The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1851-01-13
Government Vesseis.


~ I. 49, 4 III J.
!, Isehihe rosl mas some sesY Ht''reS'-
ing and sensible remarks on the propriety OF
Government building vessels 10 compete
with The vessels of ~ our, s,,h;ec,s :, carry.
-, ~ - 'ess0'' :, t'9 7" s"Serss !.
,i,s pdssei'ssets ana ireisnt ~ Inc irlae irons
New York, via Havana TO Chagres. Wecan-
not resist the temptation to copy, He sayss
The accident which befel the s,oa,,sh;,s
Ohio IN her late ss oassase from Hayans ,'aap
serve to prove this. ii nothing more. The
patronage of the government in tie business
Of shin building. does not tend 20 make bet-.
ter machinery nor safer hulls than when Il Is
| left to the care and responsibility of nriyate
persons. Ii seems that the Ohio had osse Yof'
| her engines disabled by the blowing ant n
the head Of the cylinder, on leaving lie noyt
|of Haysna. Froman interestinz account L of
1.-The voyage, by Brantz Never. whose intelIi-
tgence and respectability are well known n
appears that in the midst Of gale. the otber
engine "stopped upon its eeatrep and H.
came useless.
| The vessel then commenced rolling in the
trough of the sea like dog, and the same ac-
count says, creaked and strained in such a
manner, that the passengers thought she
would go to pieces. That she was seriously
racked and sustained great iniurv while in.
this situation. is attested by he many leaks
she sprang. and the rapidity with which the
water gained upon her. The Ohio was built.
| in great part. by government money. undey
the superintendence of government officers,
and her cost is said to have been fully in pro-,
portion to her enormous size. She has been
running three months over one year.
The Crescent CITY has been running three
years, almost constantly, and has encounter
ed all sorts of weather. She has met with
one accident to her machinery. which inter-
lrupted her voyage, but does not seem to have
placed the vessel or the lives of those on.
hoard of her in neril The Sontherney
Northerner Enonire Citv Tennessee Cheyo',
kee. and many others b,;lt and en,nIoved h,,
individuals without anv connect!o,,' nth
government have bee, r,,nn;ng s,,,,,yne. and
winter. during fonr wears mast without acc;-
dent or detention worth mentioning
This is fact which at least warrants tho
susnicion that in addition 10 the other had
effects Of the government entering INTO corn,
pet;tion with nr;vate c;t;zens in shin ,bn;ld.
tng it diminishes the security ne liz so fay
as It is hazarded by ocean steam navipat;op.
The behaviour of the Ohio, often throughout
the voyage indicated that there is a radical
defect in her construction. Due attention
has not been given to apportion strength and
!, weight Of material to size.
t. hoe boon for ,o,,o ro.rc .,. .l..
the Government @ monnnoiv Of staap, % ,ov;aa ,as
e t;on m nm the route hatIresn New yorL spd
T Neyv C1rleans bas a,n;h;la,ad ,,r;r..a co,,,,,-
tition. How far it has affected the business
u of sailing vessels, | have not heard. The
only reason that it has not driven off the
i private vessels on the direct route from New
u York to Chagres, has been, that the arrange
/ ments for connecting at Havana were so crude
and insufficient. In due time, if the govern
ment continues its efforts, the other vessels
will be compelled to discontinue their trips.
Long experience has shown that competition
in business between governments and their
citizens, ends in the speedy ruin Of one or the
: other party.
!, . Of course the government cannot know
. for many years, whether it is making or losing
money in any particular enterprise. 1t is
not for the interest Of its agents to inform
their principal of losses which fall upon
the general treasury, and if there should hap
. pen to be temporary gains, those they absorb.
+ Every scheme goes on, until the bankruptcy
OF the government stops the whole. twill
not be forgotten that Law and his associates
Ne were to receive $3.50, ,OOO year for semi
,e monthly service performed IN five ships
% They employ four, but suppose run then
n frequently enough to secure the full compen
a sation.
Il While the British government is inves.in,
: millions of pounds in steam lines betweeil
:, England and their colonies, and thus becom
i. ing part owner of vast fleets of merchant
!. men, under the denomination Of mail ant
Is Sen.ndsnt ss of he's own subjects @