The times., 1901-06-03
FROM CANADA TO FRANCE.
- Direct Steamship Line Innugu-
rated to Secure Low Tariff.


MONTREAL. June 2.-The connecting
link between the great Clergue enterprises
of the Sault Ste Marie and the markets
of Europe has now been completed with
the formation of the Franco-CanadIan
Steamship Company
Canadian manufacturers, and particu-
larry those connected with the iron. steel,
and pulp trades. have long felt the want
of first-class steamship service betwees
a Canadian port and France. It is true
that a few vessels were run between
Montreal and Havre within the last two
years. but the service was poor and there
was no guarantee of--its permanency.
Now, however. T. II. Clergue and his as
sociates have taken hold of the matter in
such manner that there is little room
to doubt its success. Some days ago a
contract was closed with the Dominion
Government. by which a subsidy of from
$4,000 to 100000 a year viii be granted
the line, according to the number of
steamships placed in operation. and today
it was announced that three steamships
of good size and fair speed had been pur-
chased by the company, and, further,
that orders for three more had been
given. Two of the new vessels are to be
constructed in French shipyards. and the
third will go to an English builder. With
the three steamships already acquired 1t
is proposed to inaugurate the service be-
tween Montreal and Havre in July of this
year, adding the other ships they are
completed.
The attorneys of the company are now
looking after the incorporation, and the
first directors are F. Fl. Clergue. George
E. Drummond. Senator Robert Macl1ay.
A. a. Aver. L. e. Geoffrion, A. a. Thi-
badeau. Henry Miles, and William E.
Bluuhart, of Montreal; e. V. Douglass
of Philadelphia; ]. r. Booth, of Ottowa,
and Lyman Melville Jones. Of Toronto.
All are men of prominence and wealth
Up to this time it has been necessary
to ship by way of New York or some
! other American port and by a French
line in order to get the benefit of the
French Republics minimum tariff In
order to secure this minimum tariff 1t
was necessary to ship direct to French
port, and this, of courses, could not be
done from Montreal or any other Cana
| dian port.
Next year the company proposes to OPP
crate a line of steamships from Montreal
direct to Marseilles. and it is expected
| that in this manner trade with certain
portions of Italy, Germany, and Austria
| will be opened UP. However, the inn
portant feature of the whole arrangement
| is found in the fact that this steamship
line forms the last link required to reach
direct from western Ontario to CONT
mental Europe by way of the St Law
renee canals and river AS is generally
known, the Algoma Central steamers
| vessels of 300 tons, constructed Tor lakt
| and canal traffic. have been arranged foi
! by the Clergue syndicate, so that tht
I chain is now complete.
! consideration in favor of building
! two of the steamships in the shipyard'
! Of France is the fact that the French
| Government will grant the company q
| subsidy of $4,000 for the same. NJ Jules
| Seigfried an ex-Aiiuister of Finance fT
! the French Government. is at present II
! Canada on official business, and 1t is ex
pected that the negotiations viii result
| in a more comprehensive and altogethel
| better trade treaty between the FTencf
| Republic and Canada than has hereto
| fore existed.