New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-07
gTF5tf m THE MEAN.

York, has elected an array OF statistics ana
facts in regard to the extent and Importance
of the trade between us and the countries
bordering on that classic sea, whose shores are
strewn with the wrecks of ancient common
wealths and empires. The opening OF the Suez
Canal has already changed the grand current
of commerce back toward its ancient channels,
that long ago teemed with the traffic OF Tyre
Carthage. Egypt, Greece, and Rome, and
new life strs the waters of the great inland
sea and it's tributaries. Steam and electricity
ioin hands with the spirit of progress, and tho
sluggish old nations OF Southern Europe
Western Asia, and Northern Africa, are begin
ming to shake off the paralysis which despotlsm
and ignorance have so long imposed upon them.
More than one thousand vessels of thousand
tuns each are annually employed In carrying
Coal from England to the countries bordering
the Mediterranean; and for the past four years,
that article has averaged 81 so in gold per
tun. delivered anywhere within the Straits OF
Gibraltar. Great Britain has thus far been the
only source of fuel for the steam commercial
and naval marine of all those countries. Under
the new order of things, growing out OF the
opening of the Suez Canal, steam Will almost
entirely supersede sailing vessels along the great
central line of trade around the world and this
will make vastly increased demand Tor the
better kinds of Coal. This demand can only
be supplied from the inexhaustible mines OF the
limited States The best steam generating
Goals can be sent from Norfolk to any OF the
ports of the Mediterranean for 81 30 per tun,
allowing a freight of 81 per tun. The ships
that are proposed to be built under the sanction
of the bill before Congress are designed TO
carry 5000 tuns of dead weight on compare
lively shallow draft, and thus would be able to
take ont a $4,000 freight of Coal, the demand
for which would employ hundreds of such
steamships. A line of steamships, sailing I'M
der the American flag and opening up con-
stantly new commercial relations, would COM
mand the confidence and the business neces-
sary to triumphant success. Austria, Italy,
Turkey, &c. know that we have no Interior
designs against their territorial interests; hence
our flag passes the Dardeneles. day or night
unchallenged while those of great European
nations are not permitted to do so. With this
mutual good understanding between the United
States and all the countries bordering upon the
Mediterranean, the Adriatic and the Black Seas
and their great tributaries with population OF
$50, 900 900, the time seems proptious for the
establishment of great American line OF steam
ships to cross the Atlantic from New York,
Norfolk and Port Royal or BrunsWick-(the
only deep-waer harbors on our Southern
coast)-to Cadiz in Spain, which is equl-dlstant
from New-York with Liverpool. Steamships
travelling on this line avoid all danger from
icebergs or the cold storms peculiar to the
northern route and would thus be enabled to
make better average time than is made on that
route. From Cadiz, these steamships would
pass in through the Straits of Gibraltar to
Marsees, Genoa, and other ports meeting
the three Italian lines of steamers, with the
immense international commerce carried be-
tween the smaller ports of the Mediterranean,
numbering several hundred vessels, and the
great Austrian Lloyds, numbering ninety
steamers. The aggregate OF commerce, direct
and indirect, between this country on the one
hand and Spain, Portugal, Southern France,
Switzerland, Austria, Southern Germany, Italy,
Greece, Turkey, Southern Russia, SYRIA,
Arabia, Egypt, Algeria, and other States OF
Northern Africa, exceeds 100000 tuns per
annum, of which 100000 are engaged III the
direct trade. More than 100000 bales of Amerl-
can cotton are annually consumed in the cOun-
tries of Southern Europe, of which 10000 bales
are taken by Barcelona Spain. TO this must
be added more than $4,000 hhds. of Tobacco,
with immense quantities OF Pitch, Lumber ana
other Naval Stores; nearly all OF which are
now taken to Liverpool, Hamburg, or Bremen,
and sent thence by rail to their final destlna-
ton. thus adding largely to the cost to the
consumer, as well as diminishing the price paid
70 the producer The establishment OF direct
lines of communication under the American
flag would change all this and hundred
steamers. in two or three well-Organzcd lines,
would soon be required to carry on this im-
mense and constantly increasing traffic
The greatest interest is felt, especially in
Austria and Italy, in the establishment of di-
rect steamship communication under our flag
with those countries. The most liberal offers
of material aid have been rendered the Med
iterranean and Oriental Steam Navigation Co.,
by purchasing its bonds, SO soon as the legiSla-
ton now pending in Congress shall have been
perfected. This legislation takes nothing di-
rectly from the Treasury, interferes with no
other steamship project now before Congress,
and is in itself especially praiseworthy mas
much as it proposes to bring organized colo
MES of immigrants of the better class from the
various countries of Southern Europe to
strengthen the free industrial population to
the various Southern States, in numbers, intel
ligencc, and industry adequate to develop the
natural resources and the healthful prosperity
of those States and to increase their staple pro-
ducts whether for home consumption or for
export.
IL the list of passengers 10y the steamship