The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-16

vantage OF eeaaH s1Nom navigation for seven years with
risncs, with unlimited capital. Who was then tohs
found ready to vindicste American enterprise and skin,
and to enter into this fierce competitor With capital and
courage at hand 2 An energetic and patriotic citizen OF
New York, Mr.. Edward K. Collins, came forward, after
having been solicited by the government to make . bid,
contract Of Mr., Collins called for ships Of 900 teas
measurement for each steamer, with 900 horse power,
war y p1 PURPOSES urus and in fssT' Congress gave iis asiiSsrate
and unequivocal sanction to the law Of the sd
Of March, Of that yessr, providing for the build
The I'd section Of that act made it the duty Of
the Secretary Of the Navy 'to accept on the Fart Of the
Collins and his assocates'' for the transportation of the
United States mail between New York and Liverpool,
and TO contract with the said R. K. COLLINS and his asso.
sio.s Of that act, the third section Of which dscl,red
Collins and his associates in the transportation Of the
United States mail between New York and Liverpool
s ssa.tr be ssn rs ;Ss EMPLOY SSds Of the e: s ss.Hsf bspsrs e 9 n. sna
shall be constructed SO rs to render them convertible
At the least possible cost into war steamers Of
the largest. Cunard ship was only l,4oo tons,
energetic s tic s .aISaea OF n'' this ps government SuHa became n
Known, Cunard laid the keeAs of the four ships,
Amsri' coi Europe s,,' Canada .%n,. and .Nisg ARA r each Of i,seo
he had assumed, determined TO do his part in vindicat-
ing The ability. Of the American people to compete with
IA Va Aien AZ 70 ncketohc opPAAou
to and received from the proper department a "carte
blanche Z TO build ships ], ooO tons larger, with q CORES
Inc stesmships' capacity It requires but little calcnla-
ton to determine that the running expenses were in-
sssa.sS e e t xs! p, .sF%a'sssd a A. p; sss cent sSou sy TIN. tine 1 tHsnt1
required to increase the trips 10 twenty.six at the same
q fraction over $500, 000. With all the care, prudence,
economy, and the additional advantages Of increased
speed ah u ~. -. found ossis the psopsssors were sinking aa;sh'g, money! .Td
to the benefit of the postal revenue, the finances of the
owners were rapidly collapsing, and the whole
Congress- Of 1852 thoroughly .ifted the whole sub
ject. They found the then existing contract was q
we're unwilling, even iftSs ability Of the owners would
ALLOW, that the service should be continued ct a loss.
The alternative was brought directly before them as it
found IL Il the act so q Congress G sgs. e Of q he o. 2 ! Jul july .1 1857, in IN
which It Is delared Is foll9ws-.
sa.io1 q the United States mail between New YORK and Lii.
per anngm, at such times as shall be directed BY the Post
psass e e coSsas:. ann and n his isli sssel u e he IL 18th has Of 1 seSens ssi
Last to the Secretary Of the Navy, VOC commencing said ., i1 1s;s,
three thousand dollars yer TRIP, II leu ofsse grsssn. allow,
hundred dollars: TroVidod, That Il shall Be- in the power q q
ssnsrsss :. sh any %sd tiRs aise, .1 sss slss day ssrs sd p SssSiasd for as apo 10
giving vim s,x mon months ha notice .ssi:cse .,..;.. ,u.sno.9 ~ .;v,,r
the increased compensation Of STA, $50 per trip, and
making the aggregate for each trip equal to $4,000,
the total for the service was raised from rising $500, 600
to $685., 600, and the increase continues until the lst OF
tArfere by further legislation, the original contract,
which extends to the LIST Of April, 1880, will leave the
owners to do the service at the sum of $500,500, with
the enormous loss which they must necessarily suffer,
Now, all the world knows that the rates of living, and the
cost in every department Of the mechanic arts, have
risen one hundred per cent since the original contract
was made, and that they have been augmented fully
fifty per cent since the increased allowance by the
law of 1852. This, of itself, would be an un.
answerable argument against any attempt at
reduction, BY falling to come up to the spirit and p1r-
pose of the law of 1852. But what advantages have not
in addition TO the national reputation we have acquired
upon the seas? Previous to its organization the mari.
time genius OF our rival had ever riumphed. But Ia
this fierce competition American skill and genius has
they have been brought before. The reduction Of the
cost OF freight on light articles has been nearly one
hundred per cent; q reduction Of twenty six per cent in
the price of passage; q reduction Of one. sixth OF the
support of war ships, ready at a moments warming to
pass from the hands Of the present owners to those of
the government, and perfectly capable of taking on
equipments OF battery, and iron material should
officers and seamen, trained by discipline and ex-
perience in the science Of navigation, constitute an ele-
ment OF strength In time Of war, aud q commercial fa-
cihty in time of peace, which place them far beyond all
direct, not only to the city which | have in part the
honor TO represent, but the whole Union-to be sacri-
feed by q discontinuance Of that enlightened policy
which has always given to the United States the palm Of
victory in q struggle for the commercial supremacy Of
the aeasp
Mr.. LETcHER, (dem.) Of Va, opposed Mr.. Ola's
amendment, giving notice OF ono which he intended to
ener, authorizing the contract with Hanson for ~$SS5,Ooo.
No quest on taken.
The committee rose, and the House adjourned.