New-York tribune., 1905-07-23
RECORD CARGO FOR AUSTRALIA.
Steamer Cufc Sails with Freight Worth a
Million and q Half.

The largest steamship and cargo both re-
CARDS tonnage and financial worth. that have ever
left these shores for Australia started yesterday
from New-York, when the Cuhc was dispatched
with upward of 12OOO of miscellaneous freight
representing value of more than s15oo.ooo
The most interesting feature of this record con-
sgnment OF Yankee wares for the anupodean
markets is that the Outcome Of the White Star
liners owned by the International Merchant
Marine Company-was chartered for the purpoSe
by the United States and Australian steamship
COMPANY an exclusively American concern, which
is hghting the various British steamship companies
that load here for Australia and NeW-Eea1and.
IN 1S9S when the British lines, consisting or
Bucknau Brothers Houlder Brothers & Co. and
the Federal Steam Navigation Company. Of Lon
DON first here to load steamers with Amerl-
can freight for the antipodes, the New-fork ex-
port houses OF R. W. Cameron & Co, MAILER q
Quereau Arkeil 8. Douglas and Henry w. Peabody
& Co, which ran separate lines OF sailing vessels
to Australasia combined their interests, the bet
ter to withstand the British competition, and the
United States and Australasia Steamship Company
was formed. Since its inception, however, the
United States company has considerably broadened
out and il is now understood IN shipping circles
that the International Mercantile Marine Company.
which also conducts monthly freight service from
here TO Australian ports via Liverpool is in close
working agreement with il.
Since last October the fight between the Ameri-
can and British interests has become particularly
bitter one melted is said, not only by business
rivalry but also by strong personal feeling. In
October the IS shillinss ton. They
are now Is shilIngs ton OF 2,24O pounds weight
or measurement. When it is stated that 1T costs
about q shiIings and pence to charter a steamer
for Australia and that some 100000 tons of freight
was carried to Australian ports from the Eastern
seeboard OF the United States last year it can be
appreciated that the fight is costing millions.
The indirect losses to the American interests.
however are not heavy as those to which the
British lines are subjected by this strife One
reason is because the four firms who largely con-
troll the United States Company are, in their
capacity as merchants. the largest handlers Of
American goods in Australia, that they greatly
benefit by the low freight. The Americans also
have the advantage of less expenses at this end
than their British rivals.
The Cufics cargo is of the most varied that
has ever left the States Freemantle, Melbourne
and Sydney are the points where freight will be
discharged About $1,000 cases of kerosene OIL have
been shipped by the Standard OIL Company. and
large quantities Of steel rails steel plates. wire
machine tools, electrical equipment, sewing ma
chimes agricultural machinery 1850 tons OF print
ing paper and 800 tons Of tobacco are on board
Sixteen locomotives are also on the Cufic for the
New South Wales Government Railway These
locomotives part of a contract recently placed
with the Baldwin Locomotive Works.