SUBSIDISED STEAMERS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1496, 19 July 1912, Page 4

SUBSIDISED STEAMERS.

SPRECKBLS'S'BOATS TO GET'TWO DOLLARS PEE MILK. News to hand by the Tahiti from Sau Francisco yesterday conveys tho information that tlio Sproclcels lino of steamers, which are instituting a direct service between San Francisco and Sydney (omitting a call at New Zealand), is being heavily subsidised by tho United States Government under a general Act, the intention of which is to encourage maritime enterprise on the part of American shipowners. Tho Sonoma, which is due to arrive in Sydney from San Francisco on Monday next (according to time-table), must, to qualify for what is called tho second-class subsidy, steam au average of 15 knots per hour for tho whole of tho outward voyage, and on that condition her owners (Snreckels and Co., of San Francisco) will bo entitled to claim a subsidy of two' dollars per mile. As the distance between the two ports is 7JOO miles, tticy will bo entitled to claim 14,800 dollars (in English, money .£3089), or double that sum if the subsidy is payable on actual mileage. There is said to bo no provision as to speed on tho return journey. Since tho steamers were engaged in this service lwfore (when they called at Auckland), the furnaces havo boon replaced with those adapted for oil-burning, and it is slid that they are now capable of steaming 17 knots per hour.