Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-02-09
An Antldote to Ocean steam Monopollss.

quite frightened from its propriety by the arrival Of
Mr.. E. K. Collins at the seat OF government, with
the startling intelligence that he had proportions
from the Gar of Russia. and the Emperor of France
and the Queen of England, and the Sultan of Tur-
key. and we know not how many other royal and i'm
perial potentates 10 buy all his his price
and that unless Congress continued the bonus of $780,
000 10 the line of which he agent, he was deter.
M ned TO accept the offer. break up postal con.
nection with the old world by steam, and make the
country from henceforth by.worG and shaking of
the head unto the nations.
! Scarcely less terrible Than Millions comet which
from his hOrrid hair
Shakes pestilence and war;
the advent of Mr.. Collins with this dreadful
mace. The members of Congress were frightened,
il intended they sIould be. and promptly with
drew the notice they had directed to be given. to dis
continue the bonus TO the company, leaving Mr. Col
Inns and his associates at their ease and in
the full enjoyment of their great Atlantic monopoly
beside which, the insulated rule and undispuled
rights Of Capt. Selkirk,
g From the centre all round to the sea-
SINK INTO lnsIghcant proportions. 1t was again re.
peated Upon the floor of Congress, by senator's of
cry grade and political affinity, that no American
line OF steamers that would meet the commercial nee
esstes OF the country could be sustained for one pen.
ny less than the enormous sum of S800OO0. though
II was within the knowledge Of all these gentlemen
that The English line sustained, whent the business
was less than half what it is now for Just half the
money.
We often called attention to this last fact TO the
dlscouragng effect o such bounliPs upon individual len
terptlse, and to the mpolicy and Inconsistency of
representative government Ike ours lending itself
the support of monOpoles of any kind and especial
~ those of Il commercial character. But all these
considerations vanished before the paraly wing eo-
quence OF Mr. COlllnss threats. The more we said
the service was not worth half what we were paving
for it, the Mr. Collins said he would sell his
vessels, and that no one in America could replace
them.
Some believed his story, and trembled at his
threats; he found other means of reaching the con-
vlctons and votes of a class whose aid he required,
but who were not easily imposed upon and The re-
suit was as we have already stated, that he carried
his point. The notice withdrawn, and the $S3.-
600 TIP continues TO be paid By The government
Tor the support of line which is annually debilita-
ting the commercial enterprise of this metropolis to
an amount, measured pecuniarly. far exceeding the
cost OF all the Collins steamers put together.
Our object IN referring to thus subject is: to
call attention to testimonial to The truth of our state.
ment as to the excessive compensation made TO these
lines, which has just come before the public, and
which should bring blush upon the cheek OF every
senator who voted to continue the Collins subsidy
1t may he found IN letter addressed by c. Wander.
bt of this city, officer of the government COW
etlng proposal to run semi monthly line OF steam
ers from New York 10 Liverpool in alienation with
the Collins line for SIS 900 the round VOYAGE which
is some $1,000 less than half the paid the Col
inns line Tor each voyage. about $430O 900 less than
is pad Tor the twenty-our voyages of the year Nor
is this all Mr.. Vanderbilt proposes. He only asks
this subsidy 50 long like subsidy is granted to
Nlessrs. Collins and Cunard, and the moment their
subSides Withdrawn, he IS ready to plant himself
upon the great principle of free competition, neither
asking or taking any aid whatever from the govern
ment
no one who knows anything of Cornelius Wander
bit, OF his vast wealth. and the enterprise and genius
by which he has acquired it, needs 10 be told that it
is just as easy for him 10 execute this proposition as
to make it, He has already two new steamers,
nearly ready for sea, and in four months, under.
stand, he could place four more on the line if
necessary, making six, swift, and safe boats
as either on the Collins line, less than half their
construction and running expense. The Collins
Gnais have cost much more to build and TO run
probably from 33 1.3 to SO per cent.--than they
should have done, from the fact that every person
pretty much, except the sailors, who have done
anything upon them have been obliged TO take very
considerable portion of their pay in stock, and in
view OF that necessity of have always charged
two three prices for what they did. The ship
carpenters, the engine builders the boiler makers,
the ]oners the furnishers of dry goods and groceries,
the bakers, the liquor deaers--every body, indeed,
who had anything 10 do for the company, we are
told has been paid IN this species of currency, and,
OF course, at rates proportioned to its depreciation
Mr.. Vanderbilt, on the other hand, builds for cash.
He wants to take stock in his boats, and is
prepared to take every advantage which ready mon.
ey gives lis possessor in every market He has built
more steamers than any other man in America, and
all those of his make have been celebrated for speed
and safety. There is therefore, no to doubt
that the country would have as much reason to feel
pride and confidence in such line ofsteamers Mr
Vanderbilt would furnish for SIS 900 round voyage
they feel in the line for which they are pay
ing more than twice the sunni. Y. EUening Post.