The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-17
PLAN TO USE u. S. NAVAL VESSELS IN
PASSENGER AND FREIGHT SERVICE

which II Is contemplated installing FIVE
additional staterooms at a cost of So
900, $4,000 would be required. and 81 900
for each of the other vessels would
probably cover the cost OF the changes
proper In addition each vessel carry
ing passengers would need an auxiliary
radio installation required by law for
passenger ships. This would cost $4,000
for each vessel. and the total cost for
the above vessels would he about 49,, 900.
THE pay and subsistence of officers
and men to man the fourteen ships
would be about $1S62,4i4 a year, and
the maintenance OF the ships, other than
pay and subsistence, including repairs,
docking and supplies Of all kinds, would
approximate s1,77I,250: total, 1885. 694
THE probable cost of the shore estab
lishment for operating the line Is diff
cult to estimate at this time. This would
include salaries of officers. agents, cleri-
cal force and other personnel. terminal
facilities. wharfage, port dues, rent OF
offices, furniture and other expenses,
and l am making an investigation to
determine this expense. believe. how
ever, that 1t would be but small per-
centage of the total cost, as Govern
ment terminal facilities will be used
wherever practicable.
THE expense of such services would
of necessity be relatively large. due to
the character OF the vessels to be used
and the fact that they must be kept in
condition for immediate military service
II required. 1t should be remembered.
however, that there would be consider
able return to the Government on mail,
passenger and freight receipts.
Retired officers. or officers on the re-
serve list. II one should be created,
would be employed in the service as
soon as practicable, and under such con-
ditions the expense involved in the pay
and subsistence of officers, as given.
should be reduced by three-fourths.
when II Is considered that the men
will be enlisted men in the navy and
available for service with the navy In
time of war the actual total additional
expense for personnel for fourteen ships
would be but sl5l2ii.
should the Department be authorized
to establish the service as contemplated
in the resolution hope that the dues-
ton of ships to he used. ports to be
made, schedules, &c, will be left en-
tircly to the discretion Of the navy. and
the Department would make every effort
to carry out the plans successfully. In
SO doing | consider 1t best to inaugu-
rate the business by establishing a fast
line from Panama to Valparaiso, via
Callao and Mollendo, and utilize for the
purpose the Columbia. Minneapolis,
Salem and Chester. This mail and pas
senger line. in connection with those
now in existence from New York and
New Orleans to Colon. would be a rapid
transit route between the United states.
Peru, Bolivia and Chile. and thence, via
the Transandean Railway to Argentina,
Uruguay and Paraguay.
Il do not consider il wise to establish
at the beginning a schedule that would
utilize all the vessels mentioned as
available. One sailing a month Of
a freighter or passenger vessel from New
York and New Orleans to Valparaiso
and intermediate ports would be enough
for a beginning. AS business dcvel-
oped other vessels would he added, and
sailngs made more frequent, as the
traffic warranted.
THE Rainbow or Nanshan, or both,
as the traffic might warrant, would be
scheduled to ply between Panama and
Guayaquil, Ecuador. via Buenaventure,
Colombia These would carry mails,
passengers and freight and act as
feeders for our freighters passing
through the canal and connecting with
the mail lines from New Orleans and
New York.