Evening star., 1901-06-01
SOLD THE OLD SHIPS
British Owners Glad to Unload on
Morgan Syndicate.
BUILDING new ONES In THEIR PLACE
Do Not Fear American Competi-
ton in Transportation.
LONDON NEWS AND GOSSIP

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
LONDON, May %. 1901.
| / have had a talk with an English busi-
ness man whose opinions, despite the hun
! tireds of Wake Up, England articles that
! have been showered upon this devoted
| land reflect those of the majority of his
| countrymen. This is what he says on The
| subject of the LeyIand line deal:
"A number of large steamboat proprie-
tors who for many years were doing any
thing but a lucrative business. suddenly
| found themselves basking in the sunshine
| of prosperity owing to the demand for
| transports during the war, which raised
| freights abnormally. Many of their boats
| belonged to bygone period. and they
would have been glad to get rid of them
on any reasonable terms. Now enters an
American millionaire on the scene, anx-
ious to purchase a few lines of steamers
and the perplexed owners secured a fancy
price for their boats
But" asked. have they not purchased
the good will along with the steamers?
THE answer is obvious, he replleo
I'm order to retain the good will, they will
have to build steamers of the most I'M
proved modern type, and In future some
discontented shareholder will probably echo
a remark of his witty coGntryman. Mark
Twain. Steaming up the MISSISSIPPI ne
found a canal cut in across a loop OF the
river which saved a round of some fifty
miles.
why was not this done in the begin
ming? asked Mark. This comes of rush.
ing the world through In six days -,
But l have no wish to make light OF
American competition" he continued.
From a recent official publication it ap-
pears that al present the Americans are
excluded from carrying their own products
for want of vessels, and that no American
1lG writ e.
den. Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands,
Italy, Austria Greece or Turkey. the YES
sells carrying the trade between these coun-
tries and the United States being mostly
British and German.
England Building New Boats.
"In Germany consolidation of steamer
lines is proceeding rapidly, while in this
country steamship owners of the first rank
are building boats to keep pace with the
advancing requirements. AS regards the
Morgan and similar scares, the opinion is
gaining ground that the Britishers have
had the best of this deal. and, unless We
mistake the signs of the times. wistful
glances are being thrown across the Allan
tic in search Of more purchasers of steam
boat lines.
although. therefore, it would be the
height of folly to imagine that the people
of the United States, with their immense
surplus of capital and their undoubted en-
terprise, are likely to look on contentedly
while their produce Is being carried by the
ships OF English and other eastern nations,
there is no need to apprehend any immedi-
ate decadence in this branch of our ma
tional industries
The comments upon Mr.. Carnegie's gift
of two millions to the Scottish universities
are not exactly favorable 1t Is held to be
magnificent, but not business Mr.. Car
negte desires to benefit the youth Of Scot
land Of both sexes. He learns that the
total fees paid in all the four Scottish uni
versities amount to about $4,000 a year
He therefore hands over 10000 a year in
volVlng capital sum of about two mil
lions, to free the Scottish universities from
the burden of fees, for all time coming
The Scots, who are canny even about gifts
declare that the scheme has many defects
which lie upon the surface To begin with
they say, II makes little or no provision for
an increase in the number of the students
"hlcn may be caused y an advance in the
population of Scotland.
Then the scheme ignores the fact tbat al
though primary education Is entirely free
In Scotland. secondary education is not
ana the system thus produced will be Of a
curlousiy patchwork character. Further
more, the restriction of the gift to the
Scotch. including English. foreign and colo
| NAL students. is much resented as an exam
pie of a narrow Intolerance which ought
not to be encouraged nowadays. Indeed
II all but Scottish students are excluded
1t would be difficult to find use for the
whole f50,OO0 a year.
But the main objection to Mr.. Carnegie's
really require to have their fees paid for
them Hitherto they have always been
paid somehow by the people concerned
and the many magnificent instances of
| self-Sacrffice and heroism which this has
| entalled have helped in a remarkable de-
| gree to mold the national character. A
London paper, writing on the subject saws.
| 1t Is to be hoped that the Scotch will have
suWcient Independence to object to this
American pauperization. and that the gift
Will be rejected unless 1t Is confined to
cases of real necessity"
Alexandra Palace Opened.
One Of the most singular enterprises ever
undertaken by municipal authorities was
inaugurated Saturday last, when the
Alexandra Palace was opened at Wood
Green London. 1t is a relic of the 1851 ex-
hibition, and it's career since then has been
somewhat checkered. Latterly It's owners
parted with 1t cheaply. glad to be rid of
an incubus. Half a dozen local bodies
combined to subscribe f15O.00O. with which
they bought not only the palace, but 100
acres OF park and the adjoining Grove es-
tate of Johnsonian memory.
These properties have been turned into
handsome pleasure resort for the people.
Parks, English gardens Italian gardens.
Conservatives and monkeys are provided
In the best style. and when the nights are
sufficiently dark there will be municipal
fireworks and such like diversions Open
air concerts. band music and pastoral plays
will contribute to the gayety of the warm
| summer evenings. when the palms and the
monkeys pail.
The intellect will be stimulated by bill
lizards and by exhibitions of an artistic and
educational character. which will be
changed from time to time An experiment
in municipal theatrical management will be
tried, for the responsibility for the play
bill OF the theater. which forms part Of the
palace will of necessity rest on the munich
pal representatives who constitute the man
aging trust. 1t is interesting to know that
problem plays are barred, and that while
| Mrs. Pat Campbell has been declined with
| thanks, The Belle of New York" and
| Tom. Dick and Harry" have been re-
| ceiyed with open arms by the manager
| The success of the Palace Is assured for
| the dear public are to be admitted to the
| grounds and to most of these delights for
| nothing on 351 days of the year; they will
| only be asked to pay on fourteen days.
Lord ROsebery's Promoters.
a lady who enjoyed the intimate friend
| ship of the brilliant Duchess Of Cleveland.