The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-03-10

Ooeaa stesm NavigAtion--Our Comme
ctal Marine.
1t Is not long since we drew attention 10 q
injury inflicted ON the shipping enterprise
this country by tho unfir way I'm which Z
collins line was dealt with by Congress.
q natural consequence Of the disc ouraueme
caused by the withdrawal Of government a;
the British companies have succeeded in Dr.;
ing American steamers from almost all a
transatlantic lines. AT present there are !,
less than ten Of these, al foreign, forming rem
lar channels Of communication with Europ
whilst OF American steamers there is but o,
iine' consisting Of the Fulton and Araxo. Tn,
the snortaightedness and illiberality of Congret
nave smut US out from a Geld Of competition 1 I,
winch there is NO doubt we should In a fs,
years have manifested superior activity an
energy.
AS set-on' however, against this check. osl
steamship trade and passenger traffic to 81
parts OF our own continent are exhibits,
results In the highest degree satan
tory. In another column will be found 4
detailed statement Of the tonnage and cost
our commercial steamers, With the routes
which they ply, from which II will be seen tha
the capital diverted from the TRANSATLANTIC lin4\
nnds abundance Of employment in otheA
quarters. From the figures therein given. d
appears that the aggregate tonnage Of oS
commercial steam marine is 1886, Of which
941ll is owned in New York. The total cosG
of the latter is SIG ,OSS Is, and of the entire
as nearly as can be calculated, $25 100000
With the exception of one transatlantic lie
the whole of this immense tonnage Is pro
dtably employed in the carrying trade Of our
own continent.
Whilst on this subject, we have a word to
say in reference to the fusion lately effected
between Commodore Vanderbilt and the
Pacific Mail Steamship Company In ques-
tions of this kind-iavolving considesa-
tons of the highest Importance to the pub
lic-our frat duty is to look to the ultimate re-
suit of these coalitions to the general interests.
Viewedin this light, this new combination will
scarcely bear scrutiny. There can be little
doubt that the coalition has been brought
about by the desires of the parties con-
cerned. A proof Of this assertion is to
be found in the sudden increase Of the rates
of fare on the California steamers No surprise
is expressed, nor indeed should there be any.
at this unexpected advance in the fares. While
the lines which have now coalesced, through in
terested motives, were running independently
of each other, the tide of immigration to Cali
fornia assumed enormous proportions. It was
no very unusual circumstance to see steamers
leaving this city with from eight hundred to
eleven hundred passengers. As long as this
competition continued, the rush of emigraats
to the auriferous soil of California and our Paci
&c Territories was naturally very great Bue
the coalition Of these two lines will at ono
have the effect of checking the stream of emi 4
grafton, and of diminishing the supply
of gold. The low prices Of passage. which
were necessary consequence of competitioa)
must now give place to an equalized rate, oul
the united line, which will be most grievous-
~ felt by those persons whose necessities direct
their aspirations towards the Pacific Statesl
1t is said that there are heavy losses incurred
by these companies while in their condition oil
eparate existence that will have to be made
good. These losses, within little more than al
year, have amounted, il is alleged, from mil !
ion to million and half Of dollars. There(
but one way to make up for this waste
of capital, and that is to lay it on to the
passengers, by charging them high prices, and
spending as little as possible for their comfort
and convenience. The effect of this, however.
will be to reduce the extent of emigrationI
and, instead Of the people of Califernia beiad
made to benefit by the change, they will sooa
find that their interests have not been con}
sidered at all in the alterations which hav
taken place.
The new coalition might, if its arrangement
were directed by prudence and wisdom, bs
made profitable speculation for all concerned
The California route is now one of the mos
important in the passenger traffic in the United
States, and fair prices and respectable nc
commodation would do much to insur
popularity and support. It Is for ths
united companies to consider whether
by paying reasonable attention to the interest
of the public, they will give new impetus t
the operations Of their line, or whether theJ
will arouse again the spirit of competition
which requires but little effort to fan it into
formidable opposition. Coalitions like tn
present one are of ordinary occurrence, bu
the experience of their results is not such
to lead us to hope for much from the new cor
bination.
The STATEN ISLAND FERRIEs.-For mar
years this journal has protested against