New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-31
THE CANADIAN FAST LINE.
what WiU PreUent It's Competition
7cith Steamships from This Port.

St Johns. y. F., Jan. q (SpeciaD DIT is announced
that Canada is soon 10 have fast Atlantic steam
snip service, OF turbine ships. which will make
the passage between Montreal and Liverpool in e.
DAYS mat such prospect Is at all likely in the
near future 1t is difficult credit in view OF the
record OF losses along the st. Lawrence route the
Ias Ie" years In 1885 three total losses occurred
oUt OF nVe strandings; in 1899 there was one COM
pete wreck out OF four: in 1900 four ships were
destroyed out OF five which went ashore; In 1901
there were seven STANDINGS but no total losses in
1907 the same good fortune befeI with a total OF
e!eVeh STANDINGS, While in 1903 two ships went to
pieces out OF fifteen which took the ground The
last year was. therefore. the worst of all for the
monetary loss must have been far greater owing
TO the larger number of STANDINGS on which claims
had to be paid
1t must be noted. moreover that this total of
iIteeh serious mishaps the last year has occurred
IN spite OF the substantial improvements 10 aid
IN navigation which the Canadian government
cIalms TO have effected, and which should il GEN
ulne. have insured decided diminution ir the
NUMBER OF casualties. The of such frequent
mlshaps are believed to be the driving Of ships at
sher speed in the hurry to obtain more cargoes in
consequence Of the increased business done at
MonIIeaI last year the variations in the Atlantic
uCeS ana currents which must have arisen from
some natural phenomena the character Of which
mas not been determined, and the notorious and
growing inefncency of the St Lawrence pilotage
system The total Of mshaps is not attributable to
increased shipping. for during the season Of 1903
4" ocean going steamers. of 1,SS316 TONS were
tereu al Montreal against 1876 steamers of 1888 4O4
TONS In 1902 so that the increase in vessels or ton
mage would not excuse the great augmentation OF
shipping disasters especially involving such notable
instances as the total loss Of the big Elder Demp
ster liner Monterey, the Miquelon Islands, in
july Tor which the captain under the official in
Quiry. was held solely responsible.
Canada's persistence in the endeavor to establish
verItable fast line is worthy of a better cause
Her efforts attract little attention from capitalists
h 1,i ShlpoWners for every authority North At
ordained 10 failure The causes which rendc- sucb
an enc inevitable are that the whole scheme turns
ana any really fast" line must involve winter
finct T6fes ee[lnai with tive II not three DIS
from those directly interested very few persons
dian navigation or that the st Lawrence route"
SO called, compartments three distinct ocean high
ways IRON the Grand Banks to tdewater:
rJt1rst-The winter route, between England and
south Of Cane tS1g across 6ne SIan6 BankS
APTh 80. while the St. Lawrence Gulf is blocked
Mo62as 5Png route between Eng5nd Land aqS
coast of Newfoundland, and entering the Gulf Of
Newfgqndland from Cape Breton; this route used
from May l to July Is. when Belle Isle Strait be-
rhird-The summer route between England and
Montreal. passing through Belle Isle Strait, north
Labrador this route used from ft Is 10 NoY vf1l
Der 81. when it is again blocked with ice.
way, of Halifax in winter aud by way of Sydney.
- Be- 3 and Montreal in summer are heralded as a
show that it car in no way be compared with the
Belle Isle route rs above described. is abandoned
Ihat Is 20 miles shorter than the Cape Race track
anu uIqeI sIn.lIat weather conditions admits or
voyage being made in fifteen TO twenty hours less.
But 70 proceed by way OF Belle Isle involves ignor-
ing ing me mail and PASSENGER requirements or the
maritime PROVINCES seeing that all the steamers
touching at sydnev both WIS the Provncia needs
the cost Of sacrificing the prime claim Of the route
creased distance together with the time certain
10 be lost at sydney means prolougng the voyage
Another argument against Belle Isle Strait. and
tortuous. with treacherous tides and currents and
the sheer rugged, unNshied coast yelled N foS
HANGED by a surprising lack Of safeguards. which
tae2tFe OF many narrowing shipwTecks OF late
Toad as as: fogi Ice and storm cannot be enectuaiy
present CANADIAN :teaTgiir IIres ,is II during the
summer months, because IL is so much shorter,
unless the weather is most Adorable
- The chief drawback for Canada s. that the Cape
northern rival in this respect. The conditions
dcke. unchartabie currents larry ship to de-
sJraGt9n upon the rocks as of'52 almost as they
ing the summer months whom traffic over this
fifteen hundred fishing vessels at work the
Grand Banks, collision with which is nearly GER
at fun speed. while contact with bsrgs Is equally
strnction from b ff ,nt the sbi Is lust mon It
Cape Race has more wrecks and disasters to its
ade Route o IN the hS world tina" any other great
The ocean steamer bound from England 70 Can
ada is first threatened by fog of the Grand Banks
Then she has to risk contact with ice she nears
Newfoundland. Following that is the danger OF
I ward, her journey is continued for three days
through incOsed waters bristng with reefs, islets
ana shoals. On her eastern voyage, too she has
the open sea clear Of Newfoundland and free from
al the perils Of CONSTRUCTED areas. The New-York
liners, on the contrary, ply south Of the Banks and
have an open course for their whole voyage except
Thus, while the distance from Liverpool to Quebec
Is only 900 miles, as against Sl$0 from Liverpool
route follow two distinct tracks, east and west:
COLLISION ana enable them 70 Keep up their pest
speed for the whole run. while the Canadian ships
must make one-th!rd OF their voyage under re
duced steam, neutralizes any advantage their route
might possess even If they were as fast as the
But the proposed steamers are not OF such
speed, nor is il proposed that they should be.
twenty in practical service and will thus be hand
capped In speed by their rivals, while they VIII be
/ unable TO do more than crawl through togs. foes
and fishing smacks between the Banks and Quebec
, or vice
the service is TO He only weekly one. whereas
New-York has now almost daily service. Thus,
postpone their trips To suit the boats. would
patronize them. the majority Of travellers, espe-
service by way Of New-York There might be
some inducement TO tempt large clientele for
boats and making four and One-haH day trip
but with twenty-onc knot boats and SIX gay
voyage at the best few passengers would tTaNel 10
such obscure seaports as Halifax or Sydney 10
JOIN Canadian iihef Win inc poorest wish
10 enjoy themselves for Gay or two in London
Lverpool or Network before or after nr riP
which urges them on like flying Dutehman, hGy
So rs r qu G nc nicl e OF visit to New
thousand people. without hotels other acees-
I kepUiu.r lINGIlODS