The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-21
WEDNESDAY, MARCH q, 1866.
The philadelphia and Southern Steamship
Line.

The philadelphia and Southern Steamship
Line.
WE publish elsewhere in oar issue to-day an
appeal to the merchants and capitalists Of our
city, from the Directors OF the PHILADELPHIA and
Southern Steamship Company. The address
is one which merits the careful consideration
of eur citizens. 1t sets forth that six hundred
and thirty thousand dollars have been sub
scribed to the stock of the Company, the con-
dition OF the subscription being that four lines
of steamers shall be run from this port to Will
mington, Charleston, Savannah, and New
Orleans.
In order, however, that the line should be
permanent and remunerative, and should con-
sist of substantial steamers, properly adapted
in size and construction to the ports to which
they will severally run, not less than one mil
lion ofdollars will be necessary. For the re-
naming $37O,O0o they appeal to the public
spirit and enterprise of our citizens.
When the design Of starting the proposed
line was originated, six hundred thousand
dollars was deemed sufficient; but cireum-
stances having demonstrated the advantage of
having larger supply, the gentlemen having
, the liberality and business tact of our citizens,
appeal again to them to make up the def
cheney. Nor can there be any surprise felt a.
the new request. When we consider that
unless this line is successfully started, and that
most speedily, we will have line Of steamers,
with a million capital, plying between
here and New York, and bearing all oar
HY.nfo 20 Nnv nrIy
but join with the meeting in urging prompt
additions to the already secured subscriptions.
That the effort will pay we cannot doubt
If any one will quietly examine the chances
of failure, they must be convinced OF the cer-
tainty of ultimate triumph. The danger to
which the effort is subjected arises from New
York competition. In order that such an
attempt should succeed it is necessary that
the freight from here to New 7 York, and from
there to the Southern cities, should not
exceed the cost of transportation direct from
our city to the seaports of the cotton States.
1t must he evident that, with very little
management, we will be able to ship all the
goods which would naturally desire to be sent
from here to the late Rebel section, and thus
prevent that power and wealth which is TO-
day being given to the metropolis by the
necessity of sending Philadelpbia goods to
New York for Southern shipment. This is
merely simple Logic. by our dleness we
have been sacrificing the natural advantages
secured to us by being hundred miles nearer
tie Southern market than our rival; by our
sloth and want Of energy we have been posi-
lively making the greater distance Of New
York a source of greater profit to her at our
expense. 1t is now for us to decide whether
we shall continue to be subservient to our
naughty and opulent rival, or shall break for
ourselves the bonds which chain us, and take
those advantages which nature has placed
within our reach.
IF the asked-fer addition be promptly given,
then will our city credit be preserved, and
new era opened in the commercial history of
our municipality. If it be delayed or refused,
the blame must rest on those who, knowing
what was needed for our local good, vir-
tually proclaimed to the world that all Of
Philadelphia combined had not as much
energy and hberality as one citizen Of the
metropolis. If we fail we deserve it; and If
New York succeeds in overcoming all the
difficulties Of space and nature, then we ad-
mire her for it, and are glad that one city is
willing to preserve the national credit for
enterprise. 1t is in the hands of the mer-
chants and capitalists of the Quaker City;
they hold the cards they can either play them
slzilfully and win, or else throw down their
hand end give up the game. They have it
within their power to make ths effort de-
served and great success; they can also make
it a miserable failure. Which, then, will
they do?
The Union State Central Committee.
Tile annnntmant Of Cnl0nal ERANK InRnAN