New York and Antwerp. Established 1873. Sailing: From New York Wednesdays; from Antwerp Saturdays. Funnel—Cream, with red star, black top. House flag—White, red star. Night signal—Three red lights, forward, bridge and aft.

Among the ocean lines from Antwerp, the first in importance, at least so far as concerns business between Antwerp and the United States, is the Red Star Line, a private corporation, the majority of the stock of which is owned by citizens of the United States. All the steamers except two, the Pennsylvania and the Illinois, fly the Belgian flag. These two are under the American flag. The terminal points are Antwerp and New York and Antwerp and Philadelphia. The New York service is weekly (sometimes semiweekly), and carries first, second, and third class passengers; also, mail and freight. The Philadelphia service is fortnightly, and carries third-class passengers and freight.

The distance between Antwerp and New York is 3,344 miles and between Antwerp and Philadelphia 3,408 miles.

The rates for first-class passengers vary according to the steamer chosen, the season of the year, or the number of passengers occupying a stateroom, from $65 to $210 per person in the summer (between August 1 and October 15), and from $60 to $95 per person at other seasons of the year. A reduction of 15 per cent, each way, is allowed on all round-trip tickets, and these tickets are available for one year.

It is very difficult to answer with accuracy the inquiry as to rates of freight. The manager of the freight department informs me that the freight charges differ with different articles, and charges for the same article vary with the fluctuations in the freight market, which depend upon competition, the size of the cargo, the size of the shipment, and other causes. So far as a rule can be given, it may be said that the average charge, both to New York and Philadelphia, for heavy articles (those whose rate is determined by weight) is $1.50 per ton; while for light articles (those whose rate is determined by the space occupied) the charge is $5, and 10 per cent additional, per 40 cubic feet.

The fleet of the Red Star Line consists of the following steamers:

All of the forgoing [sic] steamers are employed in the New York service, except the last three, which go to Philadelphia.

The Red Star Line keeps its ships in good condition. Besides the habitual inspection, cleaning, repairing, and painting, which occur at the end of every voyage, each steamer is put twice a year in the dry dock of the company, situated here, when the bottom is scraped and painted, and the steamer otherwise subjected to a thorough inspection and overhauling.

The Friesland, Noordland, and Westernland are built of steel; all the others of iron. The Friesland, Waesland, Illinois, and Pennsylvania have triple expansion, the others have compound engines; all are compartment steamers. The Antwerp, and general European agents of the Red Star line are Vonder Becke & Marsily.