Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-05-06
Raleigh STA ndard
From the Nashville Gazette
Great Increase of our Steam Marine.


Great increase of our Steam Marine.
II is an axiom that So nations understand but two
languages, war and commerce. - and if this be true,
then as the world is constituted, commerce has
become the mighty mediator between nations, WELD
ing the destinies of mankind causing them TO rush
in its mighty traffic, or pause and rembe at the mys
erous fluctuations of its intensely studied barometer,
and anxiousIy look for its mountaineering dicum,
from which there can be no appeal.
For the last six years the United States have in
creased their facilities for trade and commerce TO
greater extent than any other nation upon the EARTH
within the space of time and now, with sail and
steam, possess q mercantile marine more extensive
than that of all other nations in The world put togeth-
er, Great Britain excepted Upon their nass the star
spangled banner is in every quarter Of the habita
BILE globe, bringing to us, from the remoest points,
new sources of wealth, comfort, usefulness and en-
oyment. The following article from the Scientific
American will give our readers some good idea upon
the subject:
The United States Of America presents the most ex-
raordinary spectacle of rapid progress in greatness
and power of any nation that has existed. There
is an inherent vitality and energy in our people which
enables them 10 transform the waste places of our land
into fruitful fields, and lonely deserts into teemng CT
ties, and that with facility and power akin to the
skill ascIibed 10 the old alchymists in whose magic
hands iron became gold and brass shining silver. With
most wonderful increase of cities, villages and eve
rything connected with industrial progress on land,
no less wonderful has been progress on sea-in
building ships and subduing the winds and by
the mighty power OF steam. Six years ago there were
only two mercantile steamships in the whole United
States; these belonged to New York. and but in
significant in size. Then had no mail steamships
and the sar-spangIed banner had never loated but in
solitary instance in foreign port above the quarter
deck of an American steamer. The smoke from A
merlcan tunnels never seen afar the ocean
and in this respect England alone reigned mistress oil
the seas. But what change has taken place in that
short period The four largest and yet the eetes
ocean steamships in the world belong 10 country
and the rivers Mersey, in England the Seine and
Wesser, in France and Germany, now visited reg
uiarly by eight American steamships OF large tonnage
and powerful engines. The two mail steamships
| Washington and Hermann, which ply between New
York and Bremen, 100 tons burden each tht
two which ply between New York and Havre-the
Franklin and Humboldt-are 1900 tons each anC
the four of Colinss line of steamships each 5000
tons BURDEN making Atlantic fleet of steamships Il
mounting 10 $4,000 tons burden. On this day si1
years ago. not one of these vessels had disturbed th
waters of the great deep.
Besides these noble vessels there seventeen
steamships, of an aggregate tonnage of 2l,9l2 tons
plying regularly between New York and our South
ern cities and the West Indies and there are no les
than Al Of aggregate tonnage of 1886 tons enga
ged in the New York, California and Oregon trade
All these are American built ships, and comprise
mercantile marine larger than that of all the other ma
lions in the world, Great Britain excepted, put ogeh
er. All this steam marine has been created in les
than six years Do these figures not exhibit touc
of power more wonderful than that of any genii O
Oriental tale-that of Aaddin's wonderful lamp ne
excepted Side by side with US, the people of Grea
2 Britain have been running race in increasing the
steam marine also Within the same period they hav
S built greater number of steamships than we hav,
and the same circumstances which have operated s
e powerfully to open up fields Of trade with
now operate upon them-we allude 10 the gold d
cOveres of California and Australia 1t is difficult fc
the mind to entertain at Just idea Of the magn
tude of these supenduous changes in our steam m;
rlne contemplation of them makes the boldest ho
his breath for time" It's very natural 10 ask "Ca
our country go much longer al such rapid pace
will period not arrive, at distant date, when lii
other nations of the Old World ours will also cease
e make such rapid strides in industrial progress-whe
- it will, to use common term, Sttnd stW| We ha,
c no affirmative answer 10 return. Our nation, if "
o keep united, and hot-headed do not foolishy pr
i cpitate us into war with powerful foes, must 20
with just rapid strides for the next thousand yea
F. it has for the last fifty. We have more natural
sources of all those things which 60 10 make matte
= great and powerful than all the known Kingdoms
this globe. We, like the house of David must i
crease while other nations now great and powerfr
, will decrease.
y THE COAST SURVEY OF THE UNITED STATES
n There is no work in which the government of Il
ID United States engaged that has attracted mo
l. attention in Europe than the coast survey. IT.
d great Importance of the undertaking. and the all
n manner, far, in which it has been conducted ha
l. attracted the attention Of scientific men in Euror
l. and redounded to the credit and reputation of L
y country Mr.. Bache is indefatigable in his exc
o TONS and it must be gratifying him to know he
l. highly his services are appreciated.
We learn that Mr.. B. has Just ordered re- exam