The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-04
RAP At OUR HIGH TARIFF |
BACK AT LORD HAMILTON ON
LOCOMOTIVE QUESTION
SAYS BRITISH ME1E THE BEST
Claims Profits of American Manu-
facturer at Home Under Pro-
lection Alone Enable Him
to Sell Abroad.

LONDON, June 3.-Sir Alfred Hickman.
formerly president OF the British Iron
Trade association, has replied to the re-
Sponse 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 half
Of 1900 to show that American locomo-
tives used on the line burned 35.5 per cent
more fuel per train for each mile and
23.5 more per vehicle for each mile than
British built lOcomo tives, 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
L
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
OF oI An 1xyi,- hot Anne pr1-
| can locomotives take a per cent more
coal and 25 per cent more oil than Brit
ish. This, Sir Alfred ayers, concluzively
proves bad workmanship.
He affirms that the great advantage
which continental and American manu-
facturers have over British manufactur-
ers is due to whet practically amounts
to export boup-i adding:
'"The Americe SINGER has a protect
ed market which naoles him to make
enormous profits at heme and even to
SELL at loss abroad, still getting a 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 Americans
would send here"
Discussing the Gohties viaduct in Bur-
mah Sir Alfred says Lord George Hamil-
ton refuses to give Mr.. Constable an op-
pOrIunlIy OF proving MS statements dOJuC
the bad American work "on the assu--
ance of gentlemen who have proved their
partiality to the American bridge build
ing company by showing them in advance
the private estimates for the projected
bridge over the Irawahdy, and who by
every shift and eontrirR zee. have en-
deavored to stave off the publication Of
the reports of their own engineers.
Sir Alfred's long arrai gnment conclud-
ed with request for the appointment OF
a committee to investigate the subject.
Commenting on Sir Alfred Hickman's 8
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 Hickman's letter. It defends
American locomotives land asks for fur
| ther 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.