The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-27

coast. The caribbean will soon be ready for ser
vice in the after which she is named. As for
the Collins steamers, they have already earned IA
world wide regulations; and John Growl has him
self admitted that they can't be beat. The Frank
lin has commenced, under favorable auspices, her
trips to Hayre and Cowes, and the line will be
pleted in the spring, by the addition Of the Hum
boldt The steamers belonging TO the port
OF New York alone though scattered To the four
winds, and perhaps destined, many Of them, never
10 return, cannot number far from fifty. Four
years ago there was not one and, ifthere had BEEN
would have gone on board OF her. With
the exception OF the steamers belonging To the
Government. there not half dozen owned by
the rest of the United States. Boston has never
built one, and probably never will; they have the
reputation of the Cunarders too much at heart
Philadelphia has just bought slow going propeller
built at Glasgow, and thinks of having another
soon laid down there. The hulk of the Helena So-
man could probably be purchased cheap, as soon
as she floats Ashore The fate of this vessel will
probably put a finishing stroke TO the employment
of second hand third rate German steam trump
cry.
But it is not alone in steamship building that the
Americans have been distinguishing themselves OF
late. There is now lying in the East river clipper
of two thousand tons, built at Portsmouth,, New
for voyage round the world. She sails in Janu-
airy. with cargo suited to the San Francisco mar
ket; having arrived there, she unoads, and replen-
ishes herself with goods likely to meet ready sale
at Canton; having crossed the Pacific she takes
in stock of Chinese merchandise, and sells il at
London; at London she loads for the fourth time
with goods for the American market, and comes
home with her first cost paid for out of her first
trip. This she is TO do in eitven months. The cap
tain has his directions that effect and the feat,
extraordinary it may appear will probably be
accomplished Another vessel of nearly the same
make and tonnage, the Eclipse, will follow in the
wake OF the Sea Serpent, month or two later.
While this subject, the following remarks,
from late number Of the London Times, are too
apt 10 be omitted:
Every thing conspircs to render speed
Indispensable 10 success on sea as on land By the
aid Of steam, have Intelligence within two
months from every considerable port in the world,
excepting only our own Australian colonies. In
the third week OF October had California news
papers OF September /. Notwithstanding the nm
cost Of postal communication ,oM the Hest
Indies and Central 'Anierica, and the Pacific, the
americans able to anticipate them far that The
neUs brought by the West India packets is generally
some days out Of date BY the electric telegraph
intelligence ID conveyed almost instan taneously
between Boston and New Orleans, beating time
by half an hour. The completion o! the continental
railroads will soon shorten the journey between
London and Alexandria; and there is at length
some hope that the journey between Bombay and
the two other prcsidencies will be measured by
hours. But the quicker the conveyance OF intelii.
gence and OF travellers, the quicker, too, must be
the conveyance OF goods. At all events the more
certain Is the swlfter conveyance to take away all
profit from the slower just at this time, when
Atlantic steamers multiplying every year, rail
roads increasing by thousand miles per annum,
in the New and the Old World, and the electric
telegraph seem To quicken the pace and the
nuls nj he 10 of AL
drives the competition up TO fever heat, and for
Uie time threatens TO put the United States at The
head Of the unioersai competition. There Is no
doubt that II will draw into this new and al
mira culous opening much of that enter
prise which has lately been rewarded with Won
deriul results nearer home. We have several times
had to direct attention TO the resh and fast lines Of
steamers on the American rivers and lakes 10 vast
additional lengths OF canal and the endless ramit-
cations Of the railway system; az also to the new
manufactures introduced wherever an opening Of
fcreJ. The rapid increase of population in the
States, augmented by an annual Immigration of
near three hundred thousand from these isles, is
fact that forces itself the notice and the interest
of the most unobseryant and uncurious. All these
promise TO deveope the resources of the States to
such an extent TO compel us 10 competition
difficult as IL as unavoidable. We must run
,oih our gigantic and unshdckled riUai. Wemust
set our long practised skill, steady industry,
and our dogged determination against his youth,
ingenuity, and ardor. IL ID the father who runs
a with his con A fell necessity constrains
us, and we must not be beat Let our ship build
ers and their employers take warning In time.
There will always be abundant supply of vessels
good enough and fast enough for short voyages.
The coal trade take of itself for II will
ever be a refuge for the destitute. But want
fast vessels for the long voyages, which otherwise
will fall into American hands. II is fortunate that
the Navigation laws have been repealed in time
TO destroy these false and unreasonable expecta-
tions which might have lulled the ardor of British
competition. We now all start together with a
fair field and no favor. The American captain can
call at London, and the British captain can pursue
his voyage 10 New York. Who can complain?
Not we. We trust that our countrymen viii not
be beaten; but. if they should be, we shall know
that they deserve it."