successful. A PRESS reporter was told
yesterday that almost any line should
have done a good business last summer
because of the great amount OF freight
which was coming and the high rates
which were charged, Steamship men do
not think that the high rates which pre-
vailed last Summer will continue another
year. All steamship companies did a
big business and 1T is said that the Thorn
son line found that their summer service
here paid very well. These boats run to
London and steamship men say that
weekly freight service to Liverpool from
Portland during the summer season Is
bound to come sooner or later. while
such q service Is by no means decided up
on 1t is said that both the Allan and the
Dominion liues VIII be running boats
here next summer. This will give Port
and two steamers q week at any rate.
"phe passenger services will not come
for some time, / am afraid" said o
steamship man yesterday. and one who
Ia in a position to know what he Is talk
ing about The Vancouver, which sails
shortly has only one saloon passenger
booked out of Portland on this trip so far
while the Beaver line ship which sails
from Montreal has SO saloon and many
intermediate and steerage passengers
Portland is not well known. Steamship
agents have hard work to get people to-
come here to take ships for the other de
1t may he that Manager Reeve, who Is
great friend of this city, and who belisves
In 1t, may through the Grand trunk
succeed in building up this passeng er
business and advertising Portland
enough to attract people here, but ne
alone can do IL. People now go to Mon
treal in the summer time and to Boston,
Halifax or New York In the winter.
Even your own people here patronize the
Boston and New York lines In preference
to those running from Portland. and 1t
would be impossible to get ship load OF
passengers from New England now In a
year who would sail from this city. The
Boston and Maine throws all OF this busi-
ness into Boston that 1t can at all seasons
of the year, while the other roads all GEN.
tralizs 1t at Montreal.
''Should Portland become well known
and be well advertised it might be that
passenger service to Liverpool or London
might be established, but this will re-
quire some years to be developed and no
company is going to take the risk of rum
ming boats to Portland for fun. AS to
the freight service to Liverpool, believe
that this Will be largely an experiment at
first, though 1t may be built up in time.
1t means much TO your city to have this
summer service and all of the steamship
men would be glad to see 1t come this
way, but of course no company is going
to run the risk of losing much money
just to bring this about
Speaking OF the new Grand Trunk gen.
eral manager, G b. Reeve, this steam
ship man said: lin Mr.. Reeve Portland
has the best friend In railroad circles she
has ever known. He Is, In my opinion
altogether too friendly to Portland, but
perhaps l am somewhat prejudice. AT
any rate think that Portland is a hobby
with him. and that its future steamship
business depends largely upon him. He
has already done much for you here and
intends to do much more, l feel certain.