New-York tribune., 1901-06-04
SIR ALFRED REVIEWS HIS ATTACK.
THE SUBJECT OF AMERICAN
LOCOMOTIVES.

London. June 3.-Sir Alfred Hickman former
president of the British Iron Trade Association,
has replied to the response Of Lord George
Hamilton, Secretary of State for India, to his
recent attack In the House OF Commons upon
American built locomotives and bridges. He
quotes from the report of the Burmah Railway
Company for the first half Of 1900 to show that
American locomotives used on the line burned
35.5 per cent more fuel per train for each mile
and 235 more per vehicle for each mile than
British built locomotives. and he declares that
the alterations alluded to by Lord George Ham
lton We're made in the tenders only so as to
enable the carrying of more fuel After inquir
ing why certain reports have not been published,
he says:
The Burmah Railway officials seem resolved
to screen the Americans at all costs.
After inquiring why. if American competition
is founded on superior chemical research and
technical education, British makers should be
full of orders from Americans to deliver i'm
mediatey at any price, he remarks:
Surely that is evidence that the world
outside the Indian railway officials considers
British engines and material better and in
reality cheaper. The official locomotive engineer
reports to the Burmah Railway show that the
engines show early signs of wear and want of
strength and that cheapness in the first cost is
not true economy.
Sir Alfred then cites Egyptian railway reports
against Belgian engines. and quotes from an
Assam railway report. dated April 16 1901.
saying that American locomotives take "a per
cent more coal and % per cent more oil than
British. This, Sir Alfred AYERS, conclusively
proves bad workmanship.
He affirms that the great advantage which
Continental and American manufacturers have
over British manufacturers is due to what prac-
tically amounts to export bounties adding:
The American engineer has protected
ket which enables him to make enormous
profits at home and even to sell at a loss abroad,
still getting a satisfactory return on his capital.
/ venture to assert with confidence that but for
the 81 per cent duty we should sell more engines
in America than the Americans would send
here.
Discussing the Gohtieh Viaduct. in Burmah,
Sir Alfred says Lord George Hamilton refuses
to give Mr. Constable opportunity OF proving
his statements about the bad American work,
ION the assurance of gentlemen who have proved
their partiality to the American Bridge Building
Company by showing them in advance the pri-
Vate estimates for the projected bridge over the
Irrawaddy and who by every shift and con-
trivance have endeavored TO stave off the pub
lication of the reports of their own engineer"
Sir Alfred's long arraignment concludes with a
request for the appointment of a committee
investigate the subject
Hickman's rejoinder to Lord George Hamilton.
The Daily Chronicle" says
AS Sir Alfred Hickman points out, British
trade is looking after itself extremely well. How
ever he proves too much. because, If British
firms are full Of business. where is his griev-
ance? 1t seems that what really fills him and
others like him. with alarm is the fact that Brit
ish trade paramountcy is threatened. We must
admit that this paramountcy is doomed. but
the anxiety on the subject is quite sentimental.