The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-06-10

In tho lsao law was passed py tins OnamDer OF
Deputies in Paris by which the relations between France
and America were be enlarged and strengthened by
new line Of eighteen steamers which to be divided
as follows Fourteen steamers with engines of 44o horse
power and four of 900 power the latter to make
trsnsportatons between the principal and secondary
lines
When the undertaking proposed the steamers were
to be constructed by the government but the political
affairs of the country 30 complicated that ut the
end of that time the matter nearly forgotten In
the time private enterprise has realized that ma
tonal project Previous that time the French govern
ment had sent expedition the steam frgate Conner
of 450 horse power, which every body In New YORK
has seen in the bay commanded by Mr.. Laurencin On
board a commission, whose duty IL to study the
localities to and choose the the steam
land in word to organize every thing for the
execution of the French law But during all that time
Great Britain, instead of preparing was going ahead,
aud the Transatlantic navigation between England and
relative to the company which compose the service
between Liverpool, Halifax and Boston, curious
In the year 1885, by direction of the Lord Chancellor
OF England, two commercial companies made PROPOSE
tions to the government but they were not accepted
Then Mr. Cunard from Halifax proposed to the govern
ment to transport the mail at the rate of f5500
horse power to be for that service
the twenty times year. But Mr.. Gu
nard discovered that during winter steamships
Of that small size would be insufficient and by
rangement with the Lord Chancellor the contract
altered and the remuneration for carrying the mail
changed from fifty five to eighty thousand pounds
sterling condition that the four steamers should be
at the minimum of 400 horse power These four steam
names Of the Columbia. the Acadia, the Caledonia and
the Britannia which were ALL constructed with engines
of $50 horse power. When the Columbia was lost the
company great expense for the construction Of
the Hibernia which Of 500 horse power The loss
Of the Columbia warned the company that it was
necessary to have always supplementary ship ready,
a9
and the Cambria, Of 460 horse power was anched and
certainly she Is one OF the most admirable ships that
crossed the
Such zeal on the part Of Mr.. Cunard was rewarded
by an augmentation OF 100000 but afterwards reduced
secondary line upon the st Lawrence thus, now the
mail remuneration is fs5000 sterling for twenty trips
year. going and returning from Liverpool to Boston,
and landing ut Halifax.
That enterprise has been prosperous travellers have
given unexpected benefit and lastly, the mail postage
has produced to the English treasury a far exceed
ing the remuneration allowed to MIR Cunard.
Under such circumstances and in view of the increas
ing prosperity of the Cunard Company, the English
oonraot Obliged Mr. cunard By notice Of nine months
in advance to build four other steamers the Canada
the Niagara the Europe and the America each Of them
with engines Of 500 to 600 horse power.
Thus the English line is composed Of nine steamers
crossing twenty times year from Liverpool to Halifax
and Boston, and twenty four times year from Liverpool
to New York-in all a. trips However, If the service
doubled the remuneration not. 1t only
augmented 100000 sterling, which, with the preceding
sum, formed total amount of El45,000 sterling
But the Cunard steamships are not the only ones that
have crossed the Atlantic
trip, If we remember well, and was afterwards
sold to Russia Every one knews the tragic loss
Queen, which sold to Belgium in moment when
that government wished try also transatlantic
company in Bristol the Great western of 400 horse
power made numerous and prosperous trips but within
few MONTHS she has been sold to the West India Com
pany The other steamer belonging to the same compa
ny, the Great Britain. whose previous Mann
moth or Of 1000 horse and 5000 tons is
half shipwrecked the Irish coast, and no one
can foretel her future fate
The Cunard company have for long time enjoyed the
monopoly of the ocean nearly certain that lives
he will continue have the only special English line Of
steamships between England and North America. But
if Mr. Cunard has nothing fear from his countrymen,
he must certainly be frightened by the which
government has recently adopted The prosperity Of
Cunard s. Co. has excited the emulation Of Ameri-
body knows that grant Of 100000 has been voted In
Congress for the establishment Of Transatlantic line,
power, after having been launched the 18th Dccem-
Der, last year. sailed the first Of June for Bremen,
Southampton, and the Isle Of Wight. This change
10 a great deal better than making Liverpool
Bristol the terminus. The numerous railways
which cross Germany every where have all, for
end and aim, the North Sea. They cross Prus.
sia they united to tho roads in Austria and
they offer nearly by railways or steamboats a..
Adriatic That iron road, 1t shall
be entirely chained will be of the greatest COM
mercial arteries Of the world to Egypt, to India
world with those Of the old. The genius specula-
tion and practical views Of our countrymen have not
been mistaken its importance to the United States
After the historical notice have given Of nearly all
the that have visited this country. must
transatlantic steamers are to be calculated upon
an immense scale. Leaving aside the unavoidable
decay Of the matcria and Of the interest of the capital
of 900 francs voted in the year s40 at the Cham
Der of Deputies the minimum Of the annual expense Of
the projected service was 100000 of francs.
During the debates and questions on this matter, the
French government taking advantage Of the situation
of affairs employed for Its own naval service the steam
ser. OF to the General use Of the Four
only. the Christophc Colomb," the Darien,"
the Uua," and the Canada" which were not then
finished, did not enter in ths material Of the feet
These the four steamships which to be employed
for the French service by the law which
have already described the principal features The
project was delayed by the Minister Of the French
fleet We must add however. that the government was
not to blame for taking them these steamers
cessary to the French Navy which . not as powerful as
ought to be- and the project had to contend against
difficulties augmented by the mpstience of the Chamber
Of Deputies by which the execution of the law Of is4o
claimed when other propositions were made to the
French government, which was hestatng upon what
course to take.
These propositions however were for only one line
from Havre to New York; but the government thought
necessary to make two distinct laws for the organizes
ton Of the transatlantic service The first has been
voted known the other relative to different lines
from Hsvrc Cherbourg to the West Indies is not yet
passed The law of 1910 had authorized the Minister Of
mercal company for the establishment of correspond
ing line between Havre and New York. but offer,
public private submitted II tried again in
1874, but without success; If any offer made,
1t was not considered as serious since there
funds with them In 1886 the rivalry Of the different
ports made still greater delay in the passage Of the law
At last in ls47, company Of merchants, having for
agents Messrs Herout and De Handel offered to unite
with the French government provided 1t would furnish
them with the capital whilst the association would ap
ply the funds and undertake the management of the
terprise
The capital given by the French government to the
association, Herout and De Handel for ten years.
siss in four steamships Of $50 horse power viz the
"Christophe Colomb the Darien'' the Ulloa," and
the Canada which represent capital of nearly eight
millions Of francs They will be insured in the name of
the government and at the expense Of the company.
Herout and De Handel 1t is also stipulated that in
of a maritime war, in of the fuhlment
Of the treaty by the company the Minister Of Finance
the power order immediately the return Of the
steamers TO tho royal navy yards
Such Is the condition Of the company, and the ad-
vantagcs which given by the law are the following
The company has for ten years the possession OF eight
millions of francs, without interest. At rate of five
.rts h.