Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-09-13
the PACIFIC MAIL.

From an extensive article in the
dltd, devoted to an exhibit of the pres
ent condition of the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company's lines. we con-
dense the following points of interest:
Within the past year the company
has already added to their fleet afloat
six new iron screw steamers, of which
four cost half million each, and two
cost three hundred and fifty thousand
dollars each.
Recently they have launched two
of the finest steamships In the world,
the Bity of Peking and City Of Toxic,
each costing one million one hundred
and fifty thousand dollars. They are
now in New York, receiving their
machinery and outfits, and will both
sail for San Francisco within the next
thirty and sixty days.
In building these ships, every pre-
caution and experience has been
availed of, and 1t is confidently ex-
pected that they will be able to make
the run from Hongkong to San Fran
cisco, via Yokohama, i'm twenty days,
as they are guaranteed by the builder,
under a heavy forfeit, to make l4A
knots per hour.
The six new iron steamships already
running are paid for, and the two now
finishing will leave New York with
clean titles.
CHINA LINE.
On the arrival of the new vessels at
San Francisco, the Company's China
line will be composed of the Great
Republic, China, Japan, City of Pc
king and City of Toxic. The Alaska
and Colorado, now running on this
route, will be held as spare ships-one
at Hongkong, the other at San Fran
cisco---for use in emergencies, to load
when required as extra ships during
the tea season.
The Company have recently closed a
contract with Messrs. John Roach &
Son, of Chester, Pa, for three new
iron steamships for their China line.
They will probably be better adapted
to that trade than anything yet built.
They will all be fifty feet longer
than the Colima, with one additional
deck, and will cost 100000 each, in
Guiding outfits; the contract price for
iron work being 100000. They will
carry 800 steerage passengers and 81
600 measurement tons of freight.
They are to be finished within
twelve months, and will have so per
cent. more power than the Colima,
with six boilers instead of four, and so
pounds pressure compound engines.
Their speed are to be sixteen knots per
hour, or 1.-the fastest of any steam
ships in the world"
They are building in accordance
with the regulations Of Bureau Yer
itas, and are to be Is to 20 per cent.
stronger than are required by English
Lloyds.
In addition to the three new iron
screw steamships already referred to
as building, the Company has under
contract two others, all of which are to
be engaged in the trade of this port
with China and Japan. The five, when
complete, will cost over four million
dollars.
The company originally expended
$4,000, 900 to open up the trade of this
port with China, and they now pro-
pose to retain what they have so
largely developed, by bringing teas,
silks, ETC., from China and Japan at
as low a rate Of freight as any line
now or hereafter on this route.
After the arrival here of the Peking
and Toxic, the aggregate capacity per
annum of the China steamers alone
will be $4,000 tons weight, or 5000
tons measurement.
The present administration desire to
so conduct the company's affairs as to
merit the hearty approval of this
community, believing that by so
doing they will best succeed In plac-
ing the company upon strong and
permanent basis, alike profitable to
themselves and their patrons. And
suggestions tending to this end will,
we hear, be cheerfully received and
acted upon as far as practicable, and
such will be considered as true friends
who thus aim to assist In correcting
any outstanding abuses.
1t Is undeniable that the Welt Coast
of North America has brilliant fu-
ture before it, and its business on the
Pacific Ocean will never be less than
at present. A large fleet of steamers
will inevitably be required for the
growing necessities of its commerce.
The Pacific Mail Steamship COM
pany have ships and experience nee
essary to develop and conduct this
business profitably. They now seem
determined to keep thoroughly up
with the times, by building new iron
steamers having all the latest i'm
provements in speed and comfort.
Last but not least, they are emphat-
ically California creation, associated
with it's growth, and the company,
standing alone, has maintained a
fleet of carrying vessels which have
flown at their peak, for over quarter
of century, through fair weather and
foul, a flag that should be the pride of
every true American heart,