The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-10-23
Our Philadelphia Correspondence.

InUADELrHtA, Oct. 20, 1919
Trade bctueen Charleston and Phaadeipiia-Hs
Groring impoytonee-S Steamships.
Facilities, it is said, make trade. Twelve months
ago, the trade between this city and Charleston
was confined to few brigs and schooners, and
when 1t proposed TO establish line OF steam
ships between the two ports, men who have the
credit of being far-seeing shook their heads, and
affirmed that it would pay-that the trade, pre-
sent or prospective, did not warrant it. Now for
experience. The propeller Columbus was put on
the route, and the predictions of the knowing ones
appeared to be fully realized atiirst The machine
ry of the Columbus would get out of gear-she
would make long passages, and would put into in-
termedate ports for repairs. After while, things
mended as well as the machinery, and the Column
bus oscilated between Charleston and Philadel-
phia with the regularity and the punctuaity Of
pendulum Her arrival could be foretold to the
hour. Public confidence not only returned to her,
but that confidence has filed her ever since with
freight and passengers. She made money Tor her
owners, and that was enough to secure al oppose
ton. The steamship Osprey was brought round
from Norfolk, and put on the route, aud she, too,
has proved a profitable speculation. Her owners
have now splendid vessel, built at this port, and
which promises TO be one of the hands omesI and
fastest o our coastng steamships. Not to be be-
midland, the owners of the Columbus have pro-
vided Il consort for her, the new propeller c aro-
ma On her experimental trip, her performances iul
y equalled the most saDgulne expectations of her
builders having attainc speed of IL miles an hour
and The engine not worked to its medium capacity.
We shall now have four ste amshIps tue Charles
ton line, all proftaby engaged, aud interfering
In the least with the accustomed trade Of the SAIL
ing vessels. Phlade phia capital must and will be
invested extensively IN steamships and tue time
| Is not TAR distant when we shall have a line of
steamships to Liverpool, to New Orleans, and TO
one If not more points on the South American
coast. Without steamships, Philadelphia never
can succeed as commercial city They are more
vitality necessary to her than To any other city IN
the Union, with the single exception of New Or
leans Our port "a you aware, is over one
hundred miles from the ocean, aud in arriving and
departing, days are lost by the head winds and
tides Of river navigation. IL is true that we have
tow-boats; bat there is very hue dependence to
be placed in them. They are few in number, and
contt mplble IN size and power. Against n stiff
breeze, they could not stretch the htwser of
bark OF 300 tons. While on the Sub eci of eur
commercial marine, il may not b. QUE of place to
state that we have now three regular lines of first
class packet ships in the Liverpool trade, besides
a large number OF transient vessels, with album
dance Of freight for them all and yet il was not
many years ago that the belief was generally
entertained that the trade between Liverpool and
this city could only keep up the one hne (Cope's)
then established.