The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-08-05

All accounts agree in representing the shipping in
terest of the United States in a very depressed
condition at the present time. The New York Ship
ping List says:
The shipping interest continues in anguishing
dition and prospect of early improvement
unless there shall be revival Of export demand for
our breadstuifs during the ensuing fall and winter Ex
perence to have demonstrated, firstly, that too
many vessels have been built since the development Of
the California and Australia gold mines and secondly
that propellers rapidly supesedng selling vessels
all but very long voyages. AT present the bulk of
freight between Great Britain and France and New York
is carried by steam vessels mostly English and the fact
is not to be denied that the supremacy of the is
rapidly concentrating in the hands Of England. The
balances in the postal service also largely against
and constantly increasing Recently the Bremen line
has been abandoned a mail route, because the Post
master General withdrew the annual allowance and
ceded the postage collected the only compensation for
carrying the mail.
at is understood that there building The
Clyde and in other ports of Great Britain less than
three hundred iron propelers ranging from thou
sand TO fifteen hundred tons, all intended to meet the
wants of that revolution the which is des
tined at this rate progress to overakc TINT which is
rapidly annihilang time and space on land The iron
works of England and Scotland represented to be
crowded with business and Napier the celebrated steam
engine builder is taking contracts TO be fulfilled three
years hence and while this is the state of things the
other side Of the Atlantic ship yards comparative
ly deserted and there is scarcely steamer of any
in steamers four TO one and next year, 1t is expected
that difference will be widened to the relation of ten to
one and the year AFTER perhaps to that Of twenty to
and this disparity must continue to increase in pro-
portion to the effort and attending on side
| and the neglect and failure on the other
ssThe Philadelphia North American retorates what
have repeatedly said this subject viz That sailing
ships have had their day the great of trapspor
tation for and must YIELD except in tho
buker and heavier merchandise to the superior facilities
offered by steam propeers They must submit to that
/ n. 80, T.
ments Of and the other transactions Of life
Viewing this, them as practical proposition cmbar
raised by cul theories of speculative suggestions,
IL becomes to consider whether action will be gov
crned by the planest dictates of and scdefence
in providing for admitted cxigency, OF whether we
shall wait for something to turn up until by her rapid
exertions, England shall have virtually possessed herself
of the ocean, and assigned to US inferior position
maritime nation. The strides made by tho United States
during the last five years, in and shipbuld-
ing have attracted not only the jealous interest of our
great rival but nervcd her towards that effort the fruits
of which are now becoming visible.
" II is the boast of England that she maintains
than ninety regular lines Of steamers reaching every
abhed and Sustained by the liberal countenance of the
government which Is content TO profit by the resulting
Increase of and Influence compensation for
any ontlay Of subsidy Under these circumstances II is
sincerely TO hoped that Congress WILL ut the next
sion at once consider what defensive legislation may be
necessary divert the threatened evils 10 CONNER
cal marine, and provide remedy by which fair
competition be insured We may rest assured that
the traffic OF the world Is 10 be carried by
steam power and the United States should at make
| a bold stroke for its share I"