The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-11-18
American Steamships.
From the New York sun.

From he New York sun.
The general success OF the different lines OF American
steamers already established and being put in operation,
is prestige which should and eventually WILL lead 10
more extended views, and 10 operations upon vastly
wider fields, than calculated upon Little is thought
in private home circles how wide spread has already be-
come the fame OF American steamships. Notwithstanding
the advantages TO which their hrst introduction
exposed. One single fact is sufficiently convincing.
The american steamships carry full loads Of pdsssn
even when the English vessels, running nearly the
same days, comparatively empty Thus far the ex-
PLANTATION OF this difference is not the comparative speed
but the comparative comfort And If superior accommo-
datons, superior attention the part of officers and
crew, stewards aud waters, render voyage Amer
steamship much TO be preferred voyages in
steamers of English construction, how much travel
and freight will American bottoms command when speed
added to comon-when the difference in steam vessels
becomes as great as that which has existed between
American and British sailing vessels for the last hall
fury!
In opening new lines TO Savannah, Havana New Or
leans Chagres, and from Panama TO Oregon as well
those 10 Liverpool, Havre Southampton ami Bremen,
American enterprise has but commenced the work before
it, The necessity OF connecting lines among the different
West India Isands-down the east well as the west
coast OF South America from the Pacific China
and the East ndes by way OF the Sandwich Islands, and
thence TO the east coast OF Africa eventually enccng
the worlds beginning TO be understood Next in order
after the present projected lines established will come
those on the two coasts OF South America The trade
there is already immense, and the most enormous profits
realized by the present badly managed lines of Eng
fish steamers. Fuel is both abundant and cheap Travel
has heretofore been limited more of the want
OF proper facilities than because little desire ocomo
exists among the people The principal freghls are
the precious metals, the most profitable kind OF mechan
disc.
Fifty years will not elapse before American steamships
will have visited every nook and corner of the earlh-a
places IN which numberiess fleets OF merchantmen
have already been and many more yet unknown
10 the hardy mariner. At moderate computation not
less than five thousand American steamships, each capa
Bile of being converted at into war-steamer, will
that me be In active service; and new discoveries
popelhng power may be expected within five and twenty
computation
We think it by means improbable that the cost OF
sustaining steam power WILL short tne be so lar
reduced that only will il be in general for trans
porting passengers and merchandise on oceans, seas
lakes, rivers, and on land but should the traffic be con-
tnued, it will be used in whale fishing The suggestion
will draw smiles from old Wtalers do doubt bu
what is to prevent the steam propeller from visiting
whales snout easily and dexterousy the tiny
whale boat while the venturous whaemen are at the
same time, kept out of danger' The time will shortly
come when sailing vessels will be comparatively un
known and them more than now American vessels viii
do the bulk of the carrying trade for all the nations Of
the world.