The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-01-11
National Steamship COMPANY.

A meeting of this Company, of
which Hon. John G. Smith, of st. Al
bans, is President, was held in Boston
on Friday. Preyious to the appoint
ment Of committee to solicit sub
scriptions, Mr.. Smith gavo history
of the movement, and portrayed its
influence upon the prosperity of Bos-
ton We quote from the Boston Jour
nafs report Of his remarks:
" He said thoy had already secured contract
with the u. :. Post Office Department for the
conveyance of the mails from this city to South
ampton, Antwerp, liavre. and to all other Euro
pcan places to which the Company might run
their vessels The plan upon which he desired
to act was the purchase of eleven ycssels orig
inaly intended for a line between New York and
San Francisco VIA the new railroad ON the 18TH
mus, which were offered them for two millions Of
dollars, five hundred thousand Of which are TO
be paid immediately IN gold, and the remainder
at the expiration of five years. giving the com
pany the first mortgage upon thCm. Gov.
Smith said lac did not desire the National Com
pany to Interfere in any way with the success
of the American steamship Company from this
port. His only wish was for the development of
the business Of Boston, and in that way iucreas-
ing the business of the railroads branching from
IL. Inc American company. ne understood,
wished to raise one million dollars to enable
them to purchase two more steamers, to make
their number four. and enable them to make q
trip each fortnight from Boston. He consid-
cred 1t better policy for the citizens of Bos-
ton to purchase the eleven vessels through the
American Company. for the five hundred thou
sand dollars. than two for o million He was
willing TO put two of them on the American line,
keeping the companies still distinct but tur-
nishng what the business Of the city demanded
IA fOrtuighty trip of steamer to Europe from
this port. He said it was now fact that all
the freight. of -four grain, &c., which comes
into this city through the different railroad av-
cnuos, was used entirely for the homo market,
and not a pound was shipped TO foreign ports
for the reason that the railroads did not reach
tide water, and because there was not ocean
steam transportation TO receive it, Every other
Atlantic seaport, Of importance. was seeing the
necessity of this, and were establishing their
own lines of steamers. and he feared that ere
long the amount of freight now brought into
the city for home consumption would grow
beautifully less 10y the corresponding general
decline IN business, which he felt must soon
ocenr from this want of an ocean outlet for the
stream of the productions of thc Canadas, and
the near and far West, which was ready to flow
through the city and which was sent to other
ports because shippers would not send their
goods over lines where they could not receive
through way-hills Portland was already start
I ing project by which they would have short
er and more direct railroad communication with
Ogdensburgh, n. Y, by means of new railroad
in Vermont which decreases the distance be-
, tween the two points over one hundred miles,.
This fact, he thought, pointed strongly to the
speedy starting of an ocean line of steamers
from that port. In conclusion ne depicted the
general stagnation and decline in the general
business Of Boston if the business community
allowed the freight from the West, for foreign
ports to pass through other Cities and get firm
, ~ established into beaten routes.
At the conclusion of Gov Smiths remarks,
the general committee appointed were instruct
ed To- request him to furnish a copy of them, on
. to deliver them again at as carly day as IN the
Judgment Of the committee il should seem most
2 advisable.
Gov. Smith was highly applauded
on resuming his chair; and the com
mittee were instructed to request him
to write out his able address, and
E place it at the disposal of the com
, lnittpe for Dublication.