New-York tribune., 1902-01-07

VIII De lnau2urateO a nOldDle war Oh IdtCo bc-
tween the American owned lines and the White
Star and Cunard lines.
Richardson Spence & Co. are the London
agents OF the American Line 1t is rumored
here that Mr. Wilding is to be at the head of
the Atlantic Transport Line also If this rumor
proves true the three principal American owned
lines will be brought together. With the excep-
tion of the four steamers of the American Line,
the St. Louis the St. Paul, the NewYork and
the Philadelphia. which fly the United States
flag. and three four of the steamers OF the
Red Star Line. owned by the International
Navigation Company. the owners OF the Ameri-
Line all the steamers operated by these
companies fly the British flag.
1t looks. also, as though the plan OF the Red
Star Line to make Queenstown port Of CALL
beginning in March. would bring on a rate war
with the White Star Line and possibly the
Cunard Line which now have a monopoly Of
the Irish immigrant business TO this country
The White Star Line has given notice of its
determination to withdraw from the continental
steamship conference. OF which the Red Star
Line is a member John Lee, agent of this line
here said to a Tribune reporter yesterday that
the natural suppostion was that the line desired
to have it's hands free. He said that If the Red
Star Line followed up its announcement to open
this service. he would not be surprised to
rate war
1T looks" he added when asked about Mr..
Widng's connection with the Leyland line. "as
II the three lines, the Leyland, the American
and the Atlantic Transport Line were TO be
joined now. 1t is rumOred that Mr.. Wilding Is
TO be put at the head OF the Atlantic Transport
Line also
Another prominent steamship man said yes
terdav that II was generally supposed that the
Atlantic Transport Line was partner in the
Leyland deal. 1t has frequently been rumOred
that these lines were TO be amalgamated.
ufta
printed they have been denied by the
officers OF the American Line here. few
days ago the rumor arose again IN L0ha Oh.
don. Clement A. Griscom. jr, manager or the
line here. declined to say anything on the SUD
ject at the time, referring the newspaper men
his father, the president OF the line. James "A
Wright, second vice president OF the line, When
asked for Il statement, said that II had been
denied many times and he had nothing rurther
to say.
Vernon H. Brown agent of the Cunard Line
here. said last night that he knew nothing OF
rate and would know nothing or IL IN al
vance as the rates wefe fixed at the head oilice
in England. -
Such combination of steamship lines would
mean a fleet of about ninety steamers, with
total OF 549003 tons. The vessels bought from
the Leyland company were the eighteen IN
the Atlantic service and the twenty In the west
Indian trade. The respective tonnages OF these
lines were 110607 and 81 $50 The ports con-
nected by these steamers are Boston 10 Liver
pool and London; Portland, Me, 10 Antwerp;
New-York TO Liverpool: New-Orleans to London
and Liverpool. and Liverpool to Barbados, st.
Thomas and Trinidad The fleets Of the Amer
lean and Red Star lines combined. which con-
tain twenty-five ships in operation and building.
have tonnage of 1Sl, 1915. They run between
New York, Southampton and Antwerp. and
Philadelphia and Liverpool. and Phia
delphia and Antwerp The Atlantic Trans
port Line has nineteen steamers. OF a tonnage Of
80 14l, and eight building. which will add $1,000
tons. Six of these are building in this country.
The company operates steamers between New
York Philadelphia and Baltimore and London,
and from Baltimore TO Bristol About 80 per
cent OF the stock OF the Atlantic Transport Line
is owned in this country.
The total tonnage of the fleet OF the Hamburg
American Line. the largest In the world is
"a .OS3.