New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-05
HISTORY oY AMERICAN LINES.


This famous line IN tho history Of which the Amer
can finds 30 much TO CRAFTY ST national pride and 80
much 10 awaken feelings sympathy and regret went
into operation under the contract with Government in
the year 1870 On the 9th Of April Of that year the
Atlantic sailed from NewYork TO Live DOL on her fret
voyage. The Pacific followed early in the Summer the
Ratio in the month Of November, and the Arctic In
December The splendid character and great speed oi
the vessels and Ae justly celebrated reputation oil tle
commanders, at once won the confidence OF Inc uaNc
ing pUbc both sides OF The Atlantic ana tbe tttH
ers were crowded with freight and the best class oil pas
eenCers and seemed ~ ENJOY harvest oil pfOSpoiY'
intervening between the trips OF the Cunard steamers,
thew on many OCCASIONS brought more AZ an
canal price tLnn were brought by the Englsh steamer
which preceded followed them and inc DOCKS OF Ho
line will show that their receipts were Iai ger a t
sel-gOing expenditures. But beneath TINS piOspcr1!
there we're seeds q ruin which. under ordinary cc-
stances might never have appeared.
The vessels had beeI constructed az AN enormous
and large sum had " be paid 10 contractors IOr the
machinery and engines on this account Inc pruuent
contractors hesitated 10 incur the expense OF construct
the new machinery requisite TO build such ehOrHOS
zines unless at an extraordinary price. These Fesees
cost about s675,0O0 each while 1t is known thas the
Asia and Africa (Cnnard sieamerl dld not cost over
$40 COO 10 construct. Thus the line entered on q
strugole with an established and successful rva Wmch
had for ten years enjoyed monopoly Of the TRACE WIN
heayy mortgage on Its properly SIN IL wouid naNe
overcome this disadvantage under the grehi pOpHc
favor which ii enjoyed, but for the disasters which
aferward overlook it, and which were beyond Gil
human control , -
In NCDtHUDer OF lcO3, lHt AISt4Nb f%'NNf N~'
into collision Off Cape Race, with the French steamer
Vesta and went down, with 2l2 passengers and io oil
her crew. . - ,,,,., III 4,
In January, 1876 the Pacific Capt Eldridge, sailed
rron LIVERPOOL aud was heard from no more.
In tue same year the Adriaic, the largest steamer
then afoat was launched OF New-fOIk Inc embar'
easements Of tho Company were now at Their night
and from the pressure VI debt and disasters never re-
covered Ia o5e the mOrgagees doubtful rs TO the se.
curity OF their investment determined 10 reale ana
tho naming steamers the Atlantic Baltic ana Adrl-
attic, were Withdrawn from tie service and sold
Tie Government Of the United States demanded YES
sells Of size model and power tha would secure TIE
HIGHEST rate Of speed and such vessels could only be
portonae expense IN running them Nor to be COZ
ceaod that in the management Of this line there was
wanting that regard 20 economy which Ii ebsehtlM W
success In enterprises OF this nature.
Rut this line did not close without having rendered
the public great, inestimabie service ncompehg
AN ifcrcase In tue ST.. accommodations and speed oi
tho British Line. Thus in lS47 the average passafes
Of the Cunard steamers to and from Boston, were 10
days and hours, which was, in 1853, reduced 10 Is
DAYS % hours gain Of day hours. The Same year
the average OF New York passages OF the CunErd Inc
10 days 10 hours On this line the Biitsh Owners
had put their fastest boats. - c-,
Throughout tic period Of the competition OF the Coz
Inns with the CunaId line, all the honor was TO The
former It's steamers beat their English rivals nearly
day and half Oh tbs average voyages. IN hothhg " ~
American pride more interested and grained IMAM II
this signal triumph Of national industry ana enterprise
The following tables present the comparative hpeeu o.
the American and British steamers at sundry PERIODS
AyERAGE P0tgiges Of the CVndrd Ate0ers IN 1888 Jofn va
H6p0rt 10 PdThamsnt o. The Select COMMITTEE IN I7"o'
] LIVERPOOL AND LOST0N.
TaR AnaTn TO