National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-12
PACIFIC MAIL.
MR.. JOHN ROACH AND THE PACIFIC
A

with the corporation in question are satisfactorily
adjusted up to this date, and have no reason to
doubt its ability to meet all its current Obliga-
lions. At the same time, for reasons Of my own,
have from the first serupulOusly avoided be.
coming the owner of so much as a single share of
the company's stock. The real value of these
shares, indeed, is ordinarily but little affected
by the trick and raids Of Wall-street operators,
and actual holders for investment can watch the
alternate ups and downs Of the market as uncon-
cernedly as an outsider like myself, but this is
hardly true in the present case.
Referring to a communication printed in the
Times Of this date, and signed "Vacuum Gauge"
1 wish to say that 1 am not now departing from
the rule have adopted against replying to an
anonymous assailant. 1t might be said truly
that this writer had obtained 4 certain shadow
Of dignity in the channel he has secured for
reaching the public eye, and my personal respect
for the Times and its proprietors would lead me
to give this consideration full weight, but that
which most of all induces me to say anything in
this connection is a strong desire to protect the
interests of innocent parties, in this manner as
sailed through me, and who are not, as am, en-
tirely secure from any evil effects Of that which,
in my mind, takes moral rank as feloniOus as
sault.
Permit me, therefore, to touch upon the points
of this assault in the order in which they were
made:
l. wish to reiterate my assertion that 81 never
knew Mr. Irwin" careful investigation seems
to make it highly probable that on one occasion
l met that gentleman, and that he was intro
duced to me. My own recollection does not as
sure me of this fact but, If it be a fact, ever so
we'll substantlated, Mr.. Irwin is still in the posi-
ton OF some thousands OF others whom 1 have
similarly met, in the course Of a long and busy
life, but whom never knew, in any right and
honest use Of the phrase, and whom, fortunately
or unfortunately, should not now know II L met
them on the street, or elsewhere, without
voucher for their identity on the part Of somebody
whom do know. Iii is iusinuated or asserted
that "KnOW" MIR. Irwin in connection with Pa
ciic Mail transactions that l would not desire
made public, that insinuatiOn or assertion is ut
terly and unqualifedly false.
2. No man living will venture to assert over
his own signature, that l in any manner "lOb-
biCd" directly or indirectly, to secure the Sub
sidy' for the Pacific Mail Steamship Company,
or received one dollar OF payments in any form on
account thereof. The truth is that the subsidy,
so called, was obtained before l had anything to
do with the cOmpany's contracts for the China
mail service. My connection Herewith began
aiterWaTd, with the contracts for the construction
of the steamships City Of Picking and City Of
/ freely admit, or rather claim, the part which
have subsequently taken in Washington with re-
lation to this affair.
AN UBIQUITOUS RAID,
like the one now making was made upon the credit
and interests Of the company, in order to prevent
with view to the success Of current gambling
transactions on Wall street, and not without i'm
portant aid and comfort from powerful influences
even yet more bitterly and selfshly lnimical to
the building Of American commercial interests
upon the Pacific. The claim was made in the
public press, and in official and legislative circles
in Washington, that the contract between the
Government and the company was void by reason
OF my own failure to complete the ships within
the time specified, and my lobbying" consisted
solely in determined effort TO set the matter in
its true light for the interests Of not the company
only hut of the future commerce and prosperity
OF the whole country. There was not SO much as
a suggestion of corruption in or about any of the
influences employed by me, directly or indirectly.
defy any man TO say that ever approached him
or that he ever approached me with the simili-
tude of a proposition for the use OF improper
IN cans in securing legislative OF official action.
As to the "check for $500, 900, y mentioned in the
letter OF your correspondent, DEFY any man TO
show that /, or anybody for me, ever received 4
CHECK" or other consideration whatever, in any
form, except in accordance with the express terms
of contracts, and in the course Of honorable and
legitimate commercial transactions The trans
action here referred to occurred nearly year
after the obtaining of subsidy, and consisted Of
so simple matter as the exchange Of checks, at
the request Of the company.
8. Neither the present nor any succeeding
board of directors have ever at any time, dreamed
of offering me 500, OOO or any other Dribe, nor
have traded my services" to them for that, or
any other sum.
idea Of such thing must seem to any one out
side Of Wall street, the purpose of this letter
cOmpels me to tender the public, or that part OF
the public whose pecuniary interests are affected,
the following statement OF facts:
THE PACIFIC NAIL STEAMSHIP COMPANY,
in anticipation of the inevitable wearing out of
their wooden side-wheel steamers, and having
only two iron ships whose dimensions and capa-
bilities complied with the terms OF the law, de-
cidGd to build five other ships. Two of these
were to be of the class of the Toxic and Picking,
and three Of smaller size, of about 5000 tons.
The secrecy with which this was done will appear
1f ha Inv limit sFEo nF hoo
Of directors held April T. 1874 eight out Of nine Of
the directors beng present thereat, including the
president of the company himself
Under the resolution adopted, a committee was
appointed, the president being member thereof,
to ascertain at what price the two large vessels
could be constructed by John Roach & Son. In
matter was fully discussed in open board, butt one
director out OF the nine being absent. 1t was
claimed by the president that the new ships
ought to be obtained at less price than the Toxic
and Picking, in consequence OF the lower market
prices Of labor and material, and this view was
met in so practical manner that while the latter
two vessels cost in round numbers 81 100 900 each,
the new ones to cost but 81 200, 900 each, or
saving Of about 100000 to the company. Mate
rial has been purchased and work done on these
vessels. They are absolutely necessary to the
company, but if the men who are short Of the CON-
with the Government to break down the com
pany's credit and destroy its usefulness are to be
permitted TO succeed, it may come TO pass that no
more work or material will be called for.
The three smaller vessels provided for at a sub
sequent meeting were also in like manner put in
the hands Of a committee. Bids were asked for
from the well-knOwn builders of New York, Will
mingtOn and Philadelphia, and were duly re-
ceiTed, each party proposing to build one ship
for $685., co., or II, 99j, 900 for the three.
The board decided by a vote not to build these
ships in this country unless they could obtain
them for 56OO, 600 each. The other parties having
declined these terms accepted the contract, pre-
ieTring to do the work at q very small profit
rather than that the ships should not be con-
structed. The company has here effected another
saving of $l9j, 900, and the ships arc now in an
advanced condition, are the finest ships Of their
class in the world, and will be ready Tor service
the coming spring.
THERE HAS BEEN NO MANNER OF SECRECY
in the nature of my transactions with the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company. There has been no
occasion for any. There cannot now be any fur