The daily union., 1852-03-14
For the UAon
The Collins Steamers

The excessive morbid sympathy which seems TO have
found Judgement in the breasts OF many oil The friends
OF the Collins line of Confined principally
certain class OF persons in New York city. and favored
by certain New York pressesa is OF so remarkable a
character that it merits inquiry to the legitimate
causes If any really exist, for all this expendi
ture OF good feeling upon Collins Co. and their
In order that this inquiry may be thorough. il will
be necessary 10 present to the public the rise, progress
and present condition OF this line Of steamers.
Mr. Cunard, enterprsng subject Of Great Britain,
made certain proposals TO his government for carrying
their nails in steamers OF certain class, to different parts
OF the world One OF these conditions (and probably the
most important to the British government was that
tain OF these should be built in such manner
as to be "easly converted" into steamers, and in
case of war; when called for TO be turned over on ex-
pressed terms to the government for purposes Mr..
Cunards proposal accepted by the English govern
ment, and since the contract entered into the
mails have been carried in these steamers, under its
provisions, for about twelve years without serious
plant from either party to the contract Mr. Cunard
was permitted 10 reap The full benefit of the commercial
advantages OF this undertaking for several years without
attempt at competition this side OF the Atlantic.
AT length. however, itbecame apparent to some OF eur
enerprising citizens that Mr. Canard was enjoying the
exclusive monopoly of very lucrative carrying trade
between England and the United States. com
pany was accordingly formed in the city of New
with Mr. Cunard for the benefits of this advantageous
trade The American company made proposals to the
Congress OF the United States, similar 10 those made
by Mr. Cunard TO his government, TO carry The Uni
led States mails from this country 10 England The
terms OF the proposers accepted by government,
and law Of Congress, approved March 3. Is47, was
passed in relation to the subject. These steamers were
to be built in such manner 10 be "easly converted
into war steamers OF the first class the United States
hahn cd tot
Of ,hem on certain conditions. for its exclusive II
was also provided by this law that these should
be built under the supeTniendence OF naval construc
tor in the employ OF the Navy Department" AT this
time the United States had 10 its employ naval
strucors the experience of each perhaps equal that Of
any in the United States. II is not possible TO say with
certainty what the meaning of Congress by the
words " to be constructed under the supernendence and
direction of a naval constructor in the employ OF the
Navy Department." but from the context, by the words
Immediately following those just quoted-namely "and
TO be so constructed render them convertible, at t
least posbe eIpsnse. into steamers OF the first cass
il is fair to infer that the government naval constructors
whose experience had been almost exclusively confined to
the building OF vessels OF war, would have been employed
in their supernendence and construction II is however
known that the United States naval constructors then in
the service not employed in their supernendence
and construction, but that specially appointed by
Navy Department for this service and hence posi-
bly, the reason why the most important consideration (a
least TO the United States governmenO to be con-
sucied render them convertible the least possible
expense, into Of the FIRST Glass; has been
entirely overlooked in their construction Il is suscep
BILE OF proof that neither Of the Collins could be
converted into hrst-cass steamer for less sum
than one hundred thousand dollars and is TO be hoped
that the sympathzers Of this line, and those who advo
cate the line being kept running at all hazards and at any
expense, so long both principally fall upon the United
States aad not the owners will bear in mind wha, is
here said as TO the expense, when The time comes if il
ever shall arrive, TO convert them into war steamers Of the
first class
When the Collins steamers were being built; the own.
es had the benefit OF Mr. Cunards experience, and the
successful result Of his enterprise was before them The
steamers built by the latter gentleman a Of which
be easiy converted and at the least possible expense
into war steamers) answered fully the purposes Of both