The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-05

TO Ym HoHoaAsls THE sExArs AND HOUSE, or RnPRxnsrA-
nvnov ne USnxD STATES o. AMERICA, IN OoSGRxS As
mnDLD%
me memorial II ne Chamber Of Commerce Of the city
Of New York respectfully showeth-
That the merchants Of the city Of New York. in common
with those orosSer commercial cities Of NE Hn,0S %
Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador the vest Coast OF south
America, and with the islands Of the Pacific, anu that
new branch Of trade has been for years rapidly de-
velopiDS itself with The British Australian colonies
That speedy and safo transmission OF the United
States mails essential 70 tho interests involved In our
commercial relations with these countries well TO
the security and efficiency Of naval forces in tho
In time Of war; and that although standing In ~
first rank In the value Of our trade We are behind every
commercial nation in the world in the facilities for postal
communication in that quarter
For the purpose OF showing this and for the infora-
tcn Of your honorable body, may be here explained
that an Esglsh line Of steamers Plies semi monthly be-
tween Southampton and the West indies, and that these
steamers connect with others cnder the British nag run
ming between Panama and Valparaiso or the facilities
which these steamers afford for the conveyance Of mails
passengers and treasure, all the continental States OF
Europe avail themselves upon the same footing a the
English whilst mails and our passengers are nvara-
bly, delayed fortnight upon the lsthmus Of Panama by
the refusal Of the British South Pacific line 70 connect
with the Eew York and Aspinwsl steamers, 70 the mani
fest detm ent Of trade and risk Of life 70 our pos
sengers-hus compelled to an unnecessary sojourn in
estst.hmens Of this line Of British steamers and repeat
ed efforts have been made during the latter part or that
interval, to bring about connection with the American
line more recently established between New York and
AspinwaD without any success Whatever.
The Chamber Of Commerce. therefore, takes leave
earnestly solicit the attention Of your honorable bodies
TO this subject, and that may be immediately
taken for the establishment Of mail route from Panama
10 Valparaiso and the intermediate pors to connect with
' ''''''' ''' '''''' '''N P. PERT, President
EDWARD C. BoGrRr, Secretary.
NEW York, February 8, 1897.
rHIRTY-FOURrH COEdREss-HorsE OF REPREsEN-
TATIVRS.
Mr. Mace, from tho Committee on the Post Office and
Post Roads, made the following report
The Committee the Post once and Post Roads TO whom
was referred the memorial of A l. Blocker, James
Hall and associates for contract for carry ing the
mails Of the United States from Panama New GIans
America together with the memorial Of the New York
Chamber Of Commerc on the same subject, beg leave
TO make the following report
The beneficial effects which have resulted from the
establishment Of lines OF ocean mail steamers
owned Wherever hsse ues OF sssm
have been placed American commerce has 6ourished,
the rates Of postage have been diminished and the amount
of mail matter has largely increased These facts
matters of record which admit of dispute, however
much dereIce Of opinion may arise as to the amount OF
assistance which the should afford 70 such en-
terprses The system has worked well and, in nearly
every instance the increased correspondence consequent
upon regular mail communication has been sufficiently
great to return 10 the Post Office Department as large
the government pays for the conveyance of the
mails. But were this not the case, If Il could be
shown that the commerce OF the United States was large
~ benefited by the establishment Of mail communca-
ton, that the prosperity resulting thererom WIDE
spread and undoubted would still be the duty Of the
pruoenty, but with wise libersly The object of egsla
ton by the federal government is TO promote the prosper
ty Of the country, and 10 guard foster and extend its
commerce. If, by Increased mail facilities with foreign
countries this can be accomplished or assisted, then IS
Congress fulfilling its organic duty in extending aid TO all
meritorious applications of this nature.
The line of steamers which is sought "a be estab-
lshed, an TO aid which required that the Postmaster
General shall be authorized TO enter into contract with
the parties for term Of years. for the conveyance Of the
mails Of the United states at moderate annual compeu.
saon presents the strongest claims for the favorable
COM liberation of Congress 1t line which would bring
into direct and regular communication with all the
countries the western coast OF the South American con-
Ient-rch in commerce, resources natural wealth, the
precious metals and population Notwithstanding the diff
bculties under which our citizens labor large trade
s between the United States and the republics OF Chile
Bolivia Peru and Ecuador, and with the Islands OF the
Pacific, which amounts yearly TO many millions OF dol
lars furnishes those countries with all the varied pro-
ducts OF our soil and manufactures, ana taxes
from them in return many raw materials indis
pensable to the agrculturist chemist, manufacturer,
and mechancsuch guano, copper IN ore or bars tin,
nitrate Of soda hides, coal goatskns Peruvian bark 90
coa &C, &C The number OF American ships engaged in
this trade i reported to be upwards of three hundred
equivalent 10 a capital OF five million dollars the ships
engaged In the whaling business in the Pacific
of several millions more; and in addition 70 these
important interests the trade Of the British Australian
colonies Ia rapidly increasing great highway of travel
and commerce with that infant empire being across the
Ishmus Of Panama. Lying almost at our ydoor yet,
consequence Of the absence OF any American mall com
municaton large proportion of this wealth floats literally
past us, TO enrich the commerce OF England.
Our government and citizens have been ana stl are
wholly dependent upon the precsrous arrival and depart
ure from Panama OF English line Of small pro
pcllers, three in number, Subsidized by the Br-
tish government, which carry monthly mail
in connection with the West India mail steamers
from Panama TO Southampton England, via st. Thomas
The amount received by the company owning the prope
lcrs from their government stated TO be s25oooo per
annum. The United States Post Office Department pays
this line for the conveyance OF monthly mail but so
careful this foreign company 10 avoid all connection with
mail steamers % New York, New Orleans, California
and Oregon that their schedules arranged % that they
always arrive and depart from thence after
steamers have left The English mails go directly on,
however by way Of st. Thomas and Southampton whilst
the United States mails invariably detained on the
Ishmus for fifteen days Protests and remonstranoes on
the part Of the Postmaster General and our citizens have
proved unsvang 10 correct this evil A. the records OF
the Post once Department and the evidence OF the Amer
can merchants engaged the South American trade fully
show.
The route embraces . distance of 800 miles, and Ia
Intended all the leading ports thus putting the
United States In direct and regular communication with
Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and New Granada Such
statistics could be obtained show that the trade be-
tween the United States and those countries In 1885, was
follows -
Exfoy1s frOup The Tnlsi lCdfcg 1856.