The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-10

soon witness change for the better in the service
Talent, backed by ambition, would then exercise
its legitimate influence, and obtain its legitimate
reward, whilst incompetence and ignorance would
remain in the back ground, where they ought to
be. Il would make the navy more democratic
than il is. and more American. The present naval
system-we mean that portion of it connected with
the promotion Of officers, is hostile to the spirit of
our government and institutions, and the sooner it
is reformed the be tier it will be for the service
We are glad to know that our present able Sec
rotary of the Navy, is impressed with the neces-
sity of reform Ia that deparlmen; of the public
servce, as is witnessed in his report at the opening
Of Congress. We doubt, however, whether Con-
gress will have leisure to legslae on this subject
during the present session; but we do hope that
when the BILL making appropriations for the navy,
shall again come up, II will not be allowed to pass,
unless the system be reformed. If Congress should
not act In the matter before them, we would like to
see the sub eet of reform IN the navy agitated
throughout the country, so that the people may be
we'll informed # the defects In our present naval
system, and a still more determined purpose to
have it am nded, than that which now exists
STEAM PRoP LLERs VERSUS SAILING SHPs.-A
great many sailing vessels, packe! ships and others
are arriving at this port every day, from different
parts of Europe, after very long voyages, varying
from forty to seventy days. Last week there were
due more than seventy vessels and but very few
packet ships were in port. Since then, however,
several have arrived, and all of them report having
experienced a succession of gales from the west
ward, which were the cause of their detention In
spite of those gales and contrary Winds the propel
Ter City of Glasgow made the passage to Phiadel-
phia from Glasgow in twenty days.
If any proof were wanted of the superiority of
steam over sails, in our trade with Europe, the
quick passage of the City of Glasgow, in defiance
of wind, weather, and sea, furnishes us with it. II
is as twenty to fiftyseven in point Of speed-a diff
ference which places steam so much above sails
that the wonder is there are not more propeers on
the route between this country and Europe tn an
there are The mercantile community of England
and the United States are beginning to properly
appreciate steam as motive power, in the trans
portation of emigrants and merchandise. On both
sides of the Atlantic, lines of propelers have been
contracted for; and the probability is, that within
fifteen years there will not be sailing vessel, packet
ship or otherwise, regularly plying between the
principal seapors of the United States and those of
the old world This will not be mostly the result
of enterprise, but of compulsion. Merchants in
both countries will be forced to employ steam
ships, of some kind, instead of sailing vessels in
carrying their merchandise; and those who first
enter into the business will, of course, take the
cIeam OF the trade. Freights will no doubt be
higher Tor few years, until regular competition
is entered into; but they will gradually settle down,
as the number of propellers increases, until they
reach point not much greater than what at pre-
sent rules
1t is to be hoped that American capitalists will
not allow themselves to be outstrpped in this new
and important business The success of the Col
Inns line of steamships. and those of the new Havre
line, gives gratifying proof that we can successfully
compete with any nation of the old world in
building steamships and machinery for ocean navi-
cation.