The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-06-15
Ocean Steam NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Mail
Line.


Ocean Steam Observation-Disclosures Mail
The Committee Naval Affairs, to whom refer
red several proposals for the establishment of lines Of
Ocean steamers coastwise and foreign for the trans
portaton Of the mail and for naval SERVICE in Of
war in pursuance Of the law of March 3d. 1915, Rave
had the same under consideration, and submit the fol-
It Is only about seven years since the passage Of
the steamers Sirius and Great Western the At
lantc p0rtcnded mighty revolution in commercial and
naval affairs The most sanguine expectations of the
triumph Of ocean steam navigation, and its momenous
consequence have been than fulfilled Already
the most rapid means Of communication between the old
world and the Is accomplished by Of steam
ships The countries bordering upon the Mediterranean
and the rcmotest East, connected with Western Eu
rope and America, by these agents Between Great
Britain and North America alone. there plying
twenty steamers, which deserve to be regarded
among the greatsst triumphs OF modern genius and
which. moving with q rapidity and regularity never
thought OF before have overturned The most settled theo
rss in ocean navigation, and introduced new element
in the regulation Of human afaiga. Time and space
to DO overcome, and the wnda and tides in mea-
sure dsregarded. In naval operations revolution may
be considered as already accomplished Great Britain,
within these years has made largo appropriations
for the augmentation Of her steam navy and has at this
time more than 400 war steamers-rnany Of them un
precederted for tho power OF their cngnos the calbre
Of their guns, and the magnitude Of their dimensions
The very latest intelligence of French legislation. adj
monishes that France has adopted similar policy
and is about TO augment tho number of her steam
ers to loo From these facts il appears that the British
and French governments regard an extensive steam
essential to their naval power and the expert
clusion In the few years that have elapsed since the
employment Of steam in naval warfare its achievements
have been most brilliant and decisive and SO generally
known to require no illustration.
But, whilst England and France have been rapidly
availng themselves Of the agency of steam in their ma
val establishments the United states has been almost in
active OF the "a vessels of all sorts, composing our
navy, only nine are steamers. or these, but five
armed; and yet this country first taught navigation
to the world and has had since its invention larger
commercial steam marine than all other nations besides.
srhe latest accounts Of the British commercial steam
rtn thotr nj ahnnfn Trad
We have greater number than that the waters OF the
Mississippi atone According to the report Of the Sec
rotary OF the Treasury, on commerce and navigation,
our total steam tonnage, last year. 39527 dis.
ribued in than 1900 steamers. Nor is 1t in the
number only that We surass all other nations in speed
ani efficiency equally superior. The Engineers
Magazine for January last British periodical says
The average speed Of best coasting steamers may
be taken at twelve and half to thirteen miles hour
in the Of the iron ely built boats the
coast and the fast iron steamer running from Folk
stone and Dover, to Bologne, Calais, Ostend sc. The
Queen one OF the fastest Of her class the Thames,
has cerained maximum speed Of fifteen and half
miles per hour Now we'll ascertaned that the steam
the Mississippi have average speed OF about
miles hour, and those on the Hudson and
other waters Of the North have attained oven greater
such perfection to which steam transportation
has been carried in this country that the rate of freight
the mississippi steamers does not exceed 80 per ton
por 1000 miles, and cabin passengers including sumptu
fare, carried at the rate ot one cent per mile
far below those paid the Atlantic steamers
sailing packets and although thus pre-emiuent over
all the nations VI the world in commercial steamers and
possessed Of nursery Of more than $4,000 men tit Tor
naval service, the lowest in the scale in our
naval force. II is true, 1t Is neither compatible
with institutions, interests to MAINTAIN large
and expensive naval establishment time OF peace but
il has become matter of the utmost Importance to de-
wise system. which, with moderate anu beneficial
outlay, will enable at all times to be prepared Tor the
contingency of war. This 1t is believed, may be ac-
complained, by combining with the system proposed by
this committee in former report the increase of
navy, the plan extensively adopted by cat
Britain OF uniting elements of a CONNIE cial marine
with those OF naval steam iorce The design OF tins
system IS to render the transmission Of the mall passen
and freight subservient to the extension ot her
naval establishment
The successful operation Of her lines Of mail steamers
has shown that CONNIE may only in this way be
promoted and extended, but made to contribute directly
the means Of its protection and defence
The United states the second commercial nation in
mpSny neglect means ass me-
cessary in consequence Of the policy pursued BY our
OF our commerce, without the most serious inju-
ries resulting to this great and important branch
of national wealth. While commerce is
tending itself to all quarters OF the globe and increasing
in ratio almost il not quite equal the increase Of
WOULD seem from expensive nature Of naval
adjustment under the present system that very
tensive OF can Dc hoped FOR or expected
Navy estimates for the support Of the navy for the
year. being then anticipated were over
six millions Of dollars The number OF officers, seamen,
marines landsmen and boys employed in the service
pears the document to be 5000 costing about
1886 per The number of vessels in commission be-
ing but 49, it shows average cost Of sos, 69o each,
per annum. The British mail steamers, which are on an
average amuch larger and efficient class Of vessels
than those Of navy cost that government, de-
Quoting the amount received for postage less than $780,
600 each for their annual maintenance Great Britain is
thus enabled by combining commercial enterprise with
her naval ornaments to keep aaoat steam force more
than equal one.ha of ships in commission and to
maintain twenty OF these powerful steamers in constant
and active service at cost Of million OF doars
nualy BY the Cunard and West India lines OF mail
steamers Great Britain maintains rapid and certain COM
muncaons with her colonies this side Of the Attain
the States. and her fleets IA.
cic ocean In the event OF war, she could readily CON-
msnd this force and concentrate at point upon our
Atlantc.or Gulf Coast; and vast commerce. valued
at some 200 millions OF dollars would without suitable
preparation part fall prey to her arms
II is notifying reflect that this force which may be.
come so formidable against in great degree sup
ported by the growing out Of our own CON-
mercal enterprise While our commercial marine Is unr
vailed and sails whiten every ocean, and our steam
marine home superior to that OF all other nations, we
have been lett in the distance, and been
by great commercial rival, in the employment Of
steam upon the ocean If it be asked why Great Bril-
ain has thus taken the lead OF in steam navga
ton while we greatly superior in domestic steam.
era and in sailing ships, the is that she has
cipated through the extension OF her mail to
thus nderng amost impossible for mere
private enterprise to enter into competition with her.
France, also, has become alive to the importance Of
this great system and her Minister Of Finance has been
authorised to treat with companies for the establishment
of lines OF steamers to Brazil Havana, New York La
Plata La (iuayra, and such ports on the Gulf OF
Mexico and the Antlas as may be designated by royal
ordinance These lines are to consist Of sailing SHIPS
with steam power, except that to New york. which IS
TO DO exclusively steam; that we are likely soon TO
have some forty foreign steamers in the character
of mail packets visiting entire coasts, and subssting
principally on trade. And as yet there has only
been passed through this House measure authorising
the OF line, consisting Of four steam
ers from New York Bremen. 1t is believed by your
committee that other lines may be established, with at
least an equal not greater probability OF success
The commercial intercourse between New YORK ana
iverpoo has become frequent and extensive than
betw cen any other places widely separated upon
the face OF globes aud their position seems TO DO such
as TO warrant the belief that they will at distant day.
draw to this great channel still larger proportion OF the
commerce between Europe and America.
The fact that the British government has recently
taken the necessary steps induce tho owners OF the
Cunard ssame establish line from Lverpoolo New
York il sufficient show that they are fully sensible Oh
this approaching state Of things and that they are re-
solved as far as practicable, to monopoze the inter-
con rse between those important points This move.
.n, shows clearly that the time has arrived when we
must decide whether will yield this essential anch
OF navigation aud this indirect means Of extending our
naval ara pcnt to great commercial rival or whe-
her we shall promptly extend 10 our enerprihing mcr