Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-01-31

ferripg slow ships to faster ones for
trans A tlantic mails.
How grave is the favoritism thus
shown the international can be best
appreciated by an instance:
According to Bullinger'5 Guide, the
steamers advertised to convey the
United States mails from New York to
the United Kingdom and the Continent,
on November 7th, 1909, were the St.
Paul, scheduled to leave Mt 10 o. M,
and the Teutonic, scheduled TO sail at
noon.
On the voyage from Southampton to
New York, the ST. Paul OF the Inter-
national Navigation Co tAmerioan
line) met with an accident to que OF
her propellers, on account OF which she
only reached New York on November
4th, and after the extent oil the
damage had been ascertained, she was
Withdrawn from the service to be laid
up for several months on account Of
repairs.
Upon the withdrawal of the st. Paul,
OF the American Line, ii was naturally
understood that the mails TO be dis.
patched on November 7th, would he
sent by the 1eutonio of the White Star
Line On Thurtday, November Sth, ID
was, however, ascertained to be the
fact that the mails on Wednesday.
November Tth, were not dispatched by
the TeutonIc of the White Star Line,
but were sent instead by the Inter
ma tional's slow steamer Friesand,
normally some two or three days slower
than the Teutnnic, and In fact arriving
this time about week later.
II would probably occur TO no one
even to imagine that this was In the
interest Of economy. Few, however,
would appreciate without looking
further, how much of money raised by
taxation is thus thrown away.
As to non contract mails, United
States vessels are paid SLIGO per pound
for letters, and five cents per pound for
other articles, while vessels of foreign
registry receive about :. "A per pound
for letters and about four and one half
cents per pound for other matter; so
that every time postotlice Official en-
poys an International steamer to carry
mails, which might be- carried more
promptly by foreign steamer, he not
merely delays the mail, hut, In effect,
steals for the Tnternationals pocket the
greater part NEARLY three. -four tbs In
the case of lettersl of the total amount
which the government is charged there
for.
Moreover, the government has lately
been forced, Notwithstanding its Ere
dileotions to hire carried by the foreign
lines mentioned the greater part OF it's
foreign mails. From Mr.. Chamber
lain's report. treating, as 1t dose, only
OF the amount of compensation paid,
1t might be supposed that this was
| naaralu sol H.
ever, at the figures for the trans.
Atlantic service at New York, given at
page of the superintendent'a report,
We find that, though the International
received two thirds OF all amounts aid
for transmission OF mails from New
York, in fact it carried only about one
fifth Of the letters and one-third OF the
other mail.
SO far as concerns relative economy
OF service, leaving time entirely out OF
the questionable figures of its CON-
pensation in connection with New York
mails, and the amount of service it
rendered therefor, when compared
with those of its chief rival, were,
respectively: international Navigation
Co., for carrying letters, ~. GIL 200
grams; carrying prints, 1852, 729, 773
grams; total, 1926, $3.50. 773 grams COM
pensation, s647. 278. 40. Cunard. for
carrying letters, ll8. 2s7,73 grams;
carrying prints, 731, 1903 grams !;
total s49, 6lS, Il3 grams compensation,
Sl84, 721.04 Et
That Is, the Cunard line alone does
much more OF our fast mail service
than does the International, and this
for little over one fourth OF its com
pensation or, il the greater cost OF
letter as compared with print service Is
considered, at probably not TO exceed
one fifth of che rate ct which our
government PAYS the International for
similar service.