The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-03
FOREIGN MAILS.


THE STEAM ROUTE PROPOSED VIA cowEs
We understand that the Postmaster General is
preparing his advertisement Of the routes for carry
ing the foreign mails by steamers, and that II VIII
probably be ready for our extpaper. in the mean
time, we seize the opportunity of laying before our
readers the following papers, which have been laid
before the Postmaster General. The proposed route
is strongly recommended by its own merits, as well
as by persons who appear to be acquainted with the
subject. We have already published one plan for
the consideration of the Postmaster Genera-here is
another.
The whole correspondence, indeed, is worthy Of
being read. II contains variety Of interesting
views and statistics.
WARRINGTON, Sept. IL, lS45.
Sin: beg leave to lay before you the accompa-
nying correspondence, a copy of which was trans
mitted by me to the department the 18th of Feb
ruary last but which, it appears, failed to reach Its
intended destination.
avail myself of the occasion to remark !, that,
from personal examination Of several of the Brit
ish channel ports, (and information upon which
can rely in relation the remainder,) COwes Is the
only one where steamships could at all times touch,
without being submitted to delays that would rem
der their arrival at Bremen and New York exceed
ngly Irregular At this port, however, their deten-
ton in landing and receiving mails and passengers,
whatever the state of the weather. would not exceed
an hour; nor would their progress be retarded by
taking it in their route between the points which
they were intended to connect, with such stoppage,
beyond three or four hours.
From Cowes to London performed the journey
In about three hours-not more than half the lime
required between Liverpool and the latter place.
From Cowes to Havrc, the voyage has been accom-
plished in seven hours; and the distance from Ha-
vre to Paris will be run over, in a twelvemonth,
when the railroad is finished, in six hours. 1t is,
therefore, perfectly apparent that one line of we'll
conducted steamers may be made to answer the
purpose of communicating with Great Britain,
France, Germany, and, indeed, all the continental
powers and states Of Europe, as efectualy as could
be desired. If it became necessary or the success
Of the project should justify it, the number of their
trips could be doubled, as understood in England
is to be the case with the Cunard line.
A continuous railway track will be completed be-
tween Bremen and Trieste before the expiration of
two years ! ascertained, before ! left Germany,
that, in order to expedite the overland mail from
London to the East Indies and China, it was to be
embarked at Trieste, instead of Marseilles. Under
such an arrangement to say nothing of the diminu-
ton Of postage, should, by the proposed line of
steamers, bring that important and rapdly-ncreas-
ing commercial portion of the world much nearer to
our capital than is possible by the circuous routes
Of Hayre Liverpool with the incidental and casual
delays attendant upon them.
With distinguished consideration, l have the hon
or be- most faithfully your n GSed1 Ry 'i MsMN
Hon. CAVE JOHNSON,
Postmaster General.
UNITED STATES CONSULATE,
Bremen, February 49, lS45
Sin: Herewith take the liberty Of transmitting
~T. 49,, ISL L.l sl..
honor to receive from Senator Duckwitz, head of
the Post Office Department of this republic.
laval myself of the occasion to submit to your
consideration, with all Difference, my views Of the
importance to the United States of establishing
line of mail steamships between New York and
one or more Of the western continental ports of Eu
rope.
The postage on letters mailed at Boston, where
the weight does not exceed half an ouRce, via Liv-
erpoo per British stcanefo, amounts to 40 groats-
equal to asa cents at the true par Of exchange
when they reach this place. Newspapers; such as
those published daily at Washington, by the same
conveyance and route are charged SO greats each
equal TO 81 cents Letters Of similar size from any
American port, via Havre and the circuitous route
of Paris and Frankfort-on-th Maine, pay only 80
greats postage, while newspapers pay no higher
than greats each. The rates to Hamburg, either
through England, or France and Germany, differ
but slightly from those to Bremen.
From this statement, you will perceive that the
postage is SO enormous on letters, as 70 prevent per-
sons, whose business 10 not Exceedingly urgent from
corresponding by the steamers; and consequently
the entire continent is off FROM or deprived of the
benefits of speedy communication with the United
States, such al that enjoyed erclusireiy by Great
Britain OF the numerous letters which have been
from time to time addressed to my care, from the
Germans in America, to forward to their friends in
the interior, do not recoec solitary instance of
receiving any by the Atlantic steamers If the cost
of their transmission amounted to no more than that
charged from New York or Boston to Liverpool,
feel very certain that they would invariably, be sent
by the quickest conveyance.
Il cannot escape your observation, that the post
age On our newspapers, via England, is enormous
Is to exclude them altogether from the continent!
In this respect we have suffered more than can be
readily imagined, by the introduction Of steam navi-
cation on the Atlantic. The British Journals, Of
similar size TO those of own TO which have al
luded pay but greats postage to Bremen, and, with
such advantages, enabled to give throughout the
year all the latest intelligence from the United States
TO civilized Europe. It is needless for me to re-
mark tho fact is sufficiently notorious that they
uniformly, If not desgnedly, misrepresent our true
condition, political and otherwise; and thus unustly
injure us In the estimation OF other powers and
states. This could be eifectuay counteracted, so
far as relates to Germany, France, &c, by the cs-
adjustment Of d fast line OF steamers to Bremen,
which could touch at Calais Boulogne, to receive
and deliver mails and passengers, without OCCASION
ing much delay.
The screw propeller, from the experiment made
with the "Great Britain" will doubtless reduce
the time Of passage the Atlantic to nine days
! feel well persuaded, from my knowledge of our in
genious mechanics, that steamers may be construct
ed so as to make the voyage to Bremen-haven as
quickly from New York, as il now is made from
Boston to Liverpool. In less than three years from
this time such will be the improvements on the
tnent, in the way of railroads. that the mail will be
conveyed to Hanover in q hours from Bremen, to
Berlin in IA hours; to Vienna in 36 hours; to Dress
den in Ia hours; to Prague In 90 hours; to Munich
in 80 hours; to Strasburg, in France, in "a hours;
and from thence to Basle in Switzerland, in hours;
to Copenhagen in 36 hours; TO Stockholm in Sc
hours; to St. Petersburgh in GO hours, and from
thence to Moscow in 30 hours. Westward not only
"hc star of empire takes its way" but the railroads
Of Europe are all, after being connected concentra-
ting in their termination OF points the different
oceans in that direction. Can the policy be ques-
tienabe one to the United States, TO benefit by them
to the utmost possible extent
The city Of Bremen is less populous than either
H. Actu