_North America and West Indies._
The intercourse between these quarters of the world, and also of each
of these with the United States, is already of great importance, and
will daily become more and more important, while there is, at present,
no mail communication between them. A regular, and frequent mail
communication in that quarter has become indispensably necessary.
While this fact must be admitted, it is of great importance to have as
many of the points of combination under the British flag as possible.
Keeping this desirable point in view, it is necessary to observe, that
this must be done, taking Havannah into the line; because, if it is
not included in the British line, it will be forthwith occupied by
parties from the United States, and letters, passengers, &c. both for
all North America and for Europe, from the West Indies, will go by
these States, New York for example. The arrivals and departures of the
steam packets on this line must also be calculated, and fixed so as to
agree with the arrivals and departures of the outward and
homeward-bound mails by Fayal, for North America, and also for all the
West Indies, southwards to Havannah and Mexico.
The desirable object of bringing the most important central and
trans-shipping points under the British flag, can only be gained by
making in this case the run of the steamers to be from Halifax, by New
York, to the Havannah; or from New York, by Havannah, to Jamaica.
While the various ways by which this latter could be effected are (p. 019)
here stated, still the former will be found to be the most economical,
certainly not the most inconvenient, and, on many accounts, the
preferable mode. At Havannah the North American steamer would meet in
the most regular manner, and to a day, the steamers from Havannah to
Vera Cruz; and from Havannah to Jamaica, Barbadoes, &c. &c. The route
and time of these boats would be as follows:--
Geo. Miles. Days.
Halifax to New York 520 3-1/2
New York to Havannah 1140 6-1/2
Stop at Havannah, say 2
Havannah to Halifax, by New York. 1660 10
---- ------
Totals 3320 22
Two powerful boats would be perfectly sufficient to perform this work,
giving two mails each month; first cost 48,000_l._, yearly charges
12,400_l._ Each boat would be at sea 20 days each voyage = 40 monthly
= 480 yearly; coals daily, 25 tons = 12,000 tons yearly, at 25_s._ =
15,000_l._
The outward European mails would arrive at Halifax on the 20th and the
4th or 5th of every month, and at Havannah on the 31st or 1st, and
15th or 16th of each month. Leaving Halifax on the days above
mentioned, the steamers, by way of New York, would reach Havannah on
the 30th and 15th of each month, and, allowing two days at Havannah,
return to Halifax by way of New York, on the 14th and 29th, eight days
before the arrival there of the outward European packet, giving
abundance of time to rest. This steamer will bring back from New York
the answers to the letters received from Europe for the return packet
from Halifax to Fayal. These letters would reach New York on the 23d
and 8th of each month. The stoppage at New York by this steamer
returning northward could not be beyond one or two days. To meet the
West Indian and South American packets returning to the central point,
Fayal, the steamer, with all the North American correspondence, must
leave Halifax on the 29th or 30th, and the 13th or 14th of each month.
Considering attentively the calculations here made, it will be (p. 020)
found that they correspond accurately, and that in practice these
will work admirably, and without confusion or delay--points, in an
affair of this kind, of the greatest importance.
The other plan, by which the communication between North America and
the West Indies can be opened up and carried on, is between New York
and Jamaica, by the Havannah. After considering it, in all its
bearings and details, the former will appear to be the most economical
and eligible. Calculating the whole of the General Plan to be carried
into effect, and by steam, the outward mails from Europe, _via_ Fayal
and Halifax, would arrive at New York on the 7th or 22d, or the 8th
and 23d, of each month; and those for the West Indies, _via_ Fayal and
Barbadoes, at Cape Nichola Mole, Hayti, on the 11th and 27th, or 12th
and 27th, and at Jamaica on the 13th and 28th of each month. The mails
from the westward and southward of, and for Jamaica, would
consequently return to that island on the 7th and 22d of each month.
The distances and time taken in three ways between Jamaica and New
York, by Havannah, would be--
(No. 1.)
Geo. Miles. Days.
New York to Havannah 1140 6-1/2
Havannah by Matanzas, to St. Jago de Cuba 630 4
St. Jago de Cuba to Kingston, Jamaica 170 1
Jamaica " 2
Jamaica to Cape Nichola Mole, by St. Jago 305 2
Cape Nichola to Havannah, by Matanzas 540 3
Havannah, Coals, &c. " 1
Havannah to New York 1140 6-1/2
----- ------
Totals 3925 26
(No. 2.)
Geo. Miles. Days.
New York to Havannah, by Matanzas 1140 6-1/2
Havannah, Coals " 1
Havannah to Jamaica, round Cape Antonio 685 4
Jamaica, Coals, Mails, &c. " 2
Jamaica to Havannah, by Cape Antonio 685 3 (p. 021)
Havannah, Coals " 1
Havannah to New York, by Matanzas 1140 6-1/2
---- -------
Totals 3650 24
---- -------
(No. 3.)
Geo. Miles. Days.
New York to Havannah, by Matanzas 1140 6-1/2
Havannah, Coals " 1
Havannah to Jamaica, round Cape Antonio 685 4
Jamaica, Coals, Mails, &c. " 2
Jamaica to Cape Nichola Mole, by St. Jago 305 2
Cape Nichola Mole to Havannah, by Matanzas 540 3
Havannah, Coals " 1
Havannah to New York 1140 6-1/2
---- ------
Totals 3810 26
---- ------
The latter route (No. 3,) will, for various reasons, be the preferable
course. First, because while it embraces Havannah in the line, it
renders it unnecessary for the steamers to run twice over the same
ground that others do. Secondly, the steamer from Jamaica for the
eastward being able to leave that island, with all the return Colonial
mails from the westward and southward for North America, &c., at the
times, or in the space of time, mentioned, would reach Cape Nichola
Mole just in time to meet the downward steamer from Barbadoes, with
all the Colonial mails to the eastward of that place for North
America; and, consequently, could take in and proceed with these mails
without delay; and it might, at the same time, take in not only the
eastern Colonial mails for Matanzas and Havannah, but the outward
European mails for these places also, by which means these towns would
receive these two or three days earlier than they could by Jamaica.
The Mexican mails might also be forwarded in the same way; but to do
so would be of little use, inasmuch as the steamer for Vera Cruz could
not leave Havannah until the steamer from Jamaica arrived.
Taking route No. 3 as the lines of communication between Jamaica (p. 022)
and North America, then the arrivals at Jamaica would be on the 5th
and the 20th of each month; and, allowing two days to stop at Havannah
outwards instead of _one_ day, and _three_ days at Jamaica instead of
two, the return steamers would leave Jamaica on the 8th and 23d of
each month, and reach Cape Nichola Mole on the 25th and 10th, which
place the steamer from Barbadoes reaches on the 11th and 27th, and the
Havannah and Chagres steamers return to Jamaica on the 7th and 22d of
each month; thus combining every movement requisite in a very clear
and satisfactory manner.
The steamers on this route or station would be each 22 and 22 = 44
days each month = 528 days yearly at sea; coals, at 25 tons daily =
13,200 tons, at 25_s._ per ton = 16,500_l._; which is 1500_l._ more
than the other. Moreover, the steamers (two) would be so closely
pressed for time as not to have the necessary rest for examination and
repairs, and consequently a third would be requisite, which would
increase the capital 24,000_l._, and yearly charges 6200_l._ above the
other plan.
The mails on this station may, moreover, be carried by sailing
packets. By this mode of conveyance, however, the mails would be
longer on their voyages; those to and from Halifax, &c., being always
thrown behind one return mail for the steamer to and from Fayal with
the mail for Great Britain, and consequently be obliged to wait at
Halifax or New York for a succeeding one--but for which, however, they
would always be in ample time. The course and time by sailing packets
would be--
Geo. Miles. Days.
Halifax to New York 520 5-1/2
New York to Havannah 1140 10
Stop at Havannah, say 2
Havannah to Halifax, by New York 1660 15-1/2
---- ------
Totals 3320 33
---- ------
which will allow abundance of time to stop at New York, going and
returning, and for meeting every possible contingency which may occur
in the voyage; as, if within forty-five days, it would be in time (p. 023)
to meet the corresponding packets to and from Europe. Two sailing
packets would be sufficient to perform this work, giving two mails
each month; prime cost, 9500_l._ each = 19,000_l._ and yearly charges
4200_l._ each, or 8400_l._ It may here be observed, that if all the
mails were carried by sailing packets on the four great lines, that
the times of their arrivals and departures would still connect and
combine properly, but, as has already been remarked, be always fifteen
days later in the course of the mails between the places mentioned
than if these were carried wholly and everywhere by steam.