Albert Ballin

ketfahrt's Pass

ed between the Packetfahrt (on behalf of a Stettin Line of steamers) and the Danish Thingvalla Line. Steamers now began to call at Gothenburg and Christiansand on their voyages from Stettin to the United States. The new line was known as the "Scandia Line"; and in later years, when a similar object was aimed at, it was called into existence once more. The aim was not to establish a new steamer service for its own sake, but rather to create an object for compensation which, in the negotiations with the British lines, could be given up again in exchange for concessions on the part of the latter regarding the Hamburg business. If this plan failed, Ballin had another one mapped out: he threatened to attack the British in their own country by carrying steerage passengers either from Liverpool via Havre, or from Plymouth via Hamburg. People in England laughed at this idea. "Surely," they said, "no British emigrant will travel on a G

overning the share to be assigned to the agents-which amounted to 55 per cent, of the Hamburg business-was principally aimed at the realization of as high a rate as possible. This policy prove

cketfahrt to 95 marks, and the Lloyd those charged for its services to Baltimore and New York to 100 and 110 mark

ch they were entitled. Negotiations were carried on at Liverpool, during which Ballin was present. He pointed out that, considering the whole Continental position, the British lines would be ill-advised to withdraw from the agreement, and he stated that he would be prepared to guarantee them their sha

ices from German ports. Another step forward was the increase of the passage rates which was agreed upon after negotiations had taken place at Antwerp and i

ealized that it would be necessary to institute quite different arrangements; something to ensure a fairer distribution of the traffic and a greater consolidation of their common interests. A proposal to gain these advantages by the establishment of a

f any importance which the Company possessed in the early 'eighties, before Ballin had entered its services, was the Hammonia, and she was anything but a success. She was inferior both as regards her efficiency and her equipment. At last, however, Ballin's desire to raise the prestige of the Company triumphed, and the building of several fast boats was definitely decided upon. In addition to a comparatively large number of passengers-especially those

ciation had been allowed for on a generous scale, no less than 50 per cent, of the cost price plus the expenditure incurred through an enlargement of the Auguste Victoria, the oldest of the boats, having been deducted on that account. The Packetfahrt, like all the other German shipping companies, has always been very liberal in making ample provision for depreciation. When, therefore, these steamers were sold again at the time of the Spanish-American and Russo-Japanese wars, a considerable profit was realized on the transactions which enabled the Company to replace them by a very high-grade type of vessel (the Deutschland, Amerika, and Kaiserin

oduced in British yards, and Ballin's attention had been drawn to it by his friend Wilding, who was always ready to give him valuable advice on technical matters. In order to find the means for the construction of these and of some other boats, the general meeting of the shareholders, held on October 6th, 1887, voted a capital increase of 5,000,000 marks and the issue of 6,

tion the steerage accommodation on two of the Packetfahrt's steamers was equipped with electric light, and provided with some single berths as well. This latter provision was extended still further during the succeeding year. In addition to the fast steamers, some ordinary ones were also ordered to be built. In 1888 two steamers were ordered for the Company's West Indies service, and shortly afterw

representation, which was looked after by Edward Beck and Kunhardt. In consequence of the negotiations which Ballin carried on to that end, the agents undertook to submit their business for the Company to

called by the Board of Trustees, Ballin put forward a proposal for raising the rates on certain cargo. It was therefore only but fit acknowledgment of his many-sided talents, and recognition that his energetic character ha