The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-06-05
ATTACKS OUR
LOCOMOTIVES.
Sir A. Hickman Replies TO
Indian SscrstaTy's Statement
CRITIClSES BURMAH OFFICIALS.
Accuses Them Of favorlng and Screening
Americans Says Our Tariff Is Practically
Bounty 10 Engine Builders.
CRITIClSES BURMAH OFFICIALS.

London, June 5.--Sir Alfred Hickman.
former president OF the British Iron
Trade association has replied 10 the re-
spouse OF Lord George Hamilton. secre-
tary OF state for India, TO his recent at
tack I'm 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 locomotives
used on the line burned S5.5 per cent
more fuel per train for each mile and
235 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 tend
ers only so as to enable the carrying OF
more fuel After inquiring why certain
reports have not been published he
says:
'"The Burmah railway officials seem re-
solved 20 screen the Americans at all
cost"
After inauring why II American COM
petition is founded on superior chemical
research and technical education, British
makers should be full OF orders from
Americans to deliver Immediately at any
price, he remarks:
Surely that is some evidence that the
world ounside the Indian Railway OFF,
cials considers British engines and ma
terial better and In reality cheaper. The
Official 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"
Sir Alfred then cites Egyptian railway
reports against Belgian engines, and
| quotes from an Assam railway report,
dated April is. 1901. as saying that Am
| erican locomotives take "a per cent. more
coal and 25 per cent. more oil than Brit
ish. This Sir Alfred AYERS, conclusively
proves bad workmanship.
OUR TARIFF A BOUNTY.
lie affirms that the great advantage
| which Continental and American manu-
| facturers have over British manufact-
urers have over British sdxs-awwerz
| urers is due TO what practically amounts
to export bounties, adding:
THE American engineer has protect
| enormous profits at home and even to
| sell at a loss abroad. still getting salts
| factory return on his capital. 1 venture
| TO assert with confidence that but for the
| 81 per cent duty we should sell more en-
| gines In America than the Americans
| would send here"
| Discussing the Gohtieh Viaduct In Bur
] nah, Sir Alfred says Lord George Ham
| ilton refuses 20 give Mr.. Constable an op-
! portunity OF proving his statements about
| the bad American work, ION the assur-
| ance OF gentlemen who have proved their
! partiality to the American Bridge Build
ing company by showing them In ad-
| vance the private estimates for the pro-
| iected bridge over the Irrawaddy, and
| who, by every shift and contrivance,
| have endeavored to stave off the publl-
cation of the reports OF their own engi-
| neers."
Sir Alfred's long arraignment closes
| with a request for the appointment of a
committee to investigate the suDJect
HICKMAN PROVES TOO MUCH.
Commenting upon 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 ex-
tremeIy well. However. he proves too
! much because, IL British firms are fun of
| business, where is his grievance? II
seems that what really fills him, and 9TH
| ers like him, with alarm is the fact that
| British trade paramountcy is threatened
! We must admit that this paramountcy Is
| doomed, but the anxiety on the subject
| Is quite sentimental !"
+ The Daily Mail also comments upon Sir
! Alfred Hickman's letter. 1t defends Am
| erican locomotives and asks for further
evidence concerning the Gohtich Viaduct.
| 1t considers the fact that British firms
are Obliged 20 refuse orders not a sign
of prosperity, but a sign that they fail 10
keep sufficient stock.
For the year ending June 90, 1900 the
| United States exported locomotives.
| valued at 81 .035. sos, TO Great Britain, and
1876 to all Europe. For the same year the
limited states imported machinery OF all