The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-02-05
For the Union.

having, IN my last, shown The commercial advantages
accruing 10 the country from the Collins line of mai
steamers, well the pecuniary benefits which mus
eventually accrue to the post office revenue itself soon
as these steamers shall be made alternate with the
British line, would respectfully submit in a con-
densed form, statistics Of the two lines which will
enable those who called upon 10 pronounce judgment
upon them TO form correct estimate of their actual con
dition and usefulness.
During years establishment OF the Gu
nard line Of steamers the British received
government was only ay5soooo OF
The clearrs derived by the British government
from those steamers therefore 1896 800 OF
considerably more than million of dollar. per
annum
During the first four months OF the year 1851, when
the Collins line taking alternate trips with the Gu.
nard line, our government received all but seventeen
hundred dollars in hostages OF what paid the line for
carrying the mails But the British line commenced
making weekly trips, and, the Collins line no longer
alternating with the British, the American hostages fell
off, as might have been expected The British line was
considered the regular line, at least by the British Gene
raj Post Office, and the American steamers treated
as transient vessels Il is for this that Post
Office Department has given notice TO the British
that we require new postal arrangement with Eng
land which shall reciprocity, provided our
steamers, by alternating nth the British, able oper-
form half the service. II is estimated that under such
an arrangement the revenue from American hostages
would gradually increase to million Of dollars and up
wards-not only reimbursing the government for any
compensation paid TO the Collins line, but leaving con-
siderable surplus the treasury So much for the gov
ernmental advantages to be derived from the Collins line
In commercial point OF view, the operation of the
Collins line freghts and passages is still more
striking When the Cunard line OF steamers fret began
run, they charged high flo and era sterling per
ton As the Collins line started, these freighis
came down to f7 l0s. and now reights from England
to the United States reduced 10 e. and from the
United States TO England TO anything that may be OBJ
taned-from pence barrel OF flour TO shillings and
pence a barrel Considering that freights are the
greatest obstacle TO the free interchange OF commod-
tiles, ! would respectfully submit whether the Col.
Inns line OF steamers from New York to Liverpool
has not simulated trade in general, and by shortening
the passages benefited especially the trade in provisions
and breadstus Apples, lard, cheese, beef, &c. are now
carried out to Gnssed At mere nominal freight
49, Atlantic States which are benefited by regular
American steam communication win England. Inc
IVES, and the South equally benehed by H. western
,oi.;ons have been carried in the Collins line from
New York Liverpool for less ,han ,ney couo DC sem
ao,yn from Albany TO the city OF New YORK
a., while The Collins line has advanced trade, lowered
,o;oh,s ouickened passages, and nearly paid The go
nno,i in hostages, its own affairs, IRON insumce''
conversation and employment, have not prospereo' Y
ell anpear from the following statement made undr
oath by the bookkeeper OF the company
The cash cost Of the Consline Of steamers ready Tor
| WINS.
xy,,,e ,he nresent condition OF the company 10 as ioi-
1 viz; ...,..sl.a fsi IN oah, III
| there was paid Si,VssssoVV H.
| he government loan was,.,,., 'o''''' III
/ The have borrowed 100 ooo IL
i and issued bonds for 'vVJooo III.
| Their floating debt Is now, erciu I, ooo ooo m,
| sive OF interest," y...,..,..'' ivOVooo IA Dob
| - y
The coppany, therefore have sunk s'
And no dividends been paid TO stockhodefs -
The actual average cost each voyage !" sesd
The actual receipt Of each yoyags has been.'',.''
II I6tsI
deficiency each ''''''''''' xpJOl
or Tor twenty ....'..'''''''-'''''' I'll
The shortest passage eastward was nine days. np'
hours forty Ave minutes. I'll,
The shortest passage westward was nine days. 'hp'
hours, forty five minutes. In
The estimated expense OF keeping four war s'el' =
a. The capacity OF the Collins line in commission