The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-07-08
TWO MILLIONS
FOR THE CUP
Is What Upton Has
Already Expended.
MILLIONS MORE TO Spend
The PIucky EngIishman Tells of His
Failure and His Hopes at
White House.
MILLIONS MORE TO Spend

New York, July S.-A special to the
| World from Washington says: At the
| recent luncheon in the White House
| IN honor of Sir Thomas Upton, inter-
| eSting statements were made concern
! ing the cost OF challenging for and
! defending the Americas cup. Sir
Thomas caused much surprise when
he said that if he should win the cup
this time it would represent an in
vestment of considerable more than
$4,000 600. If he again failed to win
it. he said, he had still more millions
70 spend in the effort to lift it.
Sir Thomas said that it would cost
him a little more than 81 900 900 to
compete for the cup this year. This
was partly due ne explained to the
fact that he had brought over his two
challengers and had both of them in
commission for months Each yacht
had crew Of sixty men. who are
the best to be had. and the cost of
keeping them in commission a month
represents a small fortune.
Shamrock III. Cost 100000.
Sir Thomas did not say what c;ham-
rock III. cost him to build. but he in
tlmated that it was close to $780, 900.
To the cost Of the new yacht must be
added the cost of keeping the other
n commission and the expense of the
Erin, IN which her owner entertains
IN lavish style. The combined eXpen-
seS OF MS trial for the cup this year.
Sir Thomas said, would reach 81 ,000,-
600 and probably more. His two pre-
FlOus attempts to get the cup cost
aim little more than that figure.
In contrast with the cost of the chal-
Ienger 1t was stated by one Of the
members of the party that the Reli-
ance syndicate had invested but
100000 in the defender and that this
amount was expected to cover all eX-
penSeS.
Following the question of the cost
there was an informal discussion as
to the advisabiIity Of adopting sea-
going schOOnerS in future cup races.
Sir Thomas strongly favors this idea,
although he has said that he will
abide by the decision of the New
York Yacht club. 1t was a sea gOing
schooner which brought the cup to
this country
The British changed the style of the
contest in an effort to regain the cup.
by sending over a cutter TO compete
for it. That style of yacht was new
on this side of the water and it was
met with slOOp from which the pres
ent ninety-fOOters have been evolved
They are built for wind and not for
weather, and Reliance and Shamrock
III. are believed to represent the very
highest degree of perfection in that
direction. Little change. it is said
could be made in building yachts along
these lines for future cup races.
Too Expensive.
More than that. the yachts are so
expensive that only millionaires can
build them and their value is gone
when the last race of the series is
sailed. Everything is sacrificed to
speed and they cannot even be re-
built so that they can be used for
cruising. Therefore. win or lose, Sir
Thomas Upton considers that the
time is ripe for the adoption of
schOOners which can brave any sea
and can cross the ocean under their
own sail, instead of having to be
tOwed across.
With the introduction of schooner.
1t is thought many wealthy people
would build boats to compete for the
honor OF defending or challenging for
the cup, as they could be subsequent
ly used for ocean cruising The races
would then become more test of sea-
manship than they are now, and Sir
Thomas believes the interest in the
contests would be greatly stimulated.
The distance could be increased and
the races could be sailed in any kind
OF weather, for the rougher the
the keener would be the sport.