The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-29
Vol. iii.


this enterprise. therefore submit that this amend
ment is not subject to the technical objection made
by the Senator from Arkansas, (Mr. BoRLAsp.)
We are not obliged to conine action to the
amount Of the estimate. The whole subject Ia be-
fore US.
These additional trips were to be performed in
the winter, with but few passengers, at mn extra
ordinary expense; therefore mere pro rata al
lowance would be no fair compensation. Collins
Co have submitted statement showing the
great losses which they have sustained in running
their ships under the present contract that state
ment has been verified by affidavit; and no Sena.
tor who is acquainted with the character and high
honor OF the persons connected with the Collins
line would hardly require such verification Of
their statements. At all events, the committee
were entirely satisfed that these losses have been
sustained; and ! think can satisfy the Senate
that unless the company receives this additional
| compensation from the Government for carrying
| on the enterprise ii must fail
| will now state to the Senate what will be the
additional compensation proposed by the amend
ment Under the original contract, they were to
| perform twenty trips year, and receive for them
| $3S50OO, or Sl9,25O per trip The six additional
| trips per year, under pro rata allowance, would
be $ Is, ,50O-making for the years service the
sum Of 5,O0O, 500 under the present contract The
amendment proposes to give them at the rate of
| $4,000 per trip for twenly-s six trips-making
| 1856, 900 year. This increases the compensa-
ton on the fifty two trips S357 500, $l3,75O on
each trip but from this increase should be deduct
ed the additional coats OF running winter trips. In
| the statement of Losses TO which have referred,
there is given the coat of their ships, the actual
average cost Of every voyage, and the amount of
capital invested. The cash cost of the steamers
! ready for 10 stated at So, ,94S 000-a little less
than 3 900 000 The actual avera ge cost OF each
voyage to England and back is stated at $ 2l5 Ga;
the average receipts for each voyage at $4S,-
ESQ S5-making deficiency OF 3 $l6,92S 10 on each
voyage; which, for twenty trips, would amount to
$ssS,575 80, and on twenty elk trips $44O, l4S.
| The Senate will perceive by this statement that
the snount proposed by the amendment falls few
thousand dollars short Of the loss which may be
sustained upon the twenty six trips to be run un-
| der the new arrange ment.
| now wish to call the attention of the Senate to
| what consider to have been the causes of these
great losses sustained by the company. 1t has
bsen asserted that they owing to extravagaBce;
| that the ships arc larger and more splendid and
| costly than the company were bound to build by
the contract 1t is true that these ships are OF a
superior character in style, size, and power to
| those contempla ted by the contract; but ought we
| TO complain OF thaR The company may, In their
laudable ambition to surpass their foreign rival,
have expended more money than was required by
their contract; but surely we ought not TO take ad
vantage Of this. and object to their doing more for
the of this great enterprise than they were
| bound by law to do But, cir, the most of these
losses from other causcs-from circumstances
| over which they had no control One great cause
| of extra expenditure on the part of the company
| was owing to the fact that the enterprise WAS an
| entirely one in this country-so new that when
| they commenced building their first ship il was
| found that the machinery and tools necessary Tor
1
| TO be found in the country. These implements OF
| construction had TO be either procured from Eng
| land made here at great expense; and large
| sums of money were necessarily expended in cx-
| periments upon this preliminary machinery re-
| Quired in the construc OF tho chips.
But that's nothe principal OF their losses ny
4 the contract Collins Co. not bound to build
ships of the size and power OF those they have CT
structed. They might have merely followed in the
wake Of the Cunard line. taken their ships as mo-
des, and initiate them in size and model, and been
contented with their speed But they felt, as every
American citizen FELT, that this was great under
| taking-that 1t was n national contest-and, IN
competing with Great Britain upon this subject OF
| ocean mail steamers, they dcsired TO produce 10
the country and 10 the world steamers little su-
perior TO tbose built by Great Britain, and with
which che then commanded the trade of the world.
In accomplishing that they have made great sac RI
hecs, but they have by 80 doing put sfioat ships
far superior 10 those Of the Cunard line in power
| and speed. For this they have expended large
sums of money, and sustained great losses upon
their capital
Another cause why they have lost money is, that
the moment their ships were put afoat they met
with vigorous and active competition in Eng.
land, backed by the influence Of tho English gov
eminent. IL was not mere struggle between Mr
Collins and Mr. Cunard. IL IVES not a mere slrug-
! gle between the enterprise Of an American citizen
and a subject Of Queen Victoria, standing upon
their individual capital, talent, and enterprise.
/ No, sir; II was contest with the English govern
ment. The moment the Coilins line was estab-
| lishcd, IL became national concern with the poo
pie and government of England 10 put down the
] Collins line by extending encouragement to the
/ Cunard line. At the same time, some OF the fret
trips made by our steamers were unfortunate, and
| imme datcly the cry wac raised IN Europe, and &c
pccially In Great Britain, that they were not sale;
conse equcntly passengers refused 10 go IN them,
aud they made many trips IN which they sustained
| great losscs on account of this alarm.
| It may be true, stated by the Senator from
Virginia. (Mr. HUSTgR.) that these gentlemen,
] under such circumstances, expended more money
! than they ought TO have expended. But yet we all
know the feeling which exists in the mind If every
| American for Brother Jonathan TO beat John Bull
| in any enterprise Of this character. Urged on by
| that national feeling, and, perhsps, carried to an
| eptrnvagnnt extent, these gentlemen may have cx
/ po nded more money than was necessary TO fulhl
their contract; but surely they are not 10 be sacr
| feed on that account.
| In accounting for the losses sustained by the
Collins line, II Is necessary also TO compare the
ships Of his line with those Of the Cunard line by
this comparison it will appear that this Govern.
ment is enjoying the service Of ships FAR superior
in size, tonnage power, md speed 20 thoso Of the
Cunerd line and at lcss compensation upon their
relative costs and power Of service. have pre-
pared comparative statement OF the two lines,
which ! here submit TO the Senate:
COLLINS STEAMSHIPS
Names. Tonnage Horse Capable Of L'gib