The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-04-11

vated. 1t Is to be hoped that Ne win not relax
In his efforts to impart to the executive admis-
istration of the city government the vigor an
the efficiency which have hitherto been wsati.x
to 1t. In the absence of impartial Legislative
supervision, it is only the example of eoosc;.,-
tious officials that can correct the Isxity and
corruption that pervade all departments Of our
police and corporate systems.
The Commerce Of tho Paeific-Aro the Eax-
iish tn Slonopoiize Ixv
Some time since we published report made
at the last session of Congress by the Commit
tee on the Poet Office and Post Roads in favor
of the establishment of al american line of msn
steamers on the west coast Of South America.
to compete with the British line which fur
years has existed there. By the recent mail from
Panama we observe that our publication has
alarmed this English monopoly, known as the
"Pacidc Steam Navigation Company" aud thev
are out in card denying that they have ever
arranged their schedules so as to avoid connect
ing with the United States mail lines to Calfor-
MIA New Orleans and New York, as was alleged
by our Post Office Department, the New York
Chamber Of Commerce, the Boston Board Of
Trade and the committees of Congress or
course, in the face Of such evidence this denial
| amounts to nothing; but the alarm exhibited by
the company proves that they feel that the e.
| tablisbment of an American line Of steamers
would do them a fatal injury, by directing to the
| United States large portion Of the commerce
| OF the Pacific coast Of South America, which is
now mainly monopolized by England, in conse-
quence Of her complete mail and steam comma
| nieatiOn with those countries.
We regard the projected American line Ct
steamers SIS emirently deserving of favorable
| consideration, net only because of the impor-
| tance of the commerce which would thus be
thrown open, but also because of the fact that
at the last session its projectors asked as COM
| pensation for carrying the mails a sum less than
one third of that heretofore paid by the United
States Post Office Department for the convey
ance Of ocean mails, and this Congress they Dc
not fix the compensation at all, but leave K
with the government to determine what fair
| equivalent would be for the service. This
| demonstrates that the proposed line is
not to be established for the purpose
Of obtaining governmental support, but that
moderate compensation for carrying the mails
Is asked simply 60 as to enable the parties to
compete on something like equal terms with
the English line, which Is largely subsidized BY
their government, in addition to the SUM Of
100000 year paid to them by the governments
Of Chile and Peru The parties to this under
taking afford the strongest evidence of their
| belief in the certainty Of an Increased com
! merce between the west coast Of South America
| and the United States in the fact that they
are willing to build expensive steamers and
embark their capital largely in the line, not In
| the expectation that our government win
support it, bat that the trade itself win
be remunerative. The sum they asked
would 60 but small way towards defraying
their expenses but !. would enable them to pat
their rates Of freight low at least NJ the Eng
| lish lino and thus sustain the competition.
| Several attempts have been made by American
| citizens to establish line Of steamers on that
coast without government assistance; but tho
| parties were unable to compete against the paiA
English line, and hence the necessity for the
present application. The trade of the countries
on the west coast Of South America amounts at
east to one hundred and fifty millions annually,
In which the United States participates only to
| the extent Of about ten millions in consequence
Of our having no direct communication whilst
England, With her connecting lines along the
| coast and by the West Indies, monopolizew
| nearly sll the balance Of the foreign trade as
well as millions OF gold and silver bullion an
nuaily-not dollar Of the latter ever reaching
| IA This state Of facts exists In consequence Of
| the superior enterprise Of the British govern
| ment, notwithstanding that New Orleans is
| $500 miles and New York 300 miles nearer
the South Pacific coast than England Ia. Tho
rates Of postage upon single letters to all those
countries embraced in the proposed line-ChiIe,
Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and New Granada-is now
forty cents Upon the establishment of United
States mail line, there i no doubt the Post
| Once Department would be able to reduce this
TO the same rate as the California letters--tes
cents. With difference OF at least two weeks
each way, and reduction or postage equal 10
| tbree-fourths Of that now charged, the amount
| Of American mail matter would be greatly in
| creased. to say nothing Of the absorption of the
| English malls which would then 90 by way OF
New York TO England cheaper and moro rapidly
! than by the West India steamers In q brief
| time the postages would. doubtless, amount TO
more than would be paid fer conveying the
mais, aside from the far greater and more in
| portant considerations Of an increase OF COM
| merce end intercourse. Increased facilities OF
communication would cause the United States
and the republics Of South America to be be-
ter known TO each other, and give us that
| weight in the Pacific to which we are entitled
We now pay some $50. 900 year for the 81
laries OF Ministers and Consuls TO the countries
| lying on the ives, coast Of South America, be-
sides sustaining a large naval establishment
there-sll ostensibly for the promotion and pro-
lection Of American commerce-and yet wo