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

sbrosd is the only American steamer which crosse, tb
ocean.
ooyERNNrST SUBSIDIES TO OCEAN STEAMERS
The wisdom and propriety OF Government paying sub
sides t. ocean steamers for the conveyance OF TIE mall
has been widely discussed IN both this country and IN In
g.and by able writers by the press OF the two countries
and the oOr Of the House VI Commons ana the Nails
OF Congress
In the beginning Of the controversy the liberal view
prevailed in this county Inc general seAtiineit q the
steam lines rapidly achieved over All rivals ana by tht
continued successes OF the American shipmaster, Was
clearly IN favor Of giving every 70 these
enterprises. Ire disasters which overlook the Collins
nesasters beyond the control OF mechanic OF master
beyond the ken of Government or owncr-so-ns Elat
class Of who, changing their views from those
which they had before entertained. determined that
they would longer support what they were passd to
call tribute TO Northern prosperity ana hoftherh cOh
commerce. II IL needless here to oppose this narrow
policy. Tho day has passed and passed ior ever when
American VIII look with jealousy on the fostering OF
Development Of any branch OF the industry OF the eoun
try whether agricultural, commercial or MECHANICAL.
Yet nothing is certain than that mn were found
(aud Til, VAS as nothing compared with their later
crno) who were ready ~ destroy the commercial 81.
prrmaey Of this nation and to strip IL Of It's night arm OF
oeuse by Gripping its marine, that II might DC the
more p0wcrss resist their then premedtated treason
Unfortunately their courses prevailed. and the ocean
steamers in which the country took such hearty and
honest pride are among the memories OF the past.
| La England no such false policy has prevailed. From
The year leo gben the experiment. Of the sirius havnS
succeeded the Government set itself to work 10 ond
In chains the OF the peeH
no hesitation drawback on tho part oI The authorities
Repeated Investigations have been had; volumes OF es
timony have been published; economists have attacked
the systcm In vain. EndeaYorS nave Deen mhOe 70
stimulate the lines 80 support themselves, yet VIA; Il
tie rtsultl One answer viii suffice. LORD STANLEY, OF
Aderley tho Postmaster General of Great Britain, IL
his report of 1904 says:
regards the cost OF tho packet service generally
entertain hope that at some distant time those pack
cts viii all be s0fsupportng-that H. that the SUBSIDY
viii In instance exceed the amount oil sea postage
L 10 ,rfaf Nil ID
deficiency and the question will remain how the de-
feency is To be made eood" and he suggests that the
colonies should be made 20 pay oIehi Oh te eoSi U
supportng the seryce-whieh may be the case at DIS
taa period. IT, without competition, these lnes cannot
b. maintained without Government subsidies II IS nos
probable that they viii DO maintained Win suoh eomPe
tition. nj. ~ -.
ment were ready abandon the system OF SUBSIDIES
There is little doubt that the system WIN De aDadoeu
so .oyn a. The commerce which the lines develop De-
c,s .utllcieny great 10 enable them TO support them
selves by freight and passengers ana oidner! sea post
ara Ii in stated that this is already the case WITH the
tade 10 the United States and questionable whether
the Cuuard line will receive on the expiration Oh It's
contract renewal On as favorable terms The nunler
on- lines sprngng Up lead TO this conclusions Du nere
h. no evidence that ths withdrawal Of Government ald
il n, applied 10 the South American West Indian OF
Fast Indian lines On the contrary, every year some
thng additional is granted to their support and e1ten
sou nnd the per cd which they VIII be seislstaAS
snears TO b,i "a stated By Lord Stanley remote.
On reference the rate OF speed OF the BRUSH lines
On rho foreign service particularly that 20 the west
Indies ard tho South American coast, u VIII DC tolld
hot The reason for this inability Of the lines to sustain
seyes does not arise from the large consumption OF
coa requisite to high rate OF speed % long as there
ia no competition tle Government does not exact very
ranid service Doubtless, when such competition oc
c1rS tho subsidies viii be increased aud the lines DO
hrther encouraged. This applies especially to she coast
| lines ~, -, :, lin .,oo.o "a
as 10 whether any sde-whce steamers Of sufficient SIC
strength and speed to meet the present requirements OF
travel and postal demand, can Do maintained without
snsides with any profit tho owners WINE Is not
donicL that screw steamers may be SO managed as TO
run with profit without Government AID.
| In 1900 q special committee was appointed py the
Uonse of Commons TO consider the whole subject OF
steam packet aud Geographic COMMUNICATION Inns
committed reported the cost o. and 1858 10 uoYeru
by the Cunnrd line showing the difference as agalnst
the Government have been IN the year 1907 a'3OVO
or S395OOo ,o,o
Tho loss TO Great Britain by al the nes was IN 1859
a5l4 400 or 81 57sO 600. What smail per Centase 70
nay for the increase which steam cohlu!ea-
lion has given 10 commerce. and the comforts It has
II no pecuuiary gain resulted IL were small price to
nav for the happiness which II promotes drawing near
tho distant and loved and again uniting Tor season
those Who but for this anniation OF TINE ana space
had been forever divided 49,.
In the beginning Of the mail service the British Gov
ernment 50 far from losing. was gamer Dy iu COP
tracts with the Cunard steamers.
1t has been estat that In the six years from ls4
10 1876 inclusive the amount Of moneys received for
sea hostages from the Cunard line by the British Gov.
ernmen was s7e36 $40; the amount paid for the ser.
vice g. $50 COO leaving balance 70 the circuit OF Greaf
Britain Of s., 2sG, 800
This es, mate was based an average mail Of co 900
ietfers .O 900 printed papers and average yield II
SJ lOl This WA tue estimate submitted 70 the Senate