The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-06-23

one of these boats. The total op-
Grating cost for enc vessel per
round trip is about $500, 600. And
the steerage, which formerly pro
duced a large part of this revenue,
now brings in very little Some
ships, with q capacity for $500
steerage passengers, are carrying
only 800. Which explains, said
the /. NJ. NJ. official. why first-cIsss
rates can't conc down.
Expense Compared 10 Railroad
Rates.
Even so, ocean travel is almost
as cheap as rail travel in the states.
1t approximates something less
than 10 cents mile, first class, for
the 3.000-mile. journey across the
Atlantic on the big liners This
charge includes meals and sleeping
accommodations There is d slight
huctuation in rates, depending upon
the type of ship chosen for the yoy-
age as well as upon the season Of
the year. For instance, the mini
mum rate on de luxe ship-the
Majestic, Olympic or HOmeTiC-for
crossing from New York to Chez
bourg or Southampton, is about
$275 in each direction. in the height
of the season, with no extras
But, alIuring as these ships are,
with their Turkish baths, gymnasi-
ums, swimming pools, tennis courts,
huge bathrooms and Partisan res
taurants upon their ur-er decks, it
is not necessary for the thrifty
traveller to use them, Cheaper &C
cOmmodations, equally as comfort
able if not so luxurious, can be OBJ
tanned on the Liverpool ships,
which take eight days, and on the
vessels which make Antwerp in
nine days. There are also cabin
class ships which cross in eight or
nine days to Liverpool and 10 or
IL days to Hamburg. These last
are steady, staunch boats ranging
from 10000 to 1900 tons in size.
and give excellent service. They
are very popular with old trans
Atlantic travellers, many Of whom
can afford to pay much more than
the average cabin class rate, which
is now 1925. There is one regular
traveller on these boats who wears
a cane and white spats and takes
his valet with him.
With the American dollar at its
present high rate of exchange val
ne. Europe is about the cheapest
part of the world IN which an
American can spend a vacation.
Railroad travel on the continent
averages about two cents q mile
sometimes less than that. Taxi
fares range from II cents 10
quarter, while extensive motor rides
into the country seldom cost more
than dollar. Living also is much
cheaper than it is at home. This
is not so apparent in the metrOpoli-
tan hotels, which charge New York
prices. But in the smaller English
and French inns, which are most
desirable because Of their quaint
atmosphere. one can secure com
Portable accommodations for about
the equivalent of 81 a day
All of the European nations are
now putting forth great efforts to
attract the tourist trade. England.
especially, which has been rather
indifferent toward visitors in the
past, is proving unusually cordial
this summer. Perhaps the recent
revival VI lIlh- hGEpiHS III ttAV l'tA'
fish Isles. which has become ia
vorite occupation among ex-sol-
diers, has something TO do with
this. Even Germany is exhibiting
great hospitality toward Americans
and their dollars, in spite Of the ap-
palIing depreciation Of the mark.
An American with small income
can now live comfortably there on
an amount that would scarcely
maintain him at home-but not
quite so comfortably as a German
citizen could live on the same sum
For there is one handicap about
being an American in Europe. II
Is difficult to- conceal the fact from
The continental shopkeepeTs. who
usually have two sets of prices
one for Americans and one for the
natives.