The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-08

utve Departments of the Government and the pre-
sidents of the various companies engaged IN car
rying the ocean mail by steam, and VIII now pro-
coed lay before the Senate the results OF their
careful inquiries. II may not be improper here
again to note, by way of illustration, the benefits
| ~ be derived from ocean steam mail transporta-
| ton, when in successful operation. manifested
in the OF the British Cunard line, under tho
| auspices of the British government During me
first siE years of its existence, the ttne abOre named
receirsd from the government no less than 81 550,-
600, iphils The gouernent recsiusd from the company,
in the form Of postages, the enormous sum Of 81
sac 500, or $5,2S6. 500 net revenue.
The line OF ocean mail steamers, usually called
the Collins line, has been in operation since the
month Of April 1850, or about two years. the ships
had made, previously to January last, forty-two
trips from New York to Liverpool, and forty from
Liverpool to New York. The contract for the
Transportation of the United States mail between
| the places above. named was made on the Let day
Of November, lS47. the law which authorizes 1t
having been passed on the Sd OF March preceding
The line conEists Of the following vessels, viz:
The Atlantic, 2 S45 Sc 95ths tons burden, COM
meuced April, 1850.
The Pacific, 2,7g1 10 s5ths tons burden, COM
menced May, 1850. .'.
The Arctic, 1850 10 95ths tons burden, COM
menced October, 1850.
The Baltic, 2,723 9 95ths tons burden, COM
menced November, 1850. ..-
These ships cost, when ready for sea, in cash,
So 9A4 ,i4a rs, or an average of s736Oa5 81 each
New York and Liverpool, at an average expense of
X65 ,2l2 81 per voyage; making, in all. the sum
Of $2,673s4l "a, which, when added to the cost Of
the shps-say $2.944,l42 76-makes the entire
! amount Of money expended SIS 6l7,9S4,
On the other hand, the average receipts Of the
company per voyage have been, as stated, s 4S,-
2S6 SIS, or in all l,979, 76O So; amount advanced
$20S.OOO, and amount paid for two years. mail
service, $770, 900; making the total receipts from
all sources So, 1857, 760 So.
If the amount of receipts, above, be deducted
from the amount OF exPenditures-say, $5.6l7,-
9S4-the balance against the concern will be 3d.
GOO 1913 Is; and IL the original capital subscribed
be deducted to wit, Sl,l32,OOO, there will re-
main outstanding deficiency of Is .52S,22 10,
to be met by the present value OF their ships.
In the meanwhile the company has paid to the
Government two annual instruments upon the
1885, 800 advanced, which at ten per cent. annually
upon the sum leaned, amount to ST. 900, reduc-
ing the balance on II, debt to the Government to
s 30S 900, which ia in the course of being paid at
the rate above named, and will have been cancelled
entirely in eight years from this ,ime-the ships
being held security until the whole debt shall
have been paid.
The whole amount earned by this line in letter
postage up to the let Of March last has been
S373337 so, which sum 10 ia ken IS the fair basis
Of calculation, as the threc.twenty tourths due to-
the British government has been met by as large
larger sum due from that government for the
five twenty fourths payable to the Government Of
the United States upon the earnings OF the Cunard
line, under the postal treaty between the two
countries. Taking, then, the gross amount OF re-
ceipts from letter postage, say 1878. 1877 80, and
adding to it $4,000. for postage for the ssars De-
partment, $9015 S. for closed mails for the con-
iinent, carried by this line, and S46S5S 81 poet
age for newspapers. the aggregate earnings for
the Government by this line will have been
$5l3546 80.
The Government has paid to the line, for mail
service, in the two years, S770 900, and has
ceived from the line $5l3 54G 80. II the receipts
be deducted from the outlay, the balance against
the Government is $256,453 20 for the whole time,
or IS l2S ,226 ~ per
Thus It appears that, from a fair statement of
the account current between the line md the Gov
eminent, the latter is out Of pocket at the end of
the first years of the undertaking, and under
circumstances the most disadvantageous to the
line, S256,453 20, or, in other words, has paid
l2S2G6 50 per annum for carrying the ocean
mail by steam oTer about six thousand miles OF the
create commercial thoroughare in the world, for
which, yet, it has received nothing in return.
But your committee would ask what has the coun-
try received in return for this S256, 463 20? They
will furnish the answer. The country has received
through the propreors of this line, in the form OF
freghts and passage money, no less amount
than 1878, 76O S. in cash; and, if the reduction
in the prices of freight formerly paid to the British
line be taken into account, nearly as much more,
by saving the difference in freights and passage
money, TO say nothing of the general advantages
derived by all of our producing interests from the
existence of this American line, which, your
committee believe, are incalculabe. The money
account will then stand as follows: Government
debtor to $256,453 30; country creditor to $l,,,
from the latter the balance in favor Of the country
will stand 1923 ,307 O5 in cash atone, leaving out
Of view the duties on increased iportatons caused
by the establishment Of the American line
1t will be borne in mind that this result has been
produced under the most disadvantageous circum-
stances possible. When the Collins line, consist
ing of but four steamers, was commenced, the Cu-
nard line consisting of seren Of the finest steamers
in the world, and backed by the government and
whole commercial influence of Great Britain, had
been in existence for several years. and enjoyed
monopoly of the steam postage and freight between
the United States and Europe. To succeed in com
peting with such rival, it was necessary to pre-
sent something in the way of ocean steam naviga-
ton which should surpass any thing that had pre-
vcusly existed, and secure the patronage OF the
commercial and travelling public by lite decided su
pcriority the score Of speed, safety and accom-
ipdation. This has been done by the Collins line
in the most unequivocal manner. The superior
swiftness of its chips has been amply ascer taned,
their safety has been tested in the sevcrest man
ner, and the results have shown that stronger chips
cannot be built; while on the score OF elegance and
comfort of accommodation, even the British pub
he press. one sided as it is known usually to be
in matters connected with national superiority, has
| frankly admitted that, whatever might be said "a
| to strength and power, in point OF elegance and
| convenience the American ships are at least ten
wears in advance of the British. Unfortunately for
the projectors and performers Of this great national
! undertak king, experience has shown that with
| communicate only twice month, and four shibs
to contend 10Th backed they by the British
government and commercial patronage, which gave
| direction in their favor to all the freghs,
posta ges and other incidents of commerce
| by far the greater portion of which s essentially
British, this company has, yet, received no
| adequate reward for its efforts. In this, however,
no blame possibly attach to the proprictors Of
the line, who have been the only suflsrers, and
who IRE, in the opinion of your committee, cnti-
tied to the lasting gratitude OF their country If
their expenses have been enormous, it has not been
for their own personal benefit; for, while they
losers to vast amount, the country has been the
| gamer in every way. The Government ID virtu-
ally in possession of four of the finest and heetest
ocean steamers afoat, capable Of being converted,
| in the course of few days into war steamers Of
the first class, carrying heavy batteries, and that,
too, at n trifing expense The steamers are being
kept in commission, 10 all USEFUL infents and ptr-
poses, for the insignificant sum Of SIPS .226 90 a
gear. the cost Of Transporting The mail being the only
outlay; when, il they formed part OF the macy pro
per- their expenses would have been, as estimated,
no less than So, 900 600 year if in active rervice,
and over S500.0OO year if in the navy yard-.
ready for service. Nor is this all. Thesc very same
chips, which have for the fret two years Of their
mail service cost the Government only 8 l2S ,226 60
year, will, in all probability, very not only
pay their way, but return large surplus revenue
in form Doeta the inc Onln from