Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-03-20
TRANspACIFIc mani sERv1Cr


One Of the great events Of 1867 is the connect
ing Of the eastern aud western homsphores by o.
line Of iirst-class American mail steamers. The
Great Republic and the Great East are now in
communication boy steam over the Pacific, and by
electric telegraph under the Atlantic. The trans
Pacific steam ship line was inauguratcd on New
Years by the sailing OF the Colorado from San
Francisco for Japan and China direct the arrival
at Kanagawa on the 22d, and at Hong Kong on
the 3Oth Considering this was the most unfavor-
able season Of the year-head winds all the way
it was on the whole very good voyage. Return
ing, the Colorado will have the benefit Of the
northeast trade winds and will probably make a
much quicker run.
The time saved over the lsthmus and Red Sea
route was not very great-some five or six da +
only. The time once gained 10y sailing vessel and
q" pony express from Japan TO London. via of
San francisco aud New York was twent, three
days When the Pacific RAILROAD is built, the
saving of time will bc about twenty-five days be-
tween Hong Kong and London.
The ice is now broken, and the first entrance
made TO an Asiatic port hy an American mail
steamer Africa, British India, in fact the whole
Eastern World, is vet almost Polar sea to Anne
rican steamers, whilst British and French capital
has thrown network of steam over the whole
from Australia TO Constantinople. and from China
10 The Cape Of Good Hope.
The direct line of the new route Of course leaves
oul lloHululu anu inc NdIuWith lNlAnuSi thht part
OF the service. 10 is understood is TO be performed
'hy smaller class ships. Among the items Of the
Post-oiiice Appropriation Bin which passed the
House was 100000 for the Japan and China mail
service, with provisions for allowing the Company
to disconue touching at Honolulu.
The Colorado will make another trip before the
new ships are ready. which will be by the LIST of
May and june respectively.
Except in California this Pacific line has attrac-
ted but little interest as the benefits which will
accrue from opening communication with the East
will interest mainly the Pacific States. This ought
not to be so. The saving of 1000 miles and three
weeks time between the great tea ports of China
and Japan and the commercial cities of continent
tai Europe and America is great deal. With
superior freight and passenger accommodation
trade from Asia will naturally take the cheapest
and most expeditions route.
The magnificent ships which are building for
the Pacific Line will challenge the admiration of
every American, especially 1T be- has ever visited
the East and travelled through the Red Sea and
Indian Ocean with the thermometer at 1850, In
the little black dngy screws Of the Peniusular and
Oriental Line. The ships of the Japan { nina
Mail Line are 10 be five 10 number four Of them
new ships The Great Republic and The Celestial
Empire will be- ready 20 start round the Cape of
Good Hope TO take their places IN the line, by
the lst of May and June. The other two new
ones have been commenced and will be ready by
another year The four new ships are to be Of
uniform model, size, power aud strength similarly
constructed and fitted up they will be 5000 tons
and cont $1,000 Coo each
Business is fast improving in Japan A late
report of Sir II Parkes, Her britannia Maest, s
Consul at lokahama, to Earl Clarendon shows
that the increase Of imports Of 1860 were 100 per
cent. over ieGl