Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-01-01
THE F4RXINGDALE LOCAL NAN on
THE COMMERCE OF VIEW TORK'-7HE
ATOM

| THE FARKINGDALE LOCAL NAN on
! THE COMMERCE. OF VIEW T0RK-THE
| NATION.
| Having been connected with and written some
thing about ships docks, and their surroundings
in the great maritime ports, we may be allowed
to pursue the subject in more article, and tell
of things as we see them concerning the shipping
of New York. We have noticed that much Of the
shipping has departed for the Brooklyn side of the
river and we find most of the cargoes discharged
there. Looking back to the days of our youth
we remember with pride the great ships that laid
at the piers Of New York. On the North river
side, were seen sailing crafts of every description
and every nation, loading and discharging. Bath
ships, Portland ships, Boston ships, from every
part of the world were mixed up with foreign
ships side by side, and two and three tiers deep.
Old acquaintance who had not seen one another
for years, shook hands on the wharves over hogs
heads of molasses, and bales of cotton. And null
titudes of emigrants from every country, passed
from their ships outside, over the decks of
down east coasters to get their first foothold on
American soil. Many down east boy, long since
commanding fine "Indiamen; gazed from the gal
ley door in which he was cooking his shippers
frugal meals, on the swarthy forms of Malays and
Manila men, as they hove their capstans to
strange outlandish melodies. Great ships were
sailing for California or Europe evary hour, and
others coming in. The ferries running across to
Jersey city were few, all the "sound steamers
laying close by were small compared to those of
the present day. The Hudson river steamers were
not tar off, and were not such models Of elegance
nd he mi
of ocean steamers were the American; one run
ming to Bremen, one to New Orleans, another to
Charleston and one just starting for California by
the way of the lsthmus. Now look Not sail
ing vessel comes into the North river piers to dis
charge or load. The immigrants come in great
steamers of every nation but one. dozen of them
sail every week, carry ing each as much freight as
six ships used to. The American ocean steamships
have long since disappeared, and the Pennsylya-
mia Central or Erie Railroad ferries take up, with
the New Jersey Central, all the water front there
is left. Now let go round TO the East river side
In those days there were not less than SIX lines of
crack American ships, including the celebrated
Black Ball. Black Star, SwallowTail, and lines
to Liverpool with the not less celebrated Y and
other lines to London. Havre, Hamburg, Glas-
gov &c--each commanded and Differed by as dar
ing Americans as ever drew the breath Of life.
The wonderful speed of the ships, their beauty and
strength were familiar as household words. Then
there was line to Charleston, S. C., another to
Savannah, several to New Orleans, Galveston,
HAVANA, and so on. Great fleets Of ships were
also loading here for every part of the world The
lofty tea-ship, the Cape Homer, the lndiamaD,
were sandwiched in with cotton ships, lumber
ships, and all kind OF ships large and small. Down
east vessels on every hand were loading flour and
grain for their respective ports in Name, or dis
charging their cargoes from the West Indies. And
night and day the work went on. Now what do
we see Two lines TO Europe, one the Black Ball,
TO Liverpool, the other the y line TO London, |
loading a ship once in a while. Two lines to San
Francisco arc scantiy supported, now and then
vessel to Csllao or Valparaiso. and an occasional
into Golfers, the West India trade fast going into |
the hands of the railroads. and the r. aiding Rail
road Co. only waiting to see the Hudson river
bridge built, when they will sweep our coal fleet
off with the bosom of destruction. Aswe have be- |
fore stated, no forest Of spars encrces New York
now only little knots of masts are to be seen, and
soon they will disappear A few ships load grain |
to Europe, but English steamers are taking even
that away, and the only thing left to carry is Pc
troleum oil, which every old hulk can carry, Qor |
ii won't sink, and that IS rapidly going into for
egn bottoms ]
It is Of no use TO Try and tell why all this is
No two will agree on that subject. The railroads,
cheap English steamers, cheap foreign vessels Of
all kinds among the reasons. We have some |
fine coasting steamers, because foreigners are not
allowed TO do our coasiing. There are two'lne |
to Havanna, several to New Orleans and Texas /
and Mexico, several more to Charleston. Savannah,
and florida. Tnere are also several TO New Bed |
ford, Providence, Boston and Portland. They