New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-07
Away with the gder-carters and the thunderbolts on
wheels. FLETCHER CLINTON
New-York, July 5, 1890.
LOST SUPREMACY OF THE SEAS
GREAT AMERICAN sIIIPBUILDER TELLS THE
he Edlto Of The Tribune.

Sir: was recently asked 10y some fellow passcn-
gers on the steamship City Of Paris to dot down
OF the "reminiscences Of the history Of Atlantic steam
navigation Of the past half century in the belief that
1t might prove interesting 10 many readers, and
have concluded to do so.
In the year 1887 DR.. Lariner. a noted English
savant of his time. visited the United for the
purpose Of lccturing on scientific subjects Just pre-
Vlous TO this period the feasibility Of crossing the
Atlantic Ocean under steam alone had first been
mooted DR.. Lardncr, in Of his lectures the
subject, given in NewYork city. stated in the hearing
of the writer that II was folly to consider such a
matter, the ship cond not stow sufficient coal to
steam across the Atlantic About this date, some
capitalists Of England quietly preparing to test
the question. steamer about 217 feet In length,
named the Great Western. had been built al Bristol
the original port Of departure for Atlantic steamers
for this purpose. Just previous to the day when this
vessel was ready to sail her maiden voyage. other
English parties dispatched the steamer sirius for
New York and after a passage Of about the average
time Of the then existing sailing packets. she
SEEM mush to the establishment Of New Workers. an
chorcd In their port. In some two weeks subsequent
to the departure Of the sirius, the Great Western left
Bristol with fair number Of passengers and aftc7
uneyeniful passage cast anchor in the harbor Of
New York few days after the arrival of the Sirius.
making the passage in seventeen days. The sirius
having been taken from another trade. proved not
suitable for the business and withdrawn, but
the Western continued in the trade. sailing
from Bristol and madc many successful voyages. and
became a populaf ship. No better modelled ship or
sea boat has been presented from British hands
and her designer deserved to have been kniGhtcd.
Tho passage of these two ships. under steam. coming
into port soon after the delivery of the lecture 10y
Dr. Lardncr. most cIcctnally put the qulctuS on the
philosophy Of steam navigation Of that eminent
savant Some Of hi, friend, have attempted 10 mod
ify his language on that occasion. Nevertheless, the
undersigned. then Young man. bat much Interested
in the subject. heard him uSc the language heretofore
given The success Of the Great Western induced the
British Government To grant 10 Mr.. laftcrwad sir
samuel CunaN and his friends In scotland liberal
subsidy contract for a mail service 10 America. This
resulted in the establishment. IN the year 1910. of
monthly line Of steamers between Liverpool and I"'-
ton. calling at Halifax. y. >. These steamers were
run with married success making their passages In
from fourteen 10 sixteen days. and occasionally less
Ten wear, later came the Collins Line Of steamers,
built and under subsidy contract made with inc
United states Government 10 carry the mails between
NcwYork and Liverpool direct; TheSe ships then
passed the Eunard ships. not only IN sHe, but IN
their elegant and capacioue cabins. liberal lncrni
quite the reverse. sangway> and ,lirTays very con
tracted. passag"wayS IN cabin hardly 'uihciGn' III
width 70 enable two TO pass Ntater"oi1s ,iila In
very narrow bcI'hs four IN a room, me passengers
slowed In like 50 many herring IN box, ana WY
little ventilation These vessel were run WIN I'll
nautical skill. but managed in some respects WIN lu
advised economy j. generally me case Wl'h ulrl'
=, no opposition e. such extent Ia small matters
that no napkins furnished 20 passengers INC
Collins steamers not only surpassed The tunarN
steamers In these respects. but nor, particularly ~
speed having reduced the tia" between the Two
countries 10 twelve days and occasionally to ten day
and cs> though the passage from New YORK w. Mi'h
the speed OF those day>, fully one day IohErr t''l
from Boston. There was n GAZING az Qu-'h''''"ii.
then for mails a. now. This state OF AFFAIR." ihh'' ~
necessary for the Cunard- "a do something 10 chdnlc
thcu 10 compete with the Collins steamers IN"
British Government Al once 20 Their support
and gave them another mail contract with 'nh'i
increased subsidy requiring them 10 bum ne" ana
larycr -hips. and them direct between Ilt'Fp''l
and New Nork. This brought them IN direct CON
petition with tho Collins steamer bhl ih'N "'l I",
equal tncm In their cabin Arrangements nor rNrPL't
them i'm speed though they had all the advat go 81
81 INC Collin, Line In the o, OF two OF - ships ana
tho jealousy Of the south. shown IN Inducing th'
southern senators Ia oppose r'neval 81 N" COINS
contract caused the remaining snip, - hc WlulHF.N
and the famous collins Line was abandoned Ih'
refusal 70 Grant contracts 10 the COLIN ll' am
also 10 the MIL. Bremen Line, from me H-- ~
which h,~ grown the existing ana powerful N"r!l
German Lloyd, VIZ sd and dr,irn''l'" hi"N -
the American merchant marine. NJ ih' p-f'H .il'
merchant. of the United state were htfln- u ~
ic., coulupcl and fl,i1t ,ccdn -t"aincf-. IVA" 'I'
u,cV once begun los or Government. 'NH ''i''""
nuclv r,ur-,od by Other Governments. h"'n h'P "P
tho American ocean steam marin" womb t"dll .l'
-, ali n,br-. and would occupy tho position NAV D.
now held hv tho -hippN u"r- 81 l'r'h' hE''in, 70
To-. d,.,utacc and hcrcHt ~ their own country. -
dlsg-er" 81 Our l"-t~lai"' d'l"
of the American r,-. W. IL "''''''
IrIN