Schwegel to To the envoy extraordinary and, January 8, 1880

The Vienna Foreign Office to Mr. Kasson.

In supplement to the very respectful notes of the 23d and 27th of last month, concerning the river regulations in our empire, the ministry of foreign affairs has the honor to transmit to the envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America, Mr. John A. Kasson, the explanation of the Danube Steamship Navigation Company as to the influence of the existing regulations on the rates of transportation. The really regulated part of the Danube from Passau to Krems could make little use of the advantages which a regulated river affords to navigation and commerce on account of the railways which have in the mean time been built and run in a parallel line along the Danube.

The later regulation of the stream, begun after 1860 between Nussdorf and Fisoha-mend, is in its extent much too insignificant to have any influence on the rates of transportation. The advantages which the regulation of the Danube in the immediate vicinity of Vienna have afforded to the commerce of the metropolis are not the result of the facilitation and cheapening of transportation through this regulation, but rather of the fact that more favorable landing places and quays in the vicinity of the city enabled the building of works which were the preliminary condition in assuring to the port of Vienna a position due to its rank. These works, especially the landing places and grain warehouses of the Imperial and Royal Danube Steamship Navigation Company, as well as the storehouses of the city of Vienna, have enlivened the traffic on the Danube near Vienna in an extraordinary degree and have mainly occasioned the increase in the Vienna grain traffic.

The regulation of the Danube near Vienna, being for a short distance (3½ German miles), could have no influence on the cost of transportation. On the other hand, it is beyond question that the regulation of the Danube for the distance between Pressburg and Gönyö, a distance of 11½ German miles, where in the fall the numberless shallows have very often entirely interrupted the navigation, must exercise a direct important influence on the cost of transport, provided the regulation shall entirely remove all the obstacles which now hinder navigation over this stretch of river.

The shallows in the stretch Pressburg-Gönyö compel the navigation companies in the season of unfavorable condition of the water, annually recurring, to expensive unloading of all the freight-boats, and to the frequent requirement of three times as much cargo-room and three times as much power as are adequate in a normal condition of the water. In like manner, if not more prejudicial, is the effect on the navigation of the stretch of rapids, unregulated, between Moldava and Turn-Severin, 15 German miles. The Imperial and Royal Danube Steamship Navigation Company, which principally, not to say exclusively, traverses this stretch with its steamers, is compelled to keep in readiness a large number of light-draught steamers and lighters in order to maintain the regular movement of navigation, so that at the time of low-water in midsummer they can keep up the navigation at all.

The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to renew to the envoy the assurance of his high consideration.