The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-07-09

The death is announced of William In
man, founder of the famous Inman line OF
steamships running between New FORK and
Liverpool. Mr.. Inman in 1850 was part
ner in the firm of Richardson Bros s. com
pany, shipowners and agents for the Liv-
erpool, New York & Philadelphia steam
ship company. Mr.. Inman managed the
shipping department of the business, and
at once inaugurated the idea of affordng
comfortable accommodations to the poorer
classes of emigrants The result of his en-
deavors was to- drive from the emigrant
carrying trade all the wretched packets
which had previously monopolized the bus
mess. Mr.. Inman's second exploit was the
adoption of the screw in place of paddle
wheels on his ocean steamers, and at
his instance the City of Glasgow,
owned by the Liverpool, New York
and Philadelphia line, was despatch
ed on her first voyage, screw pro
PEELED, in mid winter. So great was
the alarm in shipping circles as to
the danger of the experiment that under
writers charged special rate of insurance.
blr. lnmans pronostications turned out 10
be correct. The City of Glasgow made her
voyages with speed and safety, and she
was in truth pioneer of the magnificent
steamships which now ply across the At
by the regular lines and screw propeIlers
We're adopted. New York had in 1850 be-
come the port of the Cunard line, The
City of Glasgow and the City of Manches-
ter were sent to Philadelphia, and it was
not until 1857 that the Innan steamers
came to New York. In October, 1854,
Mr.. Inrnan became sole managing partner
of theaCo., which assumed his name, the
firm of Richardson Bros. retiring from the
agency. That position he filled until the
present time with eminent success. He
first inaugurated the system of touching at
Queenstown in connection with the North
Atlantic trade, and the city of Baltimore
was the first to commence the regular
calling in 1867. All the other lines in
time followed Mr.. Inman's lead He was
also the first to adopt the lane routes
across the North Atlantic recommended by
Lieutenant Maury, of the United States
navy, thereby decreasing the dangers of
the voyage by collision with ice. Another
OF the mechanical changes brought about
by Mr.. Inman is worthy of record I6was.
the superseding of the old plain engine by the
new compound type. As the reputation
of the line rose new steamers were added
to the fleet, each vessel being furnished
with the latest improvements that science
could suggest or wealth supply. The City
OF Berlin and the City of Richmond are
splendid steamships, second in size only to
the Great Eastern, but their magnificence
is eclipsed by the City of Rome, the latest
addition to the fleet now nearly completed.
1t may justly be said of Mr.. Inman that he
was the pioneer of a new departure from
the traditional usage in the interest of
civilization. Under his management the
line developed to its present important
proportions, and the only disaster that has
occurred during its existence was the
mysterious loss, with all hands, of the CITY
of Boston, in 1870. 1t has been computed
that more than million of passengers
have been carried by the company across
the sea since its foundation