The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-03-05
Letter FROM Washington.
WASHINGTON d. c., March 2, 1871


Letter FROM Washington.
WASHINGTON ID. c., March 2, 1870.
REVIVAL OF AMERICAN COMMERCE.
To the Editor Of the Press.
The interest aroused through the faithful
Investigations made by and the able report
from the special committee of which your
representative, Hon. John Lynch, is chair
man, continues to increase, both in and out
of Congress A number of important petit
tons and memorials have have been received
recently, sustaining the repeal proposed in the
bills submitted with the report of the State
and municipal exactions and taxes now i'm
posed upon our shipping, and which bears
very hardly upon the coasting trade in partic-
ular. There is not day passes but memoir.
ais are being submitted asking for an examin-
alton and revision for the laws affecting the
interests of our merchant seamen, and also
with regard to the encouragement of mer-
camille marine apprenticeship system. 1t is
believed by many who are competent to form
an opinion, that from the admirable manner
of the important portions Of their work, that
they ought to be continued and charged to in
vestigate thoroughly the condition of our mer-
camille seamen, and the laws affecting their
shipping and protection at home and abroad.
The work so earnestly undertaken and thus
far so we'll done, will hardly be completed
without an efficient revision of the laws re-
ferred to.
There is considerable feeling aroused among
the pilots by their understanding of the bill
abolishing State dues. The Boston pilots,
through one of their number, have already
| asked a hearing, and the New York pilots
await the return of Mr.. Lynch before putting
Butler-(auhor of "Nothing to Wear,".dec.)
The fact that bill abolishing compulsory pi-
lotage has been read twice in the British
House of Commons, attracts attention among
those interested, and shows that there, as well
| as here, the necessity of some change is ap-
parent.
THE OCEAN STEAMSHIP ENTERPRISES
have been here in force since Mr.. Lynch's
| temporary absence. The committee have had
| three sessions, Mr.. Bufinton of Massachusetts
presiding. The first party who appeared be-
| fore the committee represented some impor-
tant railroad capitalists, also parties connect
the Morgan Iron Works, and T. F. Rowland
of the Continental Works.
Among the railroad interests represented
the Union Pacific, the Pennsylvania Central,
the Camden and Ambey, the Chicago and
Rock Island (Ill.) road and several others of
lesser magnitude. These parties were proba-
bly, deemed extravagant in their suggestions,
though they only put Mr.. Roach forward to
teel the way. He declared that the govern
ment must loan one-half the capital, which he
totalized at fourteen millions. The state
ment elected very strong response from diff
ferent members of the Committee, that no
such proposition could be considered.
1t is understood that the Attorney, Mr.
James Wadsworth is preparing bill asking
subsidy Of $25, 900 trip-weekly service, vessels
to run between New York and Liverpool.
This is the amount asked by the ~. S.
Mail S. S. Company" whose statements and
propositions are presented over the excellent
names OF =. X. Garrison and Gen. Rufus In
gals of New Y rk city. Mr.. Garrison is, next
to Cornelius Vanderbilt, the principal steam
| ship owner in the United States, The use of
his 4iame in this direction is a guarantee that
the enterprise would be fully executed. He
| is the owner of the mail steamship service
between New York and Rio de Janeiro.
One OF the novelties in such traffic was
given in statement made before the Com
mittee, that one of these ships, in the per-
Torrance iof. voyages whose aggregate dis
lance would be equal to .tive times the cir
conference of the earth, had never varied
fifteen minutes all together from the time she
was due at the wharf
The "United States Mail Steamship Com
pany" ask that five vessels, belonging to the
navy, Of which only two are in commission,
butt for speed, and capable according to such
experts as Mr.. Garrison, of making faster
ti~,,o hon l.:
be loaned them for five years. These it is
proposed to fit for the trans atlantic traffic
under such inspection as will see that they
are not impaired Tor naval purposes in case Of
need, land run week by line, at subsidy of
$4,000 per round trip. This would give US
line inside OF fours months. Three of these
vessels Amral Porter considers to be worth
| less. The other two are deemed serviceable.
The company would agree for the same sub
| sidy to build A l iron steamships, but
they could not be constructed under eighteen
months at the least.
Besides these projects, company known as
the Mediterranean and Oriental Steamship
Line" appeared and presented an elaborate
project, which does not ask for any money di-
rect from the Treasury. There is novelty,
both in their route, regions to be touched at,
| and in the manner by which they aim to get
their capital fixed at $20,000OO0. The vessels,
| If built, are to be not less than 81 in number,
sailing from New York weekly, from Norfolk
every third week, and from Port Royal as
often as business will warrant; to Port Said,
Egypt, calling first at Cadiz, Spain, then at
Marsailles, France, Genoa and Brindinsi,
Italy, and probably some Levantine port. 1t
is claimed that this opens what is virtually
new direct trade, certainly for steamship SER
vice, though during the year 1859, the value of
Mediterranean trade as in foreign vessels,
S9,O2S. O76; in American, $6,27O,696. This in
cludes imports, exports and re. exports. 1t
was claimed by the representative of this
company that French capitalists, also the Ital-
ian and Austrian governments were anxious
to see dilect steam communication opened
with the United States, and would heartily
cooperate in the effort.
The capital stock is to be raised, if at all, in
the following ingenious manner; The
Southern States are to be supplied with emf
grants, for which per capita bounty is to be
paid Of $25, bonds being made to bring
twenty thousand emigrants in; on the recep-
ton OF 10000, the State advances bonds to
this amount, 100000. It is claimed that
fourteen States can be induced to enter into
the arrangement and that with the bonds of
some Southern Land Companies, ten mil
lions will be raised. These are to be deposit
| ed with the Postmaster-General, who is to
| guarantee interest ON the company's bonds.
A land grant amounting to about seven mil
lion acres is asked, and on on these and other
securities the parties interested propose to
raise the needed money. The emigration
idea is a taking one and enlists the Southern
Congressman quite generally. Besides what
have named this company is to carry the
mails tor twenty years for the postage.
So much for the mail steamship projects
before the committee. The report and testi-
mony will be all printed by tomorrow and
ready for delivery in few days. Mr.. MINI
mos valuable report to the Secretary of the
Navy is all printed and ready. The discus
sion over the bills presented promises to be
very interesting. A number of members are
known to be preparing themselves General
Butler being among them. SPECTATOR.
News by the Latest Mails.