The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-16

the construction OF iron screw steamers and has
built eleven at a cost OF about 200, 900. rnese
ships, and the PekinQ and Toxic OF $500 tons
each. have been inspected by the United States
and pronounced htted Tor naval use IN Time
or war. OF the $1,000, COO not more than 100000
was expended In raw material, mainly ior
SO, SOC, 600 has been paid lor American labor III
new branch or industry. connecting win that or
and heavy machinery nave been established and
capital invested so that iron snipouilung may ne
the entire RECONSTRUCTION of the Pacific Mai Com.
pany's feet. but Tor building ships !or
p ec asaa neresa Gs on n' s time an
Ocean and other waters All TINS mas
been done by reason OF the cSnlrasI Of taog
the new contract OF 1872 at o rate OF compensa-
ton for mail service OF So a5.l per mile while tns
French and English governments; in their exist
ing contracts with their Oriental lines. pay re-
speedway 81 As and So 20 per mile.
4. What w,.l oe the effect oil cancelling the con-
tract OF 1872 and destroying the credit OF the
Pacific Mail steamship Company
be almost fatal. In November last Its snares sold
at above hI:y, while now they sell at less than
taken bv Congress. Is it wise or just 10 iniicI
loss OF from $5,oO0 600 to $4,000 900 upon innocent
a. 1t viii leave Inc company with many ships
on its hands not adapted Tor ANY other use. Inc
new l on ships are pull for meet MAJ! service. IN
states. II VIA De doubtful whether the PeHing and
the TOXIC and the inree ships now building can 90
Do built By the COMPANY, and as the
without replacing the wooden ships oy iron oro-
PETERS, tnat line NAV have 10 be gradually with
lines. to foreign shpowners and shlpbuiloers.
3D. IL will oeiiver maritime supremacy on the
Pacific Ocean, now established In American hands
! at $6.OOoooo loss to this company. and with but
molerate assistance from the government, com.
peteiy INTO English nands.
A Company has Already been formed Tor the
avowed purpose OF iunnlng English snlps from
san Francisco 70 CHINA ana Japan. is agents aud
its influence have been and now are III work 10
menting hostility anu prejudice against the Pacific
Mail Company and endeavorlng to secure the can.
rebellion American sairs were driven lrom the
At!antIc Ocean, aud Iaey are now Hept therelrom
sl4o. 100000, empoylng sl;5,ooo.oJo capital,
| Americans. but expended abroad. or course, the
influence Of this enormous capital Will be exerted
in driving from the Pacific Ocean the only
plete American steamship line running to foreign
ports. But can the American people and the
American Congress AFFORD 10 allow ths to be done
o. WIN stop r Se ans nss
American capital will not intervene to pre-.
English steamships poc a5lyns
no American line to any foreign ports
can be established or maintained The Pennsyl-
and there Will be no demand i0r iron steamships,
although 1t IS now established thar, spite Of dlsad:
|
and as cheap as any on the Clyde.
The only ships nor on the stocks in America tGT
the JbregR trade are the three under construction
FOR the Pac Nc Mail Steamship Company, ,chile IN
England last year ships scere butt OF the rdl,te OF
Can America anord to give up revlving indus
try, the expenditures In which are entirely Tor
American labor
e. It will deprive the United States in time OF
war OF a neet ofvesses adapted for naval purposes
and already III contro OF the Pacific ocean. BY the
act VI 1872 the Paclc Mall steamships are to be 90
construct ed aS to be suitable for naval uses and
| to be subject to be taken Dy tho government IN
time OIL war.
Oh all other waters American ships are now few
| and Insignificant. On the Pacific Ocean American
ships nave complete aecendancv. Shall they
be withdrawn ana the United States in case OF
foreign war md itself on tne Pacific, as on
The Atlantic during the late rebellion. IN the con-
dtt0n narrated by an English statesman in the
House or commemorative know, too, what was
done III the Trent affair. We know how 1000
men were sent out to canada by The Cunard line
OF steamers and other vessels at almost days
notice." And this Cunarj line was at tnat very
| Time employed BY our government 10 carry the
United states mails The undersigned desires TO
injury to private and pubic interests 70 be In.
nlcred by. lllJudgsd Congressional action
IN tnoc. cancelinsv sns Pacinc an mau o.s con
result from delaying action at this session. II
bribery or corruption has peen or can be proved.
| It should be punished II possible: but canccllln2
the contract punisAes NO guilty person. II only
punisnes the innocent at tue request and IN.
interests for insufficient reasons.
the undersigned, in behalf VI himself and his
| w0rkmen. earnestly prays that the ships which ne
is proud Of having Duiit IN American snipyards,
may no BY enc nasty action OF Congress, be driven
| from under the American nag. Very respectfully,
CHEsTEs, Pa. Feb. 10. 1875. JOHN ROACH.