The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-08-24

AMERICAN ATLANTIC STEAM NAvIeATIoN.-We
have received the following communication from
the originator OF the ocean steam ship lines, and
give 1t place for the value Of the facts it con
tains -
NKw YoRx, Aug %, 1874.
| To EDITOR NEW York HKRALp,-
SR,--ln answer TO the question which has been fre.
quenty asked why the British and American Steam Ma
vigstion Company in London relinquished their
prise when the working Of the British Queen and Pres
dent showed profit, beg leave to state, that when
American Steam Navigation Company, in consequence
Of an understanding between the company and the
chants of New York. that there should be union Of In
by the establishment Of company in this city
cooperate with the one in London
obtained from the Legislature Of this state 70
that plan into execution, but the commercial and nan
cal crisis Of that period crippled the means and damped
Upon this disappointment followed the Cunard CONTRACT
with the British Government for the building and run
nng Of line OF steam packets to Halifax aud Boston, the
guaranteeing the pay OF $2ss 900
for carrying the mail only The company naturally felt
that running their ships against others supported by the
national purse SO formidable and Encouraging
thing that they shrunk from such vast responsibility
Next came the loss Of the President Being only par
TALLY insured the finances Of the company suffered
verey and the loss cut deeply into the paid up capital
Under the combined weight Of these disastrous crcnm
sauces. became question Of serious consideration
whether the company should build ships to sustain
the line or dispose Of the Queen Seeing there was no
chance standingon equal footing with their compei
tors they choose the latter alternative and dissolved the
association
The course taken by the BrltlSh government was IN
donbedy serious check to the advancement of Ocean
Steam Navigation and threw private enterprise and fair
competition back for years do not imagine the
Government designed impede the steam
navigation, but without considering and probably with
out knowing the inevitable effect Of their own measures
upon the general system Of steam navigation, and
opposed many Of the leading members of the admins
traton then were to all innovation upon their maIame
system whether mercantile naval they hastily adopted
measure certainly injurious to others ns could be
beneficial to themselves The incapacty, however OF
the British mail packets to carry cargo commensurate
with the demand leaves the ground in good measure
nnoccupled. Time and m IRE comprehensive acquaint
ance with marine steam power will restore the rights and
advantages which the Government Of England. in the
very infancy Of Atlantic Steam Navigation, literally
crushed.
In the mean time we may congratulate ourselves that
such formidable obstacles find footing in our own
country but that every obstruction thrown up by Great
Britain against the extension OF steam mercantile marine
10 premium for our encouragement in establishing one
for ourselves.
There can be no doubt on this subject. The
terrupt the eight Of nations land to prevent
the deep Shall rail the ocean, and make New York
the terminus, or shall we not?
Shall he steamed off the by other nations, and
give up the element that Ia always knocking at doors
and bid il roll its other climes7 II mistake
not stirring spirit my countrymenthe whole Union
Your obedient servant,
These statements we know to be true, and had
it not been for the financial troubles at the time,
line of steam ships to run between Liverpool and
New York would have been established, and of
such character that it would have monopolized
the travel and mail carriage over the Atlantic for
years to come. It is not too late even now to &C.
in 1888, and as only the patronage of the British
government is lost, let if that Of this great
country cannot be obtained