The Washington union., 1857-06-11
FRENCH TRANSATLANTIC STEAM PACKETS.

fhLNOh lhANbAlDAllC blEAM IACkElH..
The following is the explanatory statement of the
Consei d'Etat submitted with the project of law laid
before the Corps Legslaf for the establishment of
line of transatlantic steamers:
1his service is intended embrace three grand lines
OF communication the first with the United States; the
second with the Antilles, the Gulf of Mexico and the
coast of the continent the third with the Bas and La
Plata We think it would be superuous TO explain here
the considerable advantages long desired that France
anticipates from the establishment of this rapid and regu-
lar communication with the two Americas Two nations,
powerful by their industry and wealth. England and the
United States have preceded in this path the Empe
ror government proposes TO you TO initiate them The
connecting ports would be- For the United States Eayre
with mail station at CherbouTg. For the Brazilian line
Bordeaux, or Richard For the Antilles line, Nantez (St
Nazaire plan for the postal tariff has been prepared
by the Finance Minister II is annexed the project of
law essential document TO enable you appreciate
the conditions and charges of enterprise for Which the
State will have To grant considerable annual subsidy
BY the terms of the project of law this subsidy
ceed II millions of francs per You will from
the postal tariff that the term of the treaty is to be for 20
consecutive years which will from the third
year after the concession The company will be bound to
keep aoat four years after the date OF the concession
twentysix steamers impeed by motive power of IL 700
horses nomnaly to wit Five steamers of at least $50
horse power each five steamers of 600 horse power each
seven steamers of 450hore power each five steamers OF
400 horse power each four steamers OF 0horse power
eachin all twentysix steamers having aggregate of
H. I0Ohorse power The average speed per hour must
be / knots on the New York line l0l knots the
principal line of the Antilles and the Aspinwall line %
knots the chief line of the Bazs knots the line
from st. Thomas to Iampco 50 knots ON the branch
line from Rio Janeio TO Buenos Ayres 81 knots ON the
branch line from La Martinique TO Cayenne guarantee
depote OF two millions is required from the concesona
ry company and it will be held responsible for the per
formance of the duties undertaken by the company the
establishment Of transatlantic communication by steam
The concession will be made to one company only. The
he tV-giX "A wear ON he iu
from Hayre to New York, return voyages included that
is to say, departure fortnight The number of
voyages will be twenty -four the other two lines From
Havre to New York the route is direct The Brazilian line
is to touch at Lisbon Goree Bahia, Penambueo and
end at Rio Janero branch line will work up 10 Monte
Video and Buenos Ayres The Antilles line terminates
Aspinwall 1t will call at St Thomas Guadaloupe and
Martinique; branch steam packets will to Santa Mar
tina, Porto Rico, Vera Cruz, Tampico and Cayenne The
distance from Havre to New York 055 nautical leagues
DIG leagues to be passed every year From
Bordeaux to Rio Janeiro, $50 nautical leagues the
branch service, $50 total 1850 leagues per
For the Antilles line the distance is 62 22S
teal leagues to which must add 80 22S leagues
for the branch lines The entire annual distance for the
three lines will be 255, 952 nautical leagues Therefore,
the subsidy in supposng raised to its maximum of IA
millions, would give the of 54f CSC per nautical
league In England the Cunard company receives 42f
for every league rvesed in the United States the Col
Inns company receives for the purpose the of
s4f In conclusion it is right to say that the establish
ment of the three transatlantic lines the conditions
which inserted in the postal tariff 26 steamers with
nominal power Of IL 700 hoses will evidently require
considerable capital, not less than 90 millions, and IN
this the item of coal is estimated at millions,
Taking into account these figures and the political and
commercial interests connected with the creation of the
transatlantic steam packets which have been long
peced the government proposes to you to fix at Ia mil
lions the maximum Of the subsidy that may be bestowed
ON this great enterprise