New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-12


I,e this company Here began his intimate
business relations With Moses Taylor who through
ont Mr. Rohertss life one of his most devoted
friends A few days before Mr.. Roberts was
,trickcn with paralysis he made a visit 10 Mr. lay
lor, at Long Branch.
One of the most important enterprises with when
Mr. Roberts was connected. was the establishment
nf the Aspinwal steamship Line Before gold
was discovered in California, the United States
Government gave two contracts for carrying
the mails from New-York to San Francisco. One
contract was awarded to Mr. Sloo. Western man
20 bnild five large steamers. four of which should
run 70 New Orleans and one to Aspinwall. The
other contract was given to Arnold Harris, who en-
gagged to take the mails from Panama to san FRAN
cisco The contract provided that the steamers
should be constructed in such manner and OF such
a size that they might be converted into war ves-
sells if the Coy eminent should require their ser
vices.
Mr.. Sloo came to New-Yorb 10 fulfill his agree
mert but he had no means with which to build the
vessels lie met Mr.. Roberts. and the contract was
assigned to Law, Roberts Il Mcllvain as trustees
Mr. Roberts furnished most of the money. and was
the most energetic member Of the firm. They built
the side-wheel steamers Georgia, Ohio and
others the largest steamers then engaged
In the cOaSting trace, the corporation taxing
the name of the United States Mail Steamship Com
panv The discovery of gold was the occasion of
great rush OF travel TO California. So extraordinary
was the increase of passenger traffic that Rowland
& Aspnwal who owned vessels plying on the
Pacific coast conceived the idea OF crushing the
new Roberts Inc by running boats oftheirownupOn
the Atlantic to connect with their Pacific steamers
In three days after learning of this scheme Mr.
Roberts bought four steamers and Immediately
started them around the Horn, thus controlling
no Dactfc Among these steamers were
the Columbus. the Republic aud the Antelope
After continuing the struggle FOR two years, How
land Il Aspnwali gave mp the contest, ana re-
strctcd their operations 90 the Pacific coast. AT
lhi, time Mr. Roberts was president of the North
River Bank of this city.
Mr. Roberts was associated with Peter Cooper
CYRUS ". Field and others in making the first con-
tract for a telegraph line from New-Iork to New
foundland for the purpose OF getting the earliest
shp news Tins line to Cape Race had not sufficient
business 10 warrant its contiauance; but 1t was
maintained until the pianoi the Atlantic cable was
inlly developed in which Nh Roberts was also III
lercstcl.
HIS RECORD DURING THE WAR.
When the war broke out Mr. Roberts urged
The Government to garrison and provision Fort
Sumter. Offering bis steamer the Star of the West,
FOR the execution of TIL, plan, The Star of the
West was sidewheel. bcan-eugEe steamerand her
soiin'''"oi' '''''i"
rus "'' u.'"'' '"o ne "" '''
t' '".I' o'o '''"-"' CIV ~,
much 10 the indignation OF SIR. L .barts. The flag
af th. steamer which atten If. i % take succ' I'd
.he Iutcd States forces 90 The outbreak OF th'
Rebel on hs been used upol Nr. ho5ert}s house Oh
holiday occasions ever since thl1 time Al his
Jesse. were attcr7aId turnei over 20 the Govern
lent service. The steamship America WIS sent
WI" LOW 'oo" ~
hOO'i '"I .,
taiF ol ""' ''ou'n' 'E'' '''' WIS "''''' ava
be needed, ana 'h'' were I''".n''
One q the sDreWa mer'"'",e "''r"t ''' '' ut,
ROBBERS al '"i' Perol WAS 'n' P"i0".', '- "',
the RESIN IN the mako "Ach was ".''''e'
oi at "r-e pioA'. Ills 1eA' s.'' was 10 IT. .'"
the Nicaragua l.'h'9s L-'' me Do"' Oh wing"
ran mp tae san Juan rover ,' Lake NI''i't''' '"'
pas ns'Is beng cl.rt'd '"..I' mics "le''"I' 10
steamer upon the racine ana uu' 20 san IRAN
cisco. lie sent The steamers Moses iayIor anu
America lh1o Tue I"clue' anu 49, ''' " '"" -''''
ana "t.e' s',",nT'' VI '''' 0,''' ,
-, Il 500 ..,,,,,.> ,t..p with Mr.
%'' 1..t,tl D., ,....,tl i,ir. d.. ,-..sI.
n.... e., ,r..',.r,', .f,,r,s,r +bo
no" ID. I'd" ~. ...-....,., ,,....1
Lo''i''''. ''' ''"' ,,l.',
u, -. ',,. n,,l,,. NJ cr.,.,1''.
"" .'.'.''' 'o' i'''' ''''
49,. -. p.h.,4. ,.o,,,o i,,t.r..t.d
., ~. &C. - +ho mo
,.. ~ pc. p,rr,,d co-,u1,y
ga .,', o-,. 80 te la,...st investors o,vp,uo i
-, .,..,.,,,b.lf r,'lio, dollars, worth of is
- 49, - r,,.,.l c.o44 fr,., ~
- .aa,,.,. e 60, IT,, p.c's.
~ ,,.-,i,,.o5 t,ro or ,,,rc. ra,iro,as in
r., .,,,,,,,o Of which il Uor.lau . town par,,d
r+-.I. Iy,oo o,., .t,,,,s ,,r yd ,or,. r.,,,,..,o
go ia nod ,oroo r,ilrood in. are.4s in Canada
o'a 49,, ed r'oal estate in this civ
''"' -. ro,,T,rs Az, p,,,r,,,1rr
V. .-rr in nre NJ. Roberts bao,ne
,a.,icl IN -+b VII, marty and yvo.