New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-17
FREIGHT OF ANY CLASS CAN NOW BE
SENT AT COST OF So so 4 TON.

While the steamship lines foot the bills the man
ufacturers of the United States are having OPP
portunty to reap the harvest in South Africa at
the expense of England. Freight of any class can
now be transported to South Africa at q cost Of
los or about g so, ton. This is the rate paid
for the carriage of coffee Brunswick Ga.
While freight is being shipped from here to South
African ports at this rate that which goes from
London has to pay 23s.. or more than twice
the NewYork rate. In consequence, the manu-
facturers Of the United States are getting the
ders for the reconstruction of the Boer country.
The low rate has induced business of such a vol
ume that additional steamers are being put on by
the steamship lines between New-York and South
Africa to accommodate it. Every wants to get
his goods into the country before the freight rate
goes up again. as 1t is to do eventually, for 1t
is acknowledged by the steamship agents that the
transportation of freight to South Africa at 10
shillinSs a ton is done a loss.
This condition is due to the merry little rate
which is between the combination comprising
the Bucknall. Union-CIan and Hansa lines the
one side and the Prince and Houston lines the
other Say what will. slashing fight between
two powerful antagonists who can stand little
battering is diverting spectacle to most people.
The battle between the combination and the
Prince-Houston amagamati ton up to date has been
spectacular. The combinations rates previous to
the appearance of the competing lines had ranged
between Sis Cd. and SIS. ton, according to the
class of goods. there being three cassifcations.
Enter the Prince Line with cut in the rate. The
Prince Line also on its rebate proposition.
Up TO this time the combination had been giving
10 per cent rebate at the end of fifteen months 1t
offered pay the rebate the end of six
months to those customers who had not been drawn
away by the seductive call of the SIRENS voice It
was game Of seesaw from this moment forward;
The Prince-Houston amalgamation took the wind
out Of the sails of the combination: and the com
bination retaliated by other cuts finally reaching
the, point where it did away with classihcations
and offered to carry any kind of freight for 22s.
Cd per ton. But the amalgamation still
game and sprinted into the with drawn
cutlass and cut down the to los. The
bination was not to be outdone in this philan-
thrOpic work and met the Mr.. Seager of the
John c. Seager Company which represents the
Prince Line. now says that the combination does
not mean what it says, because IL will not accom-
modate its customers with the space they ask for
at this rate, although they have it. He asserts
unable to secure what thew desired in this respect,
have come over to the banner of the amalgama-
ton. The agents admit that there is little profit in
freight carrying at this cutthroat rate. The public
afford to stand by while the proceeds and
take advantage Of the rates.
At the Office of one shipping firm yesterday It
stated that where they had been buying space for
two hundred three hundred tons they
contracting for twelve hundred and fifteen hundred
tons. Building materials and agricultural machin-
cry were being ordered in large quantities. 1t
said. The orders for ploushs would keep the man
ufacturerS busy until November.