The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-08-17
American ship Bailding---Our Packet

Service.
We have on all occasions spoken in favor Of our
splendid American packet ships, and their gen.
tlemanly and attentive commanders, because we
believe that they have exercised great influence
III adding to our reputation abroad, and our gene
gal commercial prosperity. The perfect con-
struction OF the one, the beauty and symmetry
OF their mould, and the scientific style Of their
rig, impress foreigners with the conviction that in
the art of ship building, at all events, if in no
other respect, the United States have gone ahead
of all competitors, and achieved perfection itself
while the bland open, generous and gentle
manly demeanor of their captains, have proven
the iasity oftae boorsh manners, and unceuth be-
havor, attributed 10 our people, by the libes book
writers, and Chesterfeldan imtators. We have
therefore taken pains TO chronicle from time to time
She additions that have been made 10 our packet
: Aotlla, and pointed out the Improvements that
experience and time have suggested to, and been
adopted by their enterprising projectors, and have
on all occasions thrown in our mite in the way Of
encouragement TO them, to persevere, notwith-
standing the great amount OF competition that
has been arrayed against them, since the success
of the ocean steamers.
1t was thought in 1888, when the steamers began
their career, when the little Sirius came putting
III past Oduuy IlOoh, iual lllc SdihnS puChct huCS
would be forced out of existence, and their ships
turned into whalers and cargo carriers. But in
stead Of this they have become more useful, more
splendid, and far more profitable since then than
they ever before and it is matter of
choice with alargc proportion of American ira
eilers cross the big pond in packet ship
rather than in steamer. So strongly the
packet ships in favor with the public, that of the
great number of passengers who cross the Attain
TIC probably one half of the American travellers
20 in them, Notwithstanding they generally take
lew days more 10 accomplish the voyage than the
steamers
There at present eight or nine lines of pack
ct ships belonging TO this port alone while Bos-
ton, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, have each got
one line and the probability is, that before
ten years shall have from six to eight lines more
in this city; besides two lines OF American
steam packets, that will be as much superior to
the British steam ships as our packets to their
sailing vessels. The patronage awarded to these
packet ships, and their profits, liberal, that
the owners are justified in increasing their num-
Der every year One has Just been launched called
he Bavaria, for the Havre line; another will
soon be launched for the same line; another
nearly completed in Boston for this city; she
will be called the New World and will be
added TO the Liverpool line of packets. Cap
tain SkIddy, well known to the travelling
community, for care and attention to his passen-
gers will command her. Another is being built
for the Liverpool line, owned BY Messrs. Wood
hull & Mintua, which will be match more
for the splendid ships Liverpool and the Queen
OF the West; another is building for the London
line, to be called the American Eagle, to be COM
manded by Captain Chadwick, and still another
- talked of for the same trade
Thus We see, that in spite of the great COMPETE
non they have TO contend against, our packet SER
vice is increasing every day, and becoming more
valuable than ever before. Since the introduction
of steamships into the service, our packet ships
are built larger scale than they were before
that era, spacious in their in.erior construc-
ton, and better adapted for carrying both pas
sengers and freight. They now convey more
travellers than they did before the steamships en-
tered the field, and an infinite deal more freight,
and consequently their profits have been greater
and the lines more valuable. Instead, therefore,
of the steamships having injured our packet
ship interest, they have positively benefited it
greatly.
We look to an extension of the packet marine
in the course of few years that will astonish and
surprise even their owners. Within short time
revoutonise our foreign export trade. The re.
peal of the British laws will probably increase
the demand for western productions, and the
progress and success of free trade principles gene
rally, Will give powerful impetus to the export of
our southern staples. Our -four. pork. beef.
cheese, cotton, tobacco, rice, &c. &c. will be
drawn from every section of our extensive terri.
tory, and be shipped in American vessels to the
foreign market. We have hitherto furnished ,la
raw material to clothe the people of almost every
country under the canopy of heaven, and we NAV
soon become the granary of the world, and the
principal source OF supply for food to feed the mil
lions OF England Considering the immense ex
tent OF our territory, our agricultural productions
hitherto have been on rather a limited scale in
consequence OF the wants of markets but since
the partial opening Of the ports of Great Bri-
tain, we may look for an increase in our farming
and agricultural productions. Our principal sta
pie productions ere so necessary to the nations of
Europe, that they must have them at some price.
and in time OF scarcity at any price. The export
OF these increased productions must necessarily
enlarge our shipping interest, and place us in
higher scale OF commercial greatness than we
ever were. Our splendid packet ships have al
ways enjoyed the benefits of our carrying trade.
Ano OIL course will receive proportonate share
ho increased amount of business that will be
uoue uhoef The new state of things We must
therefore expect great increase OF new lines, and
aooitons TO the ships included in the present ones,
IN ofoer 10 supply the increased wants of our car
rying trade.
me apparent want of enterprise in establishing
al American line OF steamships, is a,oned Co.. 10
some respect by the increase of our packets. hn,
W stigma resting on our character, in this re-