New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-14
a NATIONAL ENTERPRISE.

CLASS IRON STEAMERS CARRYING THE AMERICAN
FLAG ACROSS THE oCEAN-HIsToRY OF THE Elk
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE VESSELS.
FRos THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
PHILADELPHIA, July every winter since
the war ended Congress has been told by crowd Of
schemers and jObbers who thronged its JbDies that
American commerce could not revived except by Gov
eminent aid Theorists both HOlses and secret part
ners IA the jobs presented by these lobbyists took the
onesded statistics and arguments manufactured FOR
them and repeated the story 20 the country ac-
compauied with eulogics OF tIis thar plausible plan
for restoring dag seas" at the expense of the
taxpayers generally Nobody interested IN sitting
these pretended facts and looking for another side 70 tue
case, ana IN the end the public became convinced
that it was impossible for TO build IRON steam
ers in this country aud run them IN the European
trade in competition with British bottoms Capital
lists wOnd not invest money In ships when the Wash
ton statesmen all the time telling them thai with
out special legislation OF one kind another such
investments would be ruinOus. Everybody waited for
Congress to act. multitude OF conflicting plans aud
wholesome fear OF popular condemnation Of any one OF
them adopted fortunately prevented defile action.
There reports OF committees. volunteer pamphlets
and bills without number out no law was passed. Last
session the excitement over the financial question
threw whole subject the background, but even
then project hatched in the shape OF propo-
ston from few spirited gentlemen who kindly
offered 20 establish huge irOn-shp yard II Congress
would pledge the Government 20 pay the interest
on their bonds. About two years ago, " len
the movement for subsidies boUneS grants or special
privileges OF TO revive commerce was good
deal stronger than 1t has since few Philadelphia
business men, who had both money aud enterprise,
looked the matter carefully aud came 10 the con-
that the time had arrived to test the truth OF the
theories about the feasibility of running American-0uIt
steamers % European ports. They saw new lines OF
foreign ships established every year between NewHOrk
tT,. q lHraa
we're doubling the strength OF their neets In spite OF
all the talk Congress. they saw no good reason why
Americans should not participate in trade in which
Engishmen. Scotchmen, Frenchmen, Germans, and
even Belg1ans aud N0rweglans were engaged Accord
ing to their idea. the way TO restore American com
merce build American ships and run them. eav
ing Congressman aud the lobby to their schemes ana
theories.
These sensible Phlladelphians formed a company
called the American steamship Company, paid IN the
money required. ana contracted with the well-known
ship-buildng firm Of VIM Cramp ~ sous TO build four
hrstclass steamers Of the capacity OF 800 tons
each. The first OF these vessels completed was the
Pennsyl vana, which made her first voyage from TINS
port 20 Liverpool IN May, 1873 The ono followed In
August and the Indiana IN October, and IN January
fourth vessel the Illinois, went out without
any great with far less interest than so iu-
portan event ought to have excited IN the country
an American line Of TRANSATLANTIC ships was thus estaD-
llshed and the first in many years the stars
ana Stripes were in English port passenger
steamer. The Philadelphia Company owning the line
naturally chose their own city for its home terminus
New York shipping merchants looked on the experiment
as doomed TO failure. They htd imblDed the notions
prevalent at Washington AMI waiting for the Gov
eminent 70 begin artificial coercng, and stimu
lating process revive shipbuildng and foreign
commerce. The few who thought the daring iyenture
might succeed coupled their opinion with the prediction
la. NfKv A
year In making this prediction they did not take into
account two important advantages chat tue ine derives
from present terminus. TIE first is the SUBSTANTIAL
support Of Philadelphia importers. who have gwen IL
nearly all business, and VINO feel PRIDE IN con-
trbuting successful establishments because t Is
Philade PIMA enterprise and the second Il the powerful
aid of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company which, with
its branches feeders and connections reaching every
important city In the West gathers the grain pork lard
and tobacco the bulk OF tine freight or
all outgoing European vessels, and transfers then
immediately from its the holds Of the steamers
lying AT the docks on the Delaware.
II ia now more than a year since the Pennsylvania
made first trip aud the enterprise has got beyond
the experimental FLl cargoes are carried on
every voyage and since the first OF June many cabin
passengers have been turned away because there was
no for them every berth being engaged weeks Ia
advance. Two British built steamers, the Abootsford
and KEN worth have been transferred TO the lhe from
the Red star Line (AntwerpD in order 70 make weekly
service These Will probably be replaced next year by
additional Delawarebut boats, which viii make the
line completely American. suppose II Is no secret
that money was lost last year by the Company This
was no than than was expected, now
ever. They did not get all their snips
running until the Summer travel was over. aud II nau-
rally took time 70 win the confidence OF shippers and
travellers. IL the hands OF the present agents Aessr
Peter Wright Sons the line paying well, and there
nd ulD re-
muneratve and will from year to year add new vessels
70 IFS feet Toe problem OF how 70 revive American
commerce Is therefore solved. and simple enough the
solution Is. II is 10 build American shlps' man IAeh
with American crews. and put them upon the ocean 10
compete with the snips Of the world, Tue way 10 re-
sume resume" said Horace Greeley, when asked
how the country could get back TO specie payments
1.-The way to revive our commerce % revive IT, said
the practical Phiadephans and they went TO work ana
established their line OF Liverpool steamships.
1t has been claimed all along by the theorists VINO
favored a system OF Congressional aid 70 stimulate
foreign trade IN American bottoms that the EngNsh
could build vessels great deal cheaper than they
could built this country and that the expense OF
running a ship OF any other nationality was mueh less
than OF an American ship. In these two elements OF
first cost aud running expense were supposed 10 be
at a fatal dsadyautag.. The experience OF the Amer
can steamship Company has shown that TINS H. I'D d
great degree an erroneous idea; that steamers cost
tOOOo) each aud II built on the clyde OF a. gool mate
rails and workmanship the saving would nave been
trifng The chief items OF running expense are
Goals. provisions. and wages In respect 10 the
Two first British vessel has no advantage
over an American for both their supplies IN when
ever terminal ports they can be had 70 the pest
advantage and must coal for each vOy age American
sealpen receive higher wages than Englsh or
Cierman, but this difference w9ild not sgRre-
gate "A large sum In steamers yearly expense he
count. The cost OF American built steamers being
therefore. about the same now a. OF eqlaiy goou
steamers built OH the Cy de- anu the eApsnse oi ~
them not materially grratcr may We not expect 10 see
the Philadelphia line the pioneer oi many oteTs, IN
~ ,rd no the rme in the near when, OF the
doz IN passenger steamers which sal out OF WfOh
avery week for Elropean ports, two or lee ~ eAst