Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1911-01-04
MAIL
FACILITIES
Continued from PAGE y


the latter, flies the American flag
The department has no control over
vessels performing service to these
countries and therefore can not pres
cribe schedules. Difficulty in secur-
ing contracts under the present law
has been experienced in connection
with these long routes. Since the
passage of the act the department has
advertised for such service, but has
received no proposals, excepting for
the service to Tahiti, which is now
in operation, or where proposals have
been received on routes more than
600 miles in length the service has
been discontinued for the reason that
the provisions of the law are not suf-
fciently liberal to enable its mainte
nance
Need Better Law.
There has been no change in the
conditions since the last annual re-
port excepting such as emphasize the
desirability for a more liberal provi-
sion of law. The opening and opera
ton of the trans-Siberian Railway.
shortening the time of communication
between Europe and the Orient,
makes improvement in our mail SER
vice between our Pacific ports and
the Orient necessary if we are to hold
or improve our advantages in that
important part of the world We have
no contract service on the Pacific. eX-
cepting to Tahiti, which indicates
how far we are behind competing
countries, as the two existing regular
services from Pacific ports to Austria
lasia are provided by the Canadian
and New Zealand governments, and
regular services to Japan and Hong
kong are provided for by Japanese
and British subsidized lines from San
Francisco Seattle, Tacoma and Van
couver The approaching completion
of the Panama Canal further empha-
sizes our lack of shipping and mail
facilities.
Honolulu On Proposed Routes.
"The passage of an act to authorize
the stmaster-General to pay for
ocean mail service in vessels of the
second class on routes to South Anne
RIGA, the Philippines, Japan China,
and Australasia, 1000 miles or more
in length outward voyage at a rate
per mile not exceeding the rate appli |
cable to vessels of the first class as |
,r1pnyi6n1 in tho opt Of |
will, it is believed enable the departs
ment to secure contract service to |
these parts of the world. The follow
ing routes could be advertised: From
New York to Rio de Janeiro, and from
New York to Buenos Aires. calling
at Montevideo from New Orleans to
Valparaiso, calling at ports of Ecua-
dor, Peru, and Chile; from San Fran
cisco or Seattle to Hongkong, calling
at Honolulu. Yokohama, and Manila;
and from San Francisco to Sydney,
calling at Honolulu, Page Pago and
The total cost of such SER
vice would be about $2,201, 100 a year,
which, together with the cost of pres
ent service maintained under the pro-
visions of the act of 1891, is less than
The profits derived from the foreign
mail service exclusive of the cost OF
handling foreign mails between the
United States exchange Offices and
offices of mailing and delivery in this
Moreover, such provision
would not increase the cost of SER
vice now being performed upon any
cute under contract.
n Case of War.
It should be borne in mind that the
to be gained to tho nation
" contracts of this character is not
wholly for the mail service, but is in
ended by the statute to promote COM
nerce: and furthermore the law pro-
'ides that all vessels used in the per-
ormance of such a service shall be
% constructed as to be convertible
nto cruisers in time of war.
The recommendation is earnestly
enewed that legislation be secured
which will enable the Postmaster-Gen- t
raj to contract for service for the il
.arriage Of our mails to the countries t
famed in 16-knot American steam a
hips of the character prescribed in il
he act of 1891, t.