New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-11-20
STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH SOUTH
AMERICA.

| For some days we have had lying on our table
copy Of petition to the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentatves, signed by Messrs. Robert NJ. Stratton'
Samuel L. Mitchell, VIM. H Webb and Thos' kalney'
asking for contract to carry the mails OF Tie uneo
States between New York, st. Thomas, baroauoes'
Demerara and Para, in steamships OF the ilrst Glass;
of twelve to sixteen hundred tons burthen once each
month to and from each place, as well as lengthy
statement from Dr. Rainey, the protector OF the en-
terprse showing its great advantages and paramount
necessities, The associates of Mr. R. in this splendid
scheme are the very men to carry it through. Mr..
Stratton represents the famous New York establish
ment known as the Novelty Works. Mr.. Mitchell
| is the chief owner Of the New York and Savannah
| steamship line and Mr.. Webb is known throughout
the maritime world the eminent ship-bui!de1' Such
names are guarantees Of success fsuccess he possioe
| of attainment.
| Before touching the petition and statement aluueu
to above We must go back little i'll order 10 pro
per understanding in the premises AT Tue 'St session
an association of Northern gentlemen pe''tloeo Nou
crcss for contract for carrying the htll9 pet"eel
New York and the foregoing named portS. LIE peli'
ton was duly referred, and the committee lepo'eu
e,vorahv and with entire unanmity. The subject,
however was not definitely acted upon and Will come
nm at the next session. Since adjournment, however
in charge have altered some of its features materially
The principal alteration is this the steamers instead
Of running direct from New York to st. Thomas arc
to stop at Savannah, Ga.-a port about equi-dstant
| between New York and New Orleans-thus making
that port depot for all Southern and Western postal
matter designed for the Vest Indies, the Spanish
! Main and Brazilian cities, etc. This was iudicious
| As we think New Orleans possesses large and M
mediate interest in this enterprise propose max
ing a liberal synopsis from the pamphlet before us,
and ask for it the attentive consideration of our COM
mercal readers aud the public generally, assuming
the fact to be universally known that city i'll the
Union has suffered much for the want Of facilities
which can only be afforded by steamship communica-
ton with New Orleans.
Some singular facts are set forth in the petition.
As things exist business letters from the United
States to the points named, have to pass through
Europe titus involving heavy charges and losses OF
time. The petitioners contend that these losses and
Inconvenience TO all of' citizens who have bust
ness or friendly intercourse with the West Indies, and
all Northern and Eastern portions of South America,
demand relief from the General Government. Tray
elers whether citizens Of the United States or others
are compelled to take the same circutous route, and
are thus subjected to serious Inconvenience and loss OF
time while our commerce encounters many tornida-
bic instructions and sustains many unnatural losses.
The petitioners also believe that the postage money
received on the transportation of the mails would
speedily make good the appropriation " necessary to
establish the line of steamers required, and that IL
direct rapid and convenient transportation Of mails
and passengers could be thus secured without loss to
the government. Other considerations Of CONNER
cal and national consequence then alluded to,
which we shall present briefly yet clearly The COM
merce of the United States with the regions above
indicated, while increasing, by no means keeps pace
with that of England France and other European
nations. Before the establishment Of the English and
other foreign lines of steamships, the trade Of the
United States WAS about III equality with that Of
the countries referred to hut since the establishment
of those steamship lines the commerce of cont
mercial rivals has increased in an unprecedented
ratio; thus proving, to use the language of the
petitioners the natural result Of having constant,
regular and reliable steam communication between
those countries, and none whatsoever with United
Stltcs' Under the influence of this state of things,
very truly sets forth the petition, " the commerce and
intercourse OF the United States with the countries
named must gradually decline and the trade with those
rich and prosperous regions ultimately fall into the
= hands Of our European rivals.
We append the conclusion Of the petition, Of which
the foregoing is synopsis, entire:
The political consequence, existing circumstances
equally unavoe 70 our country The Importance Of "lr
We, Tni1n rl American neigbors he
c!I p to r I and T5n,oe ih " r~ira n;r d
thing intercourse Of commerce. iIr inicrrnmu
inteesiS Yonr petitioners ei"yr unnecessary TO nly t.
Your petitioners pepnre to provide tue rr"cr yc.ls 10
Of co,n,netion any which the OF the country
Your pstioaer< therefore, respectfully ak FOR }as~r
Of M act nknS mm "9 ' , ., '' ,n h 81
tnbihmen, and maintenance of the e'vicc contemplated
Having now presented the material grounds on
which the petition is bascd-and which must com
mend it to the favorable consideration of the next
, Congress-we will proceed to glance at the accompa
, nying statement of Dr. Rainey, before mentioned
which is full Of singular developments, facts and ar
gumcnts. 1t is properly addressed /" To the Senate
and House of Representatives" and it demonstrates
clearly why the appropriation asked for should bi
G granted
We quote from the statement as follows
+ ensern northern and southern coas1 Of %ou Arrjcs
Of The Wuw"r Islands Of 'Y West n,rS tr'n, Pmer'" Re
Unusually great Importance to Jni,ei State, suffers in
f S"aEs sSa" 'i" ' Th %'" s" "
1t ES;,S f n ' Is 30 iiS n "< AZ :, [
IS =, a. Importance m value in is >nis TO- our ron"
Quanc with it. We bring from them 'a." "''leF o. H.
Stable valuable Hrtrlca OF
wholly Indispensable I" the ne States a., sed to 'lsi
q the staple and valuable prnut nj HEriHu
i ami manufactures. We mrg~st Supply ct cote,
II luR rubber, hides, for chocolate trsHiilla etc., Fi
brazil OF ARTICLES with many others, ttn urnt
tyrrS Monte Nivo and the LA iata rvrr generally "arat
&c coffee mo!aseS, dye woods, fcci''N wood" Ahd Wtlt'
flom the Spanish Main and moa>ses, H" t3u,
from West InticS. IN exchange supply ihrm Wit
nearly all Of their nrdlsuts, horses aud miles, With b''
pork lard and butter: with fabrics,
Of agriculture and the and with machinery t The na
It, iron and wu, wliic Iolnn New York, FliIc
~ Rita baltimore contend Win rt>nrg, Cincinnati, lsi
IL VILE NV Alauy aw Louis, in supplying many Of the
# mechanical wants. and building the na share u! Their s'rlAr
and ships thus far ordered i'll this
i Still with all this trade, affecting directly the ii
II tcrcsts of every State aud demanding the time an
labor of one million of our citizens, " we have titllc
I" to bring to the aid Of the government, and of con
81 rcrce, the mcalcuahe advantages Of regular steam
ii shin communication The EnGljah government h;
SO adopted cntircy different and wise line Of poIc
Us BY means of the Royal Mail Steamship Company
u among the West India islands the Spanish Main an
III Central America and excellent monthly line fro
y southampton 10 Rio de ,Janciro, that government Ii,
q" established perfect net work Of steam lines fro
'e' which incalculabe benefit has been derived.
Is With Brazil alone our commerce ntw amounts
''' almost nineteen millions Of dollars annually, wh
w. could he doubled i'll five years with ordinary cucol
VIZ agcment from Congress In face Of these irlefutal
'G facts or relations with that rich and growing count