Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1861-03-16
POLL 0TG0AA.

Proceedings OF Meeting Held ut tho Hall
of the Bank of Charleston, 22d Februa ",
1861.
The meeting was organized by calling c.
Nj. Coffin, Esq, to the Chair Mr. Coffin
explained the object of the meeting to be the
adoption of such measures as will secure the
establishment of direct line of steam ships
between Charleston and Liverpool
Proposals of very favorable nature had
been made to some of our prominent citizens,
who, upon consultation, referred them to a
Committee of persons of experience to exam
inc carefully, This Committee was now rca.
dy to report.
MIR. Mure, on behalf the Committee, then
read their report as follows
The Committee, appointed to consider the
proposals submitted by Mr.. Barry, on behalf
OF persons in England, with view to the es.
tnblish'nent of line of steam ships between
Liverpool aud Charleston, beg respectfully to
report:
!. That, in common with the whole COM
muniS, they recognize the necessity of a
steam ship line to Europe, as a means of pre-.
serving the commercial Importance of Charles.
ton.
2. That upon a careful Investigation into
all the details of expenditure, and a moder
ate estimate of the probable earnings of boats
Will adapted to This trade, they arc firmly
persuaded that such line of steamers, Judi
ciousIy managed, would pay handsome profits
to the Stockholders.
Is. That the proposals submitted by Mr..
Barry are, in brief, as follows:
l. The parties whom he represents, Mr..
n. NJ. Weir, very respectable gentleman of
London, already largely interested in steam
ships, and Mcssrs. Laird & CO., whose rcpu-
tation as builders of iron steamers is unri-
vailed, will agree to raise in Great Britain
one-half the capital requisite for this enter
prise, IT the remainder can be raised here
The proposed capital is Gl50,000, or nearly
S750,000.
2. A Joint Stock Company is to be formed
IN England, under the Limited Liability Act,
III which the Charleston shareholders will be
on the same footing with all others
D. The Company, once formed is to build
three iron screw propcllcrs, and to place
chem in regular line between Liverpool and
Charleston
a. The steamers arc TO be built by Messrs.
Laird & CO., with special view to the peculiar
necessities Of our port and its commerce.
In the preliminary specifications it is stated,
that steamers of 1890 tons measurement, ca,
pacity 400 bales Cotton, (taking the bale at
40 lbs.,) and with engines of $50 horse
power, will cost Ell 900 each (Thc horse.
power is nominal under the admiralty rule
The effective capacity of the engines SO rated
as about 600 horse powcr.)
These proposals seem to the Committee to
be made in good faith they certainly eman-
ate from parties entitled to the utmost con-
fidence.
The means of information possessed by
those with whom the measure originated, is
such, that their willingness to take half the
risk should convince US of the intrinsic mcr
ats of the enterprise.
The proposals are extremely advantageous
to us; inasmuch as if we avail ourselves of
them, We secure all tho advantages of the
line to the commerce of the port, while we
bear but half the cost. ri Hf
It is also but too certain that if with our
profound conviction of the importance of
steam communication with Europe, at mo-
ment when that Importance assumes the pro
portions Of a vital necessity, we decline to
seize such an occasion of establishing line
not only will foreigners undervalpe the homes.
ty OF cur declarations, but We shall lose so
MUCH consideration in our own eyes and those
OF our neighbors, that similar projects will
hereafter seek other communities, and we
shall be left in the repose of an iDgloriousG in
activity, forgotten and condemned. On the
other hand, prompt and vigorous prosecu-
tion of this enterprise TO successful termin-
alton, will not only accomplish the immediate
end in view, bat viii ihyigorate the commer-
cial energies of our people and establish a
prestige in their favor, which will be Of no
istle consequence in tho futpre uow opering
upon the South. ~