The New York herald., 1849-06-14
The West India Mail Steamships,

The West india Mail Steamships.
To THE EprroR HERALp:--
SIRThe universal fairness and lberality which you
have hitherto exhibited in your notices of the West
India mail service, induces to ask your indulgence
while offer very brief reply remarks in your
columns Of yesterday, which me to be founded
upon misapprehenson Of the facts as they exist in
connection with the line in question
comparison Is instituted, in the article to which
refer, between the fine line of steamers built by Mr.
Aspinwal. Tor the Pacific service and the steamers
contracted for at the time beween this city Ha-
vana. New Orleans and Chagres for which as you
state the contractors recent of the sum
of $25, coo per month aud which have not vet been
put in operation Whence the delay of the commence
men of the latter branch of the service is the question
which in the absence Of and explanation, you ask and
which very naturally arises. Fortunately an explana-
ton is by means difficult. MIR. Aspinwall contracted
burthen. and completed them in fair time The con-
tractor for the West India engaged to construct
steamers of the burthes Of l500 tons but the in
stance OF the government subsequently agreed to In
the size Of his vessels almost double that ca
pacy 1t having been decided that it would
interest OF the service that adapted
purposes in the Atlantic should be of the very largest
class In accordance with that understanding. two
steamers one OF 2SOo and the other 1900 tons have
been constructed and are now nearly ready for sea
mhkihg tonnage Of 100 to setoG against the 3 900
tons Of Mr Aspnwall If this difference in the amount
OF labor and expense is not sufficient account for the
difference in time of completion, which will not exceed
six months the well known difficulty Of tim
Der of the requisite quality and which ex
listed at the commencement Of this great
would seem to afford satisfactory solution OF the
delay
The article referred to goes to characterize this
mail line as being still In embryo and states that
benefits thus far are unknown to those who
in receipt Of the monthly bonus. Now, whether line
which presents, almost entirely completed two of the
largest and finest steamers ever launched upon the
hus and engines Of which have been expended the
mechanical taeAt In the country. and an amount Of
money exceeding half million OF dollars, can be on
sidered merely In embryo leave to the decision Of
who has the curiosity to pay visit to the vessels
In question Equally erroneous is the suggestion that
the benefits conferred by this line unknown except
to the recipients OF the monthly bonus of S2 The
contractors of the line in question (athough for rea
sons assigned they have not yet put in commission
their permanent force). performed by vessels tenn
porarlly accepted by government their
service having delivered mail monthly at every port
their route and still continuing do So with
out any monthly bonus or mail pay whatever True 1t
Is that Congress In its discretion advanced to the
&c line, and Nr olin Is Liverpool line, lyears mail
pay, to aid in the completion Of the vessels; but this
done for the advancement OF what considered
great public interest not for any services rem
dered whatever Is it not unfair, then in the last
gree t: select the West India line which has performed
seven tours Of mail duty object anmad version
to accuse 1t Of receiving pay
while Mr. Aspnwalls Pacific line, which has delivered
and Mr.. Colinss liverpool line, which hanever pre-
tended to perform duty whatever though in receipt
Of much larger advance, escapes unscathed from all
censure? Really sir though from using you Of
any design to misrepresent must be permitted to say
that those who have undertaken to inform you upon
this sdpect have abused your confidence by suppress
Ing rome facts and twisting others to suit their own
ends instead Of giving you fair statement the case
Your understanding OF the contract, originally
made with the government, for the West India line Is
correct so far the service be performed and the
variation Of the terms In regard to the size and
pense Of the steamers, made by government itself
have already stated and in to the intimaton
held out that would be desirable to know when the
service would be perforneda according to. contract
will merely state that the Ohio will go sea in July
and the Georgia in September at the latest when IA IL
he prvic NJ
BE- performed, according to contract As to the ex-
tenson u time by government it is neither the prac-
tcenor would IT Def he interest of
such Of its citizens fulfil their contracts
cording to the best of their ability liberal exten-
Bremen line and on the Liverpool line although they
had especial claim TO it, Why any objection should
be raised to an equal extension in Of the West
ndia iine' winch from its extra undertaking at tho
instance OF government has fair claim to it. con-
ie.s am unable! unable upon any principle of justice
AS to the necessity Of having, In our intercourse
with San facilities this side of the sthmus
equal to those enjoyed the other side we shall not
differ But have not those facilities existed hitherto
Have not even greater facilities existed through the
steamers employed by this ysry line this side? But
one mail has been delivered at Panama by the Pacific
line seven have been delivered by the West India
line at Chagres. If the mail from San Francisco was
did not arrive till after the sailing Of the Falcon hov
many mails from the Atlantic coast laid over because
the facinc line had not arrived at their port Is
right says the article, that government should as
sist and foster foreign lines Of steamers to en-
aDle tnem TO compete with lines fostered ~ other
governments as is the Of gthe Cupard line -
That is the very principle upon which the con-
tractor TOR the West India line (who by the wav WA,
the original protector Of this whole system of ocean
steam service) asked the assistance Of government
But, continues the article referred to- is unjust
in the extreme and vile abuse OF authority aid one
line OF steamers to against another in the coating
trade" Is tho West INDIA line merely line of coast.
ers! is Havana foreign port! Is Chagres foreign
port or not Does not Great Britain foster line Of
steamers to the West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico!
Really, should be glad to be informed why an Amerf-
can steam marne to compete with the British lines in
that qunrter should not receive the degree Of
public patronage which Is extended to tine trans-
atlantic iines In most important point of view lit
is vastly more essential that should have heet OF
steamers adapted to war purposes our southern
coast and ON the Gulf Of Mexico than any where else:
and th was so fully impressed upon the minds of our
rulers and members OF Congress. by the alarm which
was felt at tie presence of the large steam force main
tanned in the West Indies and the Gulf by Great Bri-
tain pending eur last anticipated dic uty with that
power, that II decided the question in favor of the
Ocean Steam service in spite Of every objection that
could be raised against IL. Now Is this great and
established branch OF public policy to be abandoned
because the steam squadron which, in time of war is
to be the most efficient Of for our southern
seaboard will compete in time of peace with the mer-
chant steamers employed in the coastng trade! The
private lines between New York and New Orleans
Charleston Savannah. &c. doing we'll it IL stated
and We do not doubt they will continue to do we'll for
their owners; for there Is business enough for all
OHIO.