The Portland daily press., 1863-11-09
The Portland Steam Packet Company.

The Portland Steam Packet Company.
Among the successful business enterprises
of this city, if not the most successful, is that
of the portland Steam Packet Company"
Twenty years ago, the following persons en-
tered into business arrangement to procure
and run a steamboat between this city and
Boston, viz: Lemuel Dyer & Son, Joseph
Brooks, William Kimball, John w. Sweet and
John B. Coyle. At the time it was proposed
to form this company for running steamboat
to Boston, the railroad communication was es-
tablished, and ii was generally supposed the
travel would mainly take that route, and that
steamboating, so far as passengers were con-
cerned, was entirely in the shade. The gen.
tlemen composing this company, however,
were not precisely of that opinion, and were
willing to risk something in an experiment.
The experiment was tried, with what success
the Treasurers report, from year to year, will
show.
This company built propeller of about 800
tons burden, 1.-THE Commodore Preble,) which
was put on the route in the spring of 1S4i
The hull was built by Messrs. Lemuel Dyer &
Son, and the engine was built in New York,
under the direction of the celebrated Mr.
Ericsson the first man who successfully applied
the screw wheel to steamers, and who has
since become celebrated as the builder of the
Monitor The joiner work was done by Mr..
John w. Sweet, and the whole under the SUI
perintendence of Capt. J. B. Coyle, who was
the business manager of the enterprise.
The prospect Of making money QUE Of the
business, was, for several months, rather
gloomy. The general belief, frequently ex-
pressed, was, that the whole thing would be a
failure and the investment lost; but the men
who composed the company were determined
not to give it up until the experiment had been
fairly tried. Not disheartened by the predic-
tion OF friends, and in opposition to the advice
of many who supposed they could see, not far
in the distance, the failure of the enterprise,
another propeller was built of about the same
size as the first (Gen. Warren). Several other
persons were induced to join the company
about this time. Fortune soon favored the
enterprise. Through the perseverance and
wise management of its Superintendent and
the industry Of all connected with the business,
1t soon became source of income, which in
duced the company, now Incorporated, to
make still larger OUTLAWS, and they purchase the
side-wheel steamer John Marshall and put her
on the route.
In 1850, they built the St. Lawrence, and in
1852 the Atlantic, each 600 tons burthen, and
side-wheel steamers. The propellers were sold
to company in New York to go to California.
From this time the success of this company
was no longer problematical. All obstacles
had been overcome and the Portland Steam
Packet Company had become one Of the insti
tutions, of no minor Importance, of this city.
In 1854 the Forest City was built, and two
or three years afterwards the Lewiston and
Montreal, side wheel steamers Of 1000 tons
burthen each, which are now owned by the
company. The Forest City is now in the en-
ploy of the government, aud the Lewiston
and the Montreal are on the route, leaving al
ternately Portland and Boston every night.
The capacity, safety and accommodation of
these boats are so well known to our citizens
that nothing need be said in reference thereto.
We venture nothing in saying, that no
steamboat enterprise was ever better conduct
ed, boats better differed aud manned, more
general order maintained on board and less
loss Of life and property occurred than has
characterized the operations OF the Portland
Steam Packet Co.
The following statistics furnished us by the
agent, will show something of the amount of
business done since this company was organ
lied. These boats have made, since that time.
IL POO trips, run 100000 miles, carried 1,l00,-
900 passengers, and 100000 tons of freight
No life has been lost or passenger materially
injured, or any accident to either Of the boats
by which it has been detained on the passage
occurred except one, and that very slight. No
bar has ever been allowed upon the boats, and
RAINING upon the Sabbath avoided when it was
possible. The most remarkable fact is, that
no person has had to resort TO the law to get
his just claim from the company.
The freight Of the Grand Trunk road from
st. Louis, Chicago, Detroit and Canada, as
well as along on the line Of that road, for Bos-
ton goes by this line. Some ten thousand
barrels of flour week are among the articles
OF freight coming from the West and going to
Boston by these boats, much Of the same -four
probably coming back to be sold in this State
The present investment of this company, COM
prising three steamboats,, buildings in Boston
aud Portland, &C., amount to about 100000.
The monthly expenses of the company are
about $4,000, one item being 400 tons OF COAL
The company gives employment to about $50
men In its various departments of business
and labor.
Capt. J. B. Coyle was one of the prime
movers and most persistent supporters of the
enterprise, and to his persevering, prudent aud
economical management, more than anything
else, is the company indebted for its success.
Mr.. Leonard Billings, the local business agent
Ia this city has had large experience in his de-
partment and has acted in that capacity since
the company was organized to the entire sat
isiaction of all concerned. Capts. Liscomb,
Prince and Knight have been in the employ of
the company from the commencement, which
fact speaks stronger in their praise than any
language we could make use of. The same
may be said of the other principal officers on
board each Of the boats Mr.. Charles Fobes
is now the President of the Company, and
Mr.. VIM. Kimball Treasurer. The net in