The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-06-25
The Australian steam Line.


Nothing of Importance has transpired during
the past month regarding this great enterprise,
except that Congress has, through its committee
of commerce, decided to authorize the Postmaster
General to enter into contract for steam service
with Australia. Sixty days notice must be given,
before proposals are accepted. A proviso is
attached to the offer, namely, that the colonial
governments shall contribute a like subsidy to the
one paid by the American Government. AS the
latter proposes FIVE hundred thousand dollars, the
whole subsidy will be one million, sufficient to
build and maintain a splendid feet of vessels.
English capitalists, however, are in the field,
determined to secure the trade and travel over
this new route. According to the II Relia-
BILE information is to hand of the formation in
England of the Atlantic and Pacific Steamship
Company, the object of which is to carry out a
steam line via San Francisco to Australia. The
company propose to run from Milford Haven, in
Wales, to Portland in Maine, and there connect
with the Grand Trunk Railway which runs to
Chicago. Lord Louthe is the President, and Sir
Charles Clifford Vice President of the Company.
1t is stated that the Great Western Railway
Company of England and the Grand Trunk line
of America have contributed towards the capital
stock of the company, no less than $500 600, so
as TO secure the traffic via their roads. The
company guarantee to do the through trip in 40
days. 1t is said that should Mr.. Webb obtain
the United States subsidy the Atlantic and Pa
cifc company will leave TO him the Pacific traffic,
making such arrangements as, will give them that
of the Atlantic. The company have agreed to
purchase three of the steamers which were run
by the old Panama line to Australia, and a fine
new vessel from the p. and o. Company. So
that business is evidently meant The company
will carry the Canadian mails, for which of
course q subsidy will be received. It may yet
be doubtful as to who will get the contract from
the Government of the United States, but it is
quite certain that a first class line will ere long
90 into operation, if only the Colonies will eschew
their local jealousies, and a sufficient number of
them unite upon the scheme. New Zealand,
New South Wales and Queensland were the first
to take up the question of a steam line via Cali
fornia. Their hearty cooperation will alone be
sufficient to make the line a success. 1t Victoria
pins her faith to the pet scheme of any p~articu-
lar local politician. great indeed will be her folly
and we much mistake if she will not in the end
have much cause to regret it. The formation in
England of a company with such an influential
directory as that possessed by the Atlantic and
Pacific Company, shows that thoughtful, we'll
informed men thoroughly realize the superiority
of the route opened up by the completion of our
trans-continental railroad. The Government of
the Western Colonies of Australasia and of the
United States of America, and wealthy capitalists
of England having agreed upon this routes will
be for Victoria to consider well whether she can
afford to stand aloof when arrangements reason
ably satisfactory to her can be Effected
| Regarding the plans of Messrs. Holiday &
Brenham and Mr.. Hail of Sydney, the same
paper has the following:
Among the competitors who will tender for the
subsidy for the Australian steam line so soon as the
bill before Congress becomes law, is the North Pacific
Transportation Company. Should this company get
the United States subsidy they will build first class
tons for 200 first, 200 second and 500 third class
passengers, with all modern improvements, to steam
II to 13 miles per hour. Estimates of the cost of
the steamers have been made and the contract will
be issued for building at an early day. The company
are now carrying the mails to Honolulu, under con-
tract with the United States Government for ten
years, which is one third of the distance towards
Australia, and it is reasonable to suppose their
chances for the subsidy are at least equal to those of
any one else. The company have steamers that will
answer for the through service until the new ones
are built. The North Pacific Transportation Company
have arranged to make close connections with Mr..
Halls steamers at Honolulu, and will, if required,
place on the route from Honolulu to Sydney, steamers
better adapted for the service. This company is q
wealthy Californian organization owning some 16
steamers, and their ability to carry out any engage
ment into which they enter is undoubted."