New-York tribune., 1902-10-25
CANADIAN STEAMSHIP LINES.

The project of a fast Canadian steamship line
! across the Atlantic has long been an alluring
one. 1t seems proper that there should be such
| connection between Great Britain and her great
est colony. especially since the construction OF
the Canadian Pacific Railway, which. with its
Pacific steamship line and with a suitable At
lantic line, would provide first class all-Brit-
ish route around the world. II is remembered
| too. that northern routes from east to west are
shorter than those nearer the equator, so that
a Canadian line would have a great advantage
in distance and time over one 10 New-YOrk.
Such are the engaging theories and as theories
they are impeccable. But when put into actual
practice they are likely TO run foul Of some
very serious difficulties.
The chief trouble concerns the route which
Canadian steamers must pursue; or, rather. the
routes, for there are three of them. The short
route from Liverpool 10 Quebec. passes north
OF Newfoundland through the Strait OF Belle
Isle. That, however, is so far north that it is
navigable only from the end Of July 10 the end
OF November, and in August and September IS
so infested with icebergs and foes that a high
rate of speed is perious. The narrow strait Is
also peculiarly difficult and dangerous bit Of
water 10 navigate. Therefore the running Of
costly liners at great speed over the western
tically prohibtive risks. second route, longer
than the foregoing. but still much shorter than
that TO New-YOrk. rounds Cape Race. passes
along the southern coast OF Newfoundland and
enters the St Lawrence by way OF Cabot Strait
1t is available from the middle of MAY until
winter. But the name of Cape Race with its
record Of more than a hundred shipwrecks is a
terror TO mariners. Two years ago three liners
grounded there in single day. Moreover. this
route leads straight across the Banks. with their
thousand fishing vessels and innumerable dere-
licts and icebergs and almost perpetual fogs
There is no more perilous region on the whole
Atlantic, and the thought Of rushing across it
at racing speed is simply intOerable Finally
there is third route. open all winter passing
Cape Race and Sable Island and making it's
western terminus at Halifax or St John But
K, too, traVerses the Banks. and is exposed to
the perils Of the graveyard Of the Atlantic"
as sable Island has fittingly been called so
that neither speed nor safety is possible upon it,
The lines coming TO New-York now follow a
route so far south to avoid these perils of
the waters around Newfoundland 1t is sug-
gested that the Canadian liners might do the
same. following the New-York route until past
Newfoundland and then turning at an abrunt
angle and running north to Halifax or 10 the
ST. Lawrence. That could doubtless he done
But to do 1t would be to lengthen the Canadian
route until it was nearly or quite as long as
that 10 New-York, and thus to destroy its one
advantage The choice is between a short and
dangerous route and a longer and compara-
lively safe one 1t must be made in favor of
the latter. But when it is thus made the dis
tinetion or fast is eliminated from the Cana
dian line. 1t will then be no faster than
New-York line, and 1t will have the disadyan
tage-to most peopTe-of landing at small
provincial city instead Of the metronoIis no the
Western world