The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-04
RAP AI OUR H|GH TARIFF
SIR ALFRED HICKMAN COMES
BACK AT LORD HAMILTON ON
LOCOMOTIVE QUESTION
SAYS BRITISH MAZE THE BEST
Claims Profits of American Manu-
facturer at Home Under Pro-
lection Alone Enable Him
to Sell Abroad.

LONDON, June 3.-Str Alfred Hickman,
formerly president of the British Iron
Trade association, has replied to the re-
Spouse of Lord George Hamilton, secre-
tary 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 Bur-
nah Railway company for the first hair
Of 1900 to show that American locomo-
tives used on the line burned $50 per cent
more fuel per train for each mile and
23.5 more per vehicle for each mile than
British built locomotives and he declares
that the alterations alluded to by Lord
George Hamilton were made in the
tenders only so as to enable the carrying
of more fuel. After inquiring why Ger
tain reports have not been published, he
says:
1.-The Burmah railway officials sen
resolved to screen the Americans at all
cost"
After inquiring why, If American COM
petition is founded on superior chemical
research and technical education, British
makers should be fun of orders from
Americans to deliver Immediately at any
price, he remarks:
Surely that is some evidence that the
world outside the Indian railway officials
considers British engines and material
better and in reality cheaper Tie Of
fetal locomotive engineer reports to the
Burmah railway that the engines show
early signs of wear and want of strength,
and that cheapness in the first cost is not
true economy"
COST MORE TO RUN.
Sir Alfred then cites Egyptian railway
reports against Belgian engines. and
quotes from an Assam railway report
dated April IT, 1901, as saying that Amerl-
can locomotives take q per cent more
coal and % per cent more oil than Brit
ish. This, Sir Alfred AYERS, conclustvely
proves bad workmanship.
He affirms that the great advantag &c
which continental and. American manu-
facturers have over British manufacture
ers is due to Whit practically amounts
to export boup+i adding:
'"Hhe Amerj"9 SINGER has a protect
ed market whirh na.oles him to make
enormous profits at heme, and even to
sell at loss abroad, still getting sat
isfactOry return on his capital. I venture
to assert with confidence that but for the
81 per cent duty we should sell more
engines in America than the AM ricans
would send here"
Discussing the Gohties viaduct in Bur-
nah, Sir Alfred says Lord George Hamil-
ton refuses to give Mr.. Constable an OPP
portunity of proving his statements about
the bad American work ION the assu--
ance of gentlemen who have proved their
partially to the American bridge build
ing company by showing them in advance
the private estimates for the projected
bridge over the Irawatldy, and who by
every shift and contrfva rec. have en-
deavored to stave off the publication Of
the reports of their own engineer
Sir Alfred's long arraignment conclud-
ed with a request for the appointment or
a committee to investigate the subject.
Commenting on Sir Alfred 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 grievance? 1t seems what really
fills him and others like him with alarm
is the fact that British trade para
mountcy Is threatened, We must admit
that this paramountcy is doomed, but
the remedy is quite sentimental"
The Daily Mail also comments upon Sir
Alfred Hickmans letter, It defends
American locomotives land asks for fur
Their evidence concerning the Gohties via
duct. It considers the fact that British
firms are obliged to refuse orders, not a
sign of prosperity, but a. sign that they
fail to Keep sufficient stock.