Albuquerque morning journal., 1910-12-27

the reason TINT harhor and pier ac-
c0mmodations were not eufficient Tor
larger boats. The progress has con-
tinucd with undated Yigor. however.
The T90-foot Maurctania and Lual-
tnnia are being followed by the SS2-
foot Olympic and Titanic and the
900-foot Europa will make her ap-
pearanee tn service In 1918. How
soon tho 1000-foot steamship Is 60
become reality Il would require a
bold prophet to foretell Meanwhile
New York has no piers on Manhat-
tan Island that will receive a boat OF
a length greater than S25 feet and Is
face TO face with the problem Of pros
vidlug larger docks or seeing her po-
sition as the port OF the biggest
ships pass to some other point
The cost OF the competition for the
tiplied with the growth in size and
speed OF the liners. When the old
Collins liners were projected the
business world marvelled at the ex-
travagance of spending 100000 on
a single steamship, each advance in
size or speed since then has been at
tainod at an increasing outlay. The
cost Of the huge liners that bear the
palm today is close TO $4,000. 900,
HIS - a. ftiN AANa 2AtiiI " Nv - lfhftt
ed far exceeding the record for size
by a few feet or clipping few hours
off the time OF passage. 1t requires
net earnings OF half a million dollars
u year to return five per cent upon
the Investment and the cost OF rum
ming these great boats for a single
round trip IS 100000 or more.
In spite OF the tremendous ad-
vance in the cost OF constructing and
operating ocean liners and of the TAR
greater luxury OF their equipment.
the cost Of transporting passengers
and cargo Is much lower than bv the
oldtime boats which now would not
be considered fit for the carriage Of
cattle The charge for stateroom
from New York TO Liverpool on the
Great Western In 1898 was $3.50 ana
the lowest cabin rate was $3.50. Food.
service and conveniences OF course
could not compare with what Is 20 De
today for half the sum. Con-
the greater purchasing pOwer
of dollar in this earlier period. the
has been even more marked
than the figures indication The re-
duction in freight has been still
greater than In the case IF passengers
so that the charge for carrying goods
across the 1000 miles between the
United States and Europe Is less than /
ne cost oil transportation tAtf "a SIM !
llhr distance anywhere else In the |
world.
In one respect ocean competition |
has been brought under a certain de- 1
gree Of regulation. This IS in the mat
.er Of rates which are determined for 1
different classes OF vessels by agree I
nent among the leading lines. This
has done away with the ruinous rate
wars that prevailed formerly in the
course OF which freight WIS sometimes
,arried from New York TO London for
csa than noIhing. the charges
mounting to less than the London
iOrt dues The establishment OF
table rates U.s. held To be protec-
ion 20 the shipper as well as 10 the
'arriar and eQualizcs Co a certain eN-
ent the position Of the older and 4
lower hoats by allowing them 10
make lower charges. just as in the
aee OF railroads differeutials are al
owed to inferior or indirect line In
act. the situation Of the big steam
hip companies Is very much like that
II the leading railroads In the respect !
hat competition is keen in the mat
cr cf service. though not In that 81
ates just as tho two leading rail-
.gy lines between New York and the
,tei spend millions Of dollars IN track I
auiprneut and fnft trains in the at
ampt TO excel each other. although (
hey are In agreement on the subject
( rates 10 be charged, SO the steam-i