Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-11-07
Ocean Steam Navigation.

Mr.. Vanderbilt. of New York, has shown great
enterprise in Ocean Navigation. Six ships are
built and equipped to convey the mails from the U.
States to San Francisco. tor which the government
paws nothing until the ships in service then to
paw the sum of $4,000 per annum for that SER
vice for each ship. whilst he should continue to
transport the mail and no longer. not asking one
dollar from the public treasury, except as reasona-
BILE compensation for services when performed
Mr. Vanderbilt has now five steamers running,
and accompli>hes the distance tri-monthy Those
FIVE would at $4,000 each. carry the mails between
New York and San Francisco for Sl50OOO. A sixth
vessel. it is understood, will be launched within
few days; thus the cost embracing SIX steam
ers on shorter route, would be but SlS0.000. Mr.
v returned in November from England, without a
vestige of steamship except the Promethets-half
finished and, in the latter part of December, went
with her to Central America where he examined
the route and confirmed in the idea OF navlgat-
ing the river, and returned here about the lst OF
March and then built, for his company the follow
ing steamers now on the river The Sir Henry Bull
wer. John Nj. Clayton. and Joseph White. Thus
three iron ships, of three hundred tons each. were
sent out in pieces, and competent workmen were
sent from here to erect and work them. They are
now navigating the San Juan river successfully.
Mr. V. went out again Oath July to put the boats
in operation. He made the transit across. returned
in August tuenty fire days from the time OF his de-
parture. On the first of September, he commenced
the Central america, that left Wednesday--a
contract was executed for building her. She is four
hundred and fifty tons burden, seventy-fve horse
power with saloons. and every fixture calculated to
navigate the Lake Nicaragua. 100 feet long, 40 feet
wide with accommodations for 500 passengers with
their luggage. In the further promotion of that
particular enterprise, the Central America has gone
out in low, with lines attached to the beautiful
steamer Daniel WeJster and, barring accidents will
arrive at San Juan within ten days with the Com
modore on board as he not willing to trust her
in other hands to pass the Rapids. Whether he will
be successful in getting her over remains to be de-
termined but if ability and energy accomplish
it, it will he done.
In addition to these vast and successful enter
prises accomplished within the last twelve months
since MIR. vs. return from England last November
he has placed three steam vessels on the Paci
fc-the independence, North america and Pacific
and on the Atlantic ocean, between here and Sar
Juan. to connect with them, there will be the Pro-
metheus, Daniel Webster and Northern Light. aver
aging about 1000 tons, built most particularly fol
speed and passengers. The Northern Light is Of
twenty-three hundred, and will be launched on Sat
urday. The magnitude of the vessel is not always
indicative of the capacity and room for the comfort
able conveyance of passengers. The Collins line has
vessels of 5000 tons, and carry one hundred anC
| fifty passengers, and the Daniel Webster, of l.,
200 tons, will accommodate $50 passengers will
good berths The world has never witnessed the
consummation of such enterprises of the same mag
nitude, of the same character, within SO short pc
Rod of timen