Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-01-12
4 Ut IIbt I1"FUTc'.
STEAM VESSELS TO NEW YORK.

E,h
The article in your paper of the 9th inst,
over the cosnomen OF Free trade and Sailors
Rights" being "practical review. as the wfi-
Ter saws. OF that over the head Of Enterprise, "
which appeared in your paper oil the olh inst;
wherein The writer of that article endeavored 10
sci forth few OF the many reasons why the Le-
gislalure should grant The charter 10 those who
are endeavorlng 10 establish line OF steamers
between The ports oil James River and New York.
The reasons urged by I" Free trade and Sailor 5
Rights" as objections 10 the enterprise, are 50
absurd as not 10 require reiutalion, nor would |
notice them, were il not that consider il my duty
10 expose his design which ne endeavors 10 cloak
by giving il the term Of " practical rerte1c" Of
The subject
/ am pleased to hear that h. acknowledges that
none of the "dollars and cents" invested in the
SAILING craft" now engaged in The business, are
owned BY any Of our citizens This is an impcf-
tant admission, quite different from the inference
tc be drawn from the counter memorial, AMI as The
establishment o the line OF steamers will hot
conflict with any interest Of our fellow citizens in
that quarter, no compunctions need he lelt by
"Saiors Rights" &C., &C., 10 becoming stock
holder in the enterprise. Let all The stock re-
ouired TO pu, il into operation be taken here
all the disbursements will be made here, which
is much more than can be said for the line Of
"sailine craft"
Ii is alleged, that those asking OF the Legisla-
lure The act of incorpoI alton do 50 Tor the pun
pose Of making monopoly. This deny-ihe
door tina, grants il is open to all who may desire
to embark in similar enterprise. Competi-
lion is what is desired that is what produces
"F,u Trade aud Sailors R,ghts," il | under
stand the Term properly. All who desire il are
invited to embark in this enterprise, and those
who do not feel inclined will mol be declared The
privilege of encouraging such craft as he may
desire, either the Raj bSat, sailing craft or Steam
reset What is 10 become OF The coal interest
"a black objection this Why, in The frs,
place. if he will ask the GOLFERS how much coal
The present packet line Of sailing craft carry Tor
them during the year. am inclined 10 think that
they will tell him not so much as ne consumes
in his family during The winter season. The
steamers. il found to succeed, will supersede the
use Of The vessels now required by The merchant
TO transport his goods, and thereby increase the
number of vessels for the GOLFERS; besides which
the steamers will consume large quantity OF
coal, aud will become valuable customers TO our
GOLFERS.
This steam "Vcssel Enterprise" you are told
by This practical writer, has been attempted once
and failed. Then, ask, why should opposition
be raised 10 it now2 infer, from his remark,
thai il must fail again. II that is 10 be the case,
don't oppose il, because in that event, ii can't in
lure any one. Ii must die natural death, don't
stransle The infant al its BIRTH
IL is proper TO remark here why il did fail, al
though / fear the disclosure will alarm The sailor.
Two of the boats referred 10, Zone OF which ne
yer was intended permanently for our river were
propelled by the Ericsson" propeller, another by
The submerged wheel-ncher oil which was
found TO answer the requisite purpose and were
abandoned, as The speed was lille better than
that OF sailing vessels, and however high in esli.
nation the plans alluded to for prorelling sea
vessels NAV be held, those who desire 10 embark
in the line in contemplation, will ADOPT The old
fashioned side wheel, now used so successfully
in the British steamers and the steamer Southern
er, now plying between the ports OF Charleston
ard New York.
II is asked by "Sailors' Rights" &c, &C., I'll
any great advantage had presented itself 10 the
merchants here, would they not have availed
themselves OF ii7' In reply 10 which, beg leave
10 say, that The necessity OF prompts them 10 it
now-"I, is better late than never" and hope
The Legislature will grant he charter asked Tor
by The many petitioners who ale asking ii Of
ihsm. Yes, 10 enable The citizens OF this coed
old Commonwealth reach,he "great emporium"