OCEAN MAIL SERVICE.
11
No. 67, “0. M. 8.” from New York to Rio de Janeiro and intermediate ports, distance
6,127 statute miles, once every twenty-four days for five years. Compensation
3% a mile (fourth class) traveled on each outward voyage. Service to commence
December 1, 1892. Contractor, the United States and Brazil Mail Steamship Company.
The ‘service on these two routes, viz, Nos. 64 and 67, ceased in
January, 1893, by reason of the failure of the contractors, and the
contracts were annulled.
[Under advertisement of December 20, 1899.]
No. 75 “0. M.S.,” from San Francisco to Sydney, touching at Honolulu, a port in
the Samoan Islands, and Auckland, once everv three weeks in vessels of the second
rlass at two dollars a mile
This contract was with the Oceanic Steamship Company, of San
Francisco, Cal. The service was performed Sa 6, 1907, on
which date it was suspended, and oe has been no service under the
contract since. It has been reported to the department that the contracting
company withdrew its vessels on account of financial conditions,
the route having been operated at a heavy loss. It has been
represented that the compensation allowed under the act of March
3, 1891, is inadequate as compared with the expense of operating
the service. The company has stated that it — expect to resume
service between the points covered by the contract in the event that
adequate increase in compensation were provided for by legislation.
Tt will be noted from the above that the contract ocean mail
service from the United States to the countries named in the bill
which the department has been enabled to contract for under the
law of March 3, 1891, is very limited, and that most of such service
contracted for has been discontinued on account of the inadequacy
of the compensation provided by the law. Between the United
States and South America we have but two such routes in operation,
one from New York to La Guaira, and the other from New York to
Maracaibo. Neither of these routes is 4,000 miles in length, and
oy supply mail to practically only one South American country,
and that situated in the northern part. There is no contract service
now in operation under this law between the United States and any
port in the Philippines, Japan, China, or Australasia.
The importance of adequate mail service on lines of steamers
carrying ie American flag to these parts of the world is evident.
The following extract from the report of the United States consul
at Santos, State of So Paulo, found in Daily Consular and Trade
Reports of March 26, 1909, comments upon the importance of such a
line to South America:
A line of steamers flying the American flag, with first-class accommodations for
passengers, making the trip from New York to the River Plata, stopping at the most
important ports of Brazil, would not only be of great convenience but the greatest
advertisement the United States could have. Such a line would improve the mail
and passenger service between the two countries, would give an opportunity to the
people of the United States to visit South America with ease and comfort without the
necessity of traveling via Rurope, and would turn the tide of travel from this country
to New York instead of to Europe, and, most of all, such a line would inspire confidence.
There has been but one American merchant ship in this port in a vear—a sailing
vessel in distress.
The consul-general at Buenos Aires in his statemeut, found in the
Daily Consular and Trade Reports of April 12, 1909. says:
The average number of ships under the British flag entering and clearing from
Buenos Aires for the past three years was 1,118, belonging to 32 companies. Of these
lines onlv the Roval Mail carries mail regularly. for which it is subsidized
