The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-27
[conRrsrosDrsor OF THE RrrU.Llc.l

Steamship building IN Ne,o York Clippers for cab
fornia and Caaton--Ihe London. Times this
subject.
New YoRK, DEC. %, 1850.
II is now blowing a hurricane from the west, to
the great chagrin Of those whose ships already
overdue while those who have vessels bound to the
East, and know that they have nothing TO fear
from wind and weather, contemplate the waves
with unrufIled men. Indeed, all the ship owners
of New York, and those interested in the naviga-
ton Of the great highway of nations, have good
cause to rejoice, when they look down our beauti-
full bay, through the Narrows, and out to sea. The
ocean, if il could tell its experience Of the last
twelve months, would furnish but scanty record
of disaster and shipwreck Its report would be
rather of vessels Of more stalwart build and grace
ful form than ever before breasted the Atlantic's
wave Of engines which il would seem an earth
quake could not move but which revolve
smoothly and as noiselessy the earth on it, axis
of visited by sail and paddle wheel which till
then only rufiled by the winds of Heaven or
the native. canoe; of hemispheres brought nearer
together, and of remote sections of our country
drawn into frequent communication. The pro-
gress of American ship building since the disco
very of gold in California is amazing The fret
serious attempt at ocean steam navigation
made in 1917, by the Washington, which arrived
at Southampton from New York in fifteen days,
after dislocating some of her machinery, and find
ing her coal either bad short. The United
States and Hermann followed in lS4S. The former
of these soon after sold to the Prussan Gov
crnment. These three steamers, though none of
them were entirely successful, we're the pioneers Of
American adventure upon the ocean. The South
crner, steamer plying between New York and
Charleston, had already tested machinery Of Ameri.
can httil ali mn Atlantic Nm
merous other steamships we're on the stocks, and
at various stages Of Advancement, when the sudden
increase of travel upon the California route caused
them all TO be diverted from their original des.
tinations and put upon the track Of the III Do.
RADIO emigration. At the time others were
ordered. and old stsgers hauled the Goals,
with view to make all straight for voyage round
the Horn. The Cherokee, neat, trig little steamer,
built for the Savannah trade has been steady and
reliable conveyance between here and Chagres,
while her mate the Tennessee, il equally success
full on the Pacific side The Ohio and Georgia, in
tended for the New Orleans route, the
California mail boats on the Atlantic side. The
same may be said of the Crescent and Empire
City Any quantity OF steamers OF smaller calibrc
Columbi, Republics, Antelopes, together with one
large propeller of British build, the Sarah Sands,
were Withdrawn from their original routes and
sent round Cape Horn No accident of conse-
quence has yet beialcn any one OF these vessels;
and there must be thirty more directly or indi.
rectly concerned in the San Francisco tranporta-
ton trade OF course the diversion Of SO many
steam vessels from the coasting lines has caused
demand for others to al their places, and these
are just beginning to appear ADD make their
maiden trips. The Pacific has already left Tor
New Orleans, the Louisiana for the same place,
taking Key West the way; the Florida Tor
Savannah. and numerous others for domestic
and foreign ports. beautiful steamer called
the Prometheus leaves on Christmas for Iia-
vana and san Juan de Nicaragua; 80 that those
who prefer taking the Tahuantepcc route to the
Golden Gate may do 40, another steamer will
be ready to receive them at Rescjo, the western