Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-06-20
A BIG SHIP COMBINE.
1T is THOUGHT THAT "CREEk
WILL MEET GREEK"

In the Coming Contest to Rule the Wave
British and Canadian Governments to Meet
Morgan in His Own Whirlpool - Swift and
Large Vessels Armed With Quick. Firing Guns
to Be Installed in Great Fleet for the
North Atlantic.
What may be regarded as. in some
degree at least, sensational rumors
were afloat in London, on the 5th inst,
regarding negotiations for the forming
OF British anti-Morgan shipping COM
bine, heavily subsidized by the British,
Canadian and other colonial govern
ments.
Inquiries by the World correspond.
ent have elected the information that
the scheme provides for the construct
ing of six new 25knot triple screw
streamers, larger than the Oceanic,
and luxuriously fitted. Each ship is
to carry eight quick-firing guns, hav.
ing a broadside of three Al guns of
the newest type. There is also to be
fleet of fast cargo boats, having a
speed OF l6 knots, and carrying 1000
tons deadweight cargo. The terminus
on this side of the Atlantic probably
will be At Milford Haven, Wales, the
Great Western Railway being a party
to the combine.
From Vancouver other new and fast
steamships are to run to China and
Australia. The Government OF Can
ada is said to have undertaken to
grant subsidy of 81, ,250, 900 an nually,
while the British Government, in addi-
ton to giving increased subsidies for
mail-carrying and for lien on the
vessels for cruiser purposes, will also
guarantee interest to the extent OF 2
per cent. on the capital invested with
it's approval.
This scheme, which was initiated by
Sir Christopher Furness, an English
shipping proprietor, and Lord Strath-
coma and Mount Royal, millionaire
Canadian and High Commissioner in
London for Canada, is believed to have
been brought to head by the in
creased offer made to the Cunard line
to join the Morgan combine. the Gu
nard now being open to the highest
bidder.
Members of the British government
express confidence that they can in
duce Parliament to vote the neces.
sary subsidies if Il promising scheme
ia forthcoming. Colonial Secretary
Chamberlain is particularly urgent in
demanding some countermove to the
Morgan combine as essential to the
preservation Of the British shipping
position on the North Atlantic.
The Minister of Public Works, Mr..
Tarte, speaking for the Canadian Cab
met, announces that fast transatlan-
tic steamship line will be in operation
very soon and will be guarded against
all Morgan merger schemes.
Ever since the Morgan syndicate
was organized in Britain. negotiations
have been in progress between the Do.
minion government and the principal
Canadian railways, the latter repre-
sented by Sir Thomas Shaughnessy,
President OF the Canadian Pacific.
The result OF these negotiations is that
Canada will increase its subsidy from
$3.50. 900 to $1.OOO,OO0. will construct
immense docks at Quebec, will put
the navigation of the st. Lawrence to
Montreal in condition to give safe
passage night or day to the largest
ocean. going vessels and will greatly
improve the hsrbors at Halifax and
St. John. Already important works
have been undertaken for greatly les
sening the dangers OF Sable Island,
and this summer will see the work
nearly completed.
The Canadian Pacific Railway was
authorized at the last session Of Parlia.
ment to increase its capital by $780,
100000. OF this sum $5,OOO.O 900 will
60 toward improving the Pacific
steamboat service and in assisting to
build the very largest vessels for the
| Atlantic.