The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-05-23
steamers from SAN Francisco
10 Asia.

In 1865 Congress authorized u monthly steam
line between Sun Francisco, japan, and Chira,
calling ut The Sandwich Islands, 10 land and re
ceiVe passengers and mails. granting an annual
mail subsidy Of ", 600 for ten years.
The Pacific Mail Company was awarded the
contract, and the service commenced ON the LIST OF
January, lSe7, steamers leaving both ends of the
roaie simultaneously - the Colorado from sun
Francisco, and the Costa Rica from Hong Kong.
Tire Sandwich Islands part OF the contract was
Cancelled when il was found that the harbor of
Honolulu was too shallow for admitting vessels of
the class % be employed by the Company.
This change was made in consideration of the
Company extending the service Ia Naclsaki.
shanghae, and the inland sea ports, between
which ports and Yokohama there was no estab-
lisbed communication Five round through trips.
including branch service. were performed the first
year-quarterly trips NJ first, then six-weekly ser
vice When the Japan gets round, monthly trips
will commence. The oreninc of steam cammuni-
cation between San Francisco and the East is one
of the great events of the age. Although some
eight or ten thousand miles away. OF in another
hemisphere, the advantages which New York and
this country have gained l. far greater than that
Of any similar event. Had il not been for this
splendid line of American steamers. our relations
with the Celestials would not probably have been
what they are.
Few persons who have not studied the map. are
aware that Japan and China are some 1000 miles
nearer London, Paris. and other Eurorean cities.
80 eAD A~Nt eIA -NNN LIN NAsAAl ~ NllN
other route. The time already gained Is some
twenty-five days and a considerable saving in cost:
when the Pacific Railroad il completed the time
viii be nearer forty days. Previous to starting
the American line the only means of communion
ton between Europe, a. well as America, and the
East was by sailing vessels around the Cape of
Good Hope; between Hong Kong and Liverpool
the time occupied was usually from 90 To 100
days; 10 New York, about the same time in the
swiiteSt American clippers. Comparative merits
pf rnure shnVVn in one iuSranpp- In Iulv last
500 tons of CHOICE teas Were shipped by the Great
RePabhe, ana were delivered in New York. ria
san Francisco and Panama, in splendid condition.
were Twiee sold when the remainder of the lot,
which took the Cape of Good Hope route, was
unheard from.
The American line now send passengers or
freight from China or japan RIA New York TO any
part of Europe without change of ticket or bill of
lading- with the privilege of stopping anywhere
on the way three days or Sir months. The ticket
II always good. \ weekly line between this port
and Europe is in contemplation by the Pacific
Mail Company, for carrying their through passen-
gers and freight.
The shortest and most direct cut between japan,
China, and Europe was by the Peninsular and
Oriental Line british steamers) RIA Aiediterra-
mean and Mtarseilles. The time occupied was six
ty-iye days, and cost S7S5, gold, between Hong
Kong and London, nearly double the cost and
time now occupied by the American line ra San
Francisco and New York.
Inc success winch mas attended the Olenlnr OF
steam communication between San Francisco and
the East, has exceeded all expectation. The great
distance which these ships have TO run, I,76I
miles, without stopping, with little prospect of
trade 1T first, it was not expected that the line
would pay on the start. Contrary to expectation,
the Colorado, the pioneer ship, the first trip, in
stead of losing $780, 00, mated sol 900 over all
expenses. The net profits the first year, on five
round voyages, was Sl47 ,772 81. From the
start, European travel and freight, such as bull
ION. metals. raw silk. spices, drugs, fine poIce-
lain, teas, DC, have rapidly increased, and the
line has proved highly remunerative.
HE American line, for the European trade,
comes into competition with the most gigantic
steam line in the world Peninsular and Orien-
that has held the monopoly of trade in
the East for the last quarter of a century. The
Governments liberal mail policy has done much
toward making IL what II Is. When this line first
started, the mail subsidy amounted To 81 per
mile; the service having been greatly extended.
the pay now amounts To 81 IS per mile; the an
nuai mail subsidy Is now $500 ,0O0, equal To
81. 5OU, 900 Of our currency. The Ameri-
can line receives less than % cents Ter mile for
carrying the mail.
Here are some of the natural advantages in
favor Of the American Line. which must make it
the iayOrite route for Oriental and European trav-
I'll. Of all the dreaded horrors which an Oriental
Steamer suggests. heat is the most awful. Who,
then, instead OF sweltering in The torrid heats of
the Red Sea and Indian Ocean thirty or forty DAYS.
the thermometer runs higher than in any
other portion Of the known world, would not pre-
going by the American Linc-five thousand
miles shorter, four weeks quicker, and for half
the cost? Besides, the whole distance between
China, and Europe Except the Isthmrs
IF Panama) is in palatial steamers, and in the
delightful cool regions of the North Temperate
zone.