The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-02

States on Wednesday morning. in the very shortpas-
sage Of thirteen days and six hours, was hailed as
an suspicious event, and created feelings OF the
utmost satisfaction among our people generally.
AS the United States is the first that has come
in direct collision, and the only American vessel
ever admitted by the English people as rival OF
their ships, the result of her homeward trip was
the subject Of much interest in Liverpool and Lon
don, and large sums of money are pending to be
settled on the termination of the passage Of the
new British ship Niagara, now due at Boston
Nopains or expense, we learn from the papers,were
being spared to give the Niagara every facilityposs
ble and although the United States sailed three days
previous, they predicted the arrival of the Niagara
at Boston at least one day before her. How far
their prophetic assertions have been verified, is
already seen. The United States performed excel
lently well, even equal to the expectations of her
most ardent friends; and, notwithstanding certain
acts of meanness on the part of the Royal Mail
Company at Liverpool, to which we shall allude,
both her freight and passenger lists are good as
could be expected.
The subject OF ocean steam navigation, from its
Importance to the great commercial interests of
this country, and its effects upon the social and
political aspect of the world, offers sufficient
excuse for the frequent illusions we have made to
it. But at time like the present, when anything
pertaining to the subject attracts much attention,
and when, until within short time, so much NOR
tifcation has been experienced by the i'll success
of our first attempt in building ocean steamers,
few remarks upon the causes and the results will
not be out place.
The amount of capital invested IN sea steamers
in New York, at the present day, cannot fall far
short Of eight millions of dollars; which fact apart
from the anxiety for the security of the money, and
the critical position of our character scientific
people, must give the subject of ocean steam navi-
cation preponderence over all others of COM
mercial nature; and as it works its way to the in
terests of every class Of society, its potency and
power m list be maintained
| There are many persons here, and on the other
side of the Atlantic who ready, all times, to
make comparisons where the result is most favor
able to their prejudlces, and never has this feeling
been evinced to greater degree than when applied
to the steamers Washington and Hermann 1t is
true, these vessels have not been as fortunate
the Cunard steamers but we think it is suscepti-
BILE of proof that in proportion the experience we
have had, compared to that of Great Britain, we
have surpassed them to an infinite degree.
effort to surpass, at leap that which occupied all
the science and skill of England years toaccompish.
Our river steamers are universally admitted the
fastest and best in the world; but they have only
been brought to that degree of perfection by long
experience and observation ; and when we shall
have had less than half that experience in ocean
steamers, they will stand in the position our sail
ing packets have occupied for more than quarter
Of a century.
Our experience has, in truth, been nothing in the
business of ocean steamships building until within
the last eighteen months. Previous to that time,
and for as long period as twenty years or more,
the British people, account of their geographical
position and for the purpose of availing themselves
of that great power in the propulsion of vessels,
found Unnecessary to construct the outset vessels
of this description,to keep open communication
with France and with distant parts of their own en-
pire. Vessels intended for such, should necessarily
be constructed in as strong manner as possible
and made capable of weathering the storm which
SO frequently visit the coasts of the old world They
were in the habit of doing this for long series
of years before the great problem of navigating the
Atlantic, from distant country to the other, was
solved. The moment the practical men of that
day decided upon the feasibility of doing this
there was no delay necessary; there was no ne
nessty of constructing vessels specially designed
for such service, because the power to withstand
the elements and the force of the sea in the chan
mel and on the coast, was demanded of vessels
already built; and were therefore, considered quail
fed to cross the Atlantic with degree of safety.
The Sirius was accordingly despatched; and
this vessel, which was one Of the Dublin and Ii
verpool packets, and considered the finest and
Aeetest then in the country, reached the port of
New York after passage Of eighteen days. The
experiment, as far the crossing of the Atlantic
was concerned, to all intents succeeded, and the
Sirius was followed by other vessels with more or
less success.
We all remember the passages made by the Lii.
verpool, the British Queen and the President,
which, if compared to the first attempt of the Ame-
rican steamers, would place the latter, according
to the rate of progress in steame, some ten years
their superiors The Liverpool, British Queen,
and others of that class, were followed by line,
in which the government of Great Britain took
much interest, and extended every encourage.
ment possible, to render it, in all respects,
perfect. This line Is now known as the Gu
nard Royal Mail Steamers. We have no de-
sire to detract in any degree, from the merit of
these vessels. They are all we'll constructed well
appointed, and have accomplished all if nor more
than was expected of them. What we mean,
however, to uphold is, that in proportion to the
experience which we have had that, under the
circumstances, we have accomplished more in the
same field of enterprise than neighbors have;
and instead of comparisons to our dscredt being
drawn the reverse should be the case
In the space of two years we have constructed
and put in running condition six thorough ocean
steamers Two of these, from the very start,
have given such proofs of their speed and seawor-
thiness, as no steamer, English or any other can
adduce The othcrs-wc mean the Washington
and the Hermann-athou.h with slight defects in
the machinery, have not been behind the first of
the Cunarders, as the log Of the Hermann on her