The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-12-14
THE GREAT AMERICAN STEAMSHIP
OWNER Il PHILADELPHLAN.

We copy from the Germantown (Pa.) Tele-
graph the following interesting letter, by
which 1t appears that Thomas Clyde, Esq, OF
Arch street, Philadelphia, Is the heaviest steam
ship capitalist In America. We need hardiyre-
mind our readers that this gentleman is asso-
clated largely in the steamships of the New
York Iron Line and of the Philadelphia and
Charleston steamers, represented here by
Messrs. Wagner. Huger & Co., and Mr.. VIM.
A. Courtenay. The Philadelphia correspon.
dent of the Germantown Telegraph writes:
Our city has the well-known reputation Of
having the most colossal railroad corporation
in the world, but has not ct, much I repute FOR
maritime enterprise. 1t will, therefore, prob
ably surprise your readers TO learn that We
have here the greatest ship-owner in Amer
lea, Such Is the fact. His name is Thomas
Clyde, and he resides In Arch street, and has
shipping house here and one in New York,
and also has branch houses In Baltimore,
Charleston, Fernandina, New Orleans and Gal
weston, aud other cities OF the Southern sea-
board. He owns ffly-two steamers, all In con-
slant use, and Is steadily aiding to his fleet BY
building new ones. W. P. Clyde Is his son and
financial manager and resides In New York,
where his Office Is at No. l19 Wall street. The
old gentleman Is rather modest about his ship
ping, and does not wish any display on the
subject, but take the liberty of putting In his
claim us the largest ship-owner in America.
He has come 10 the wise conclusion 10 buy
no more wooden vessels and to build no more,
being satisfied now that 1t is better 10 substi-
tute iron for wood. Cramp has now in process
of construction new iron screw propeller for
this great shipping merchant. So you see, al
though our city does not rate very high as
seaport, the race of our great merchants Is not
l,v m a
In America can beat Mr.. Clyde's feet Of fifty
two steamers, should be pleased 10 hear Of
It,
Mr.. Cramp has got the keel of one of the
fine new propeller steamers for our Liverpool
line laid, and IL measures three hundred and
thirty feet, from which some idea Of the size
of the vessels may be formed. This Is at
Stockhsm's old yard at the foot Of Norris
street, KenslngtoD, where Cramp is building
yery large shops for the making OF the iron
mates and machinery. The first steamer will
not be ready before next September, but by
the time the whole contract Is filed. Cramp
will have the most complete iron shtpbufdlng
establishment In America. The epgfnes VIII
be of the latest aud best English compound
pattern. the saving of fuel BY which constI-
iutes an important item both in cost Of rum
ming and In storage room. Among the firms
| who competed for this contract was that oil
Roach G Steers, who succeed the Reaney En-.
| glneerlng Company OF Chester. understand
| that their designs for the four steamers have
been accepted by New York party and
contract entered iIto. The Information reach
| ing me is that the ships are to run from New
York to Liverpool, but as they will cost more
than our steamers we shall have the advan.
| ta9e of them. Cramps estimates are consld
cred by the trade generally to be very low,
but his managemenis are made In such way
that think he will be able to realize profit
on the steamers. That, however, Is less au
object with him than to put upon the sea four
frst-class steamers that will be card for him
wherever they CO." q: