The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-11-23

he amount OF one dollar In Ocean Steam Navi-
ration. although tor more than quarter of CEN |
turv her sailing ships, the admiration of every |
country, might be met with in scores in the re- |
hottest quarters of the earth yet so little attention
was gwen TO this great feature of commerce, that
until within a short time, the project of applying
steam to our going vessels was scarcely thought
Of, except, indeed, by one or two persons who are
now engaged m an undertaking that wall ere long
astonish the world, and which promises, IN the fu.
ture, rich reward for their enterprise and spirit.
New York has progressed with sure and rapid
strides IN science, literature, religion and in every
thing great and useful emanating from the mind of
man; but in no one branch of her industry Is this
spirit shown so clearly as in the recent estab-
lishment and progress of her ocean steamers Two
years and half have scarcely passed since the
experiment was made, in this city, OF propel-
ling ocean ships by steam and now that the re-
suit of that individual attempt has proved so
profitable to the projectors, and so credlable to
the country, fleet of the fneststeamers, involving
captal of more than ten millions of dollars, bind
the London of the West to the busy cities of the
Old World, as well to the distant shores of the
Pacific. BY the aid of steam, the two oceans
INST IN a short time, be held tributary to our
commerO, and subject to the flag of the United
States.
But to rival the powerful and well organized
English lines to this city md to the West In.
dies, ID work OF some magntude. and will
call into action the powers Of the mos experienced
and energetic engaged in the enterprise We have
just alluded to, and unless great judgment 10
exercised in the selection of officers, from tho
Executive down, and in the internal arrangements
of the ships, the thing cannot be- accomplished.
An officer Of a steamship, such as are In the
Bremen, Savannah, Charleston and New Orleans
trade holds an honorable and responsible position
They should be men whose education and manners
would give character to the vessel or line to which
line they belong, and whose intercourse with socie.
y,whether at sea or shore should be marked with
aproper degree of sefrespect and dignity of charac
ter. This suggestion may appear, to many, irrele-
want and out of place, but the effects of an ill
differed ship are so well understood by the
travelling people as to require no explanation
further than is here given. person cannot
assume to be an officer on board of an
English steamer, unless he is in measure quail
fed In an Intellectual point of view as well as in
his ability to work or navigate ship. This is a
feature which has worked admirably since its
adoption In their service, and has done much to
advance the credit of their steamers for puuctu.
ahty, responsibility, and order
The lines belonging to New York, now in one.
ration, plying to and from foreign and coastwise
ports, reach five in number, and employ twelve
steamers, which in the course of year or less
will be increased 10 twenty-five or more. These
are yet in their infancy, but from the progress
they are making, and the encouragement they
have so far received from the public and bv
judicious course of management, they will soon
attain footing as firm as any new in existence:
The great commercial emporium of the United
States is at present connected by steamships with
Liverpool, Southampton, Bremen, Havre, Chaqres.
Havana, Bermuda, Savannah, Charleston, and
many ports on the Pacific, and when communica-
ton effected through the Isthmus of Panama bv
railroad or canal, and all the advantages OF this
route to China become demonstrated by solid
practical benefits thereby conferred upon her.
New York will stand, IN point Of facilities offered
to commerce, the most favored city in the world.
The project of running railroad over the thirty
miles of land intervening between Panama on
the Pacific, and Chsgres river on the Atlantic has
been and is still held the most feasible of any vet
proposed, and now that we have steamers in one.
ration connecting these points, and consequent
ly the almost Intsmnable shore of the Pa
cfc, with New York, a grand effort should be
made to effect this sure and expeditions commu-
nication without delay. With a road across the
Isihmus, as is now agltated by some of the
European powers, the Pacific would be brought.
with our present arrangements within fifteen or
sixteen days of this city, and, by connecting
ere, safe and comfortable passage to
Oregon would occupy but about thirty days
The greatest proof of the importance of thus
route, and the advantages 1t offers in the way of
commerce, that can be adduced is the fact that
the British West India Mail Company, at recent
meeting of the directors, with a view of faclli-
tating the transit of money from the other side of
Amenca across the Isthmus of Panama, (Which
money paid freight to this company on being
brought to Europe.) had agreed to advance, for
the purpose of improving the road, the sum of
eighteen thousand dollars, and would, in the
course of time, advance another three thousand
dollars to MAINTAIN the road In a passable state
The object of the directors in entering into this
agreement was to further the interests of the COM
pany, which they, as we'll as their government, are
ever ready to do, in the shortest possible notice
If road here proposed is of so much mo-
ment to the English people, how much more
must it be TO the commerce of the United States :?
Our settlements in California and Oregon are
growing fast IN strength; emigration to both Sec
tons of our territory beyond the Rocky Noun
tains, Is prosperous and steady, and only wants a
.helping hand from government to accelerate the
tide of moving population which annually flows
from Europe and the North, to California and the
vast pralnes of the West. Government should do
something to render these regions, where SO many
are willing to Settle easy Of access, and thereby
promote the general interest the country.
So far, private enterprise has done much 10
effect this object; IN fact nearly all that has been
done, is on individual accounts
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