The social, political, and commercial advantages of direct steam communication and rapid postal intercourse between Europe and America, via Galway, Ireland

Front matter

"£tl

HI ■M

KBSH

Contents

[alphabetical index at the close of the work.]

PAGE

CHAPTER I. — Influence of Steam Commerce on National Prosperity, Civilization, and Productive Industry — Manufactures and Inland and Foreign Trade of Ireland as compared with the United Kingdom , 11

Chapter I. Influence Of Steam Commerce On National Prosperity, Civilization

AND PRODUCTIVE INDUSTRY MANUFACTURES AND INLAND AND

FOREIGN TRADE OF IRELAND AS COMPARED WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM.

§ 1. During the last twenty-five years, steam has revolutionized the commerce of the world. If we travel by land, the railway, the locomotive, and a speed of twenty-five miles an hour are indispensable. At sea, and on rivers and lakes, the steamship and the steamboat are equally essential. If packages of specie, gold-dust, bank notes, or valuable effects are to be sent long distances, Eailway and Express companies, aided by the highest efforts of steam conveyance, take the place of the sailing ship, the canal boat, and the stage-coach. It is with states and nations as with merchants, and travellers ; those who have clung to the old and nearly obsolete methods of conveyance, have been outstripped in the race by the active and the enterprising. If examples were wanted to prove this position, reference need only be made to Spain, the Two Sicilies, the Papal States, and Turkey — nations that were the last to adopt steam as a motive power on land or water, and at this time most notoriously behind all the other countries of Europe in commercial enterprise, and substantial prosperity. What is true in this respect with regard to nations, is almost equally applicable to separate states and communities in the same country. The large benefits accruing to commercial and manufacturing communities from the regular arrival and departure of ocean steamships are so clearly understood, that the opening of a new line from any port is received with joyous congratulations by all classes; while, on the other hand, the withdrawal of steamers is looked upon as a general calamity. I propose to show, by a faithful comparison of the leading branches of commerce and manufactures, and the sources of national revenue, in the three kingdoms, that Ireland only lacks steam communication with some foreign nations and colonial possessions, to put the business of that country in a far more prosperous condition, and more on an equality with England and Scotland.

2. I do not wish to overrate the advantages of steam commerce, nor will I assume that the sole or principal prosperity of a country is dependent upon steam communication ; but the constant and unvarying testimony is, that wherever steam has been introduced trade has flourished, manufactures have greatly increased, and agricultural labour has met with a larger reward. When every state, every nation, and every community had the old means of conveyance, however inefficient those appliances may have been, all were comparatively on an equal footing : now steam is the rule, and slower means of conveyance the exception. Where steam has been introduced, business increases, and activity succeeds to indifference. Where steam gives an opportunity for a rapid interchange of products, there manufactured articles are in demand, and meet with a ready sale. Why does not the abundance of fish at St. Kilda affect the London consumer, or good prices in the Billingsgate market benefit the fisherman in the "far Atlantic Isle ? " The one is as virtually out of the world, or out of the reach of the other, as if they were

STEAM CREATES A MAKKET. 13

on the opposite sides of the globe. And why is this? Solely because there is no efficient means of conveyance. A pine-apple can be taken from Barbadoes to the market in Covent Garden more, readily, expeditiously, and cheaply than a basket of cod or turbot can be sent from St. Kilcla to Belfast ; and yet the one distance is nearly five thousand miles, and the other not half of five hundred. Twelve years ago, a good pony could be purchased in Shetland for twenty or thirty shillings, while it would cost the Londoner six or seven pounds in time, trouble, risk, and freight to convey the animal to the banks of the Thames. Then there were no steamers running to that northern group of islands. Now, and for many years, since steamers commenced running, the Shetland pony at home is worth from five to eight pounds ; he can be sent to London for thirty shillings, and will then cost the resident of Kensington or Belgravia little, or no more than before, and yet there is a difference of several pounds in favour of the islander who rears the animal for sale. This last is so much wealth created to the producer, and solely in consequence of a cheap, rapid, and efficient means of conveyance.

3. By looking at a wide range of facts connected with the commerce, the manufactures, and the revenue of each of the three kingdoms, we shall be able to arrive at certain results, and make certain deductions : we shall find that steam commerce has fostered, supported, and extended the manufactures of England and Scotland, and that an efficient and regular steam communication between Ireland and North America will necessarily be attended with similar results. We will first see the figures relating to commerce— the tonnage entered and cleared, and the exports of some leading articles, and their ratio to the population and the agricultural lands — next, the statistics of the principal manufactures ; and, lastly, the revenue.

The following tabular statement exhibits the ratio that the leading branches of commerce therein enumerated

STEAM COMMUNICATION.

bear to the population, the extent, and the cultivated acres of each of the three kingdoms, respectively.

UNITED

ENGLAND.

eg &

SCOTLAND.

g &

IRELAND.

KINGDOM.

o

™ o

* o

27,435,325

17,905,831

65.3 2,870,784

10.4

6,515,794

23.7

Acres in cultivation!

19,475,000

11,400.000

58.5

3,290,000

16.9

4,785,000 24.6

Area, square miles ...

122,551

58,320

47.5

31,718

26.0

32,513

26.5

Tonnage entd. & eld.*

56,015,816

42,651,334

76.0

6,379,791

11.4

5,864,171

10.5

Tonnage entered and

cleared abroad, sailf

17,799,516

15,623,498

88.0

1,565,386

8.8

503,990

2.8

Tonnage entd. & eld.

3,916,489

3,697,470

94.0

193,154

4.9

5,551

0.1

Total Tonnage enterd.

, and cleared abroadf

21,716,005

19,320,968

89.0

1,758,540

8.1

509,541

1.6

Paper exported, lbs.*

15,312,576

13,202,644

86.0

2,097,466

13.6

12,466

0.8

Malt exported, bush.*

143,147

139,029

97.0

4,118

2.8

0,00

Spirits exprtd., galls.*

5.924,884

2,844.052

48.0

2.610.280

44.0

470:552

7.9

Tobacco in bond, lbs.f

41,568,171

37,826,263

91.0

2,152,553

5.2

1,589,355

3.8

It will be seen that England has 65^ per cent, of the population, Scotland 10-^, and Ireland 23^- per cent. Of the cultivated acres, 58 ~ per cent, are in England, about 17 per cent, in Scotland, and almost 25 per cent, in Ireland. In forming a comparative estimate of the resources of Ireland and the island of Great Britain respectively, we may estimate those of Ireland at about 24 per cent, (or nearly one-fourth), being not far from the proportion of the population and the cultivated acres. Taking this as our basis, we see that, of the 56 million tons of shipping that entered and cleared at the various ports of the United Kingdom in the year 1857 — which include coasting as well as foreign voyages, and British as well as foreign shipping — only 10 \ per cent, entered and cleared at Irish ports. Of the tonnage that entered and cleared from and to foreign countries — coasting voyages not included — only 1-- per cent, reached Ireland ; and of the steam tonnage (British as well as foreign) between the shores of the United Kingdom and foreign countries, only one-tenth of one per cent. Of the spirits exported about eight per cent, was shipped direct from Ireland, and of

§ Land in cultivation ; in green and white crops, clover, and also in fallow ; not meadow or pasture ; as reported in 1853. * 1857. | 1856-

XIMITED MANUFACTURES IN IRELAND.

tobacco in bond less than 4 per cent, is in Ireland. Of exports of paper (in all over 15,000,000 lbs. annually) not one per cent., and of the 143,000 bushels of malt, not one bushel went direct from Ireland. These are the leading articles that are exported from Ireland direct to foreign countries. Of the manufactures of linen — of which more fully hereafter — there are no official reports showing what amount or value goes direct from Ireland to foreign countries. The proportion of direct exports from Ireland, as compared with the amount shipped from the entire kingdom, is probably no greater than that of distilled spirits. 4. The following is a

STATISTICAL STATEMENT OF CERTAIN BRANCHES OF MANUFACTURES AND INTERNAL TRAFFIC IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.

Spirits distill'd, gall Malt, manuf., bush.

Paper manuf., lbs Railway,miles open Railway receipts...

P. O. Money Orders Deposits in Savings

Banksf

Bank notes in circulation

UNITED KINGDOM.

24,353,754

39,127,383

192,297,399

9,116

£24,183,610

£12,178,309

£34,946,012

£37,581,999

10,209,731

36,313,925

143,388,281

6,777

£20,527,748

£10,381,663

£30,404,870

£27,201,025

7,266,867 1,122,301

40,998,354 1,269

£2,510,478

85.0£1,002,857

87.0

72.0

28.0 4.3 4.1

11.7 4.7 7.3

5.0

16.0

The only articles in which Ireland has an amount of manufactures in proportion to her population and agricultural resources, are linen and spirits. While the miles of railway open in Ireland amount to 12 per cent, of the railways of the United Kingdom, the receipts from railway traffic are less than 5 per cent. The money-orders sent through the Post Office are a little more than 7 per cent., the deposits in savings banks 5 per cent., and the bank notes in circulation 16 per cent. This comparatively large proportion of bank notes does not argue a large circulating medium. Previous to 1780, Acts of Parliament then in force, prohibited the carrying of gold or silver into Ireland, t 1856. All other items in the table are of the date of 1857,

STEAM COMMUNICATION.

and we know that by the issue of bank notes, of as low a denomination as one pound, there is comparatively far more paper and less specie in circulation, in both Ireland and Scotland, than in England.

5. To give a clear and comprehensive view of some of the leading items of the trade and manufactures of the three kmgdoms, the foregoing statements, with some other figures referring to different dates, are recapitulated, along with some items of national revenue, in a single table.

STATISTICAL VIEW OF CERTAIN LEADING BRANCHES OF COMMERCE, MANUFAC- TURES, & ND INLAND TRAFFIC OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.

UNITED KINGDOM.

EN&LAND.

gg

SCOTLAND.

IRELAND.

27,435,325

17,905.831

65.3

2,870,784

10.4

6,515,794

23.7

Acres in cultivation

19,475,000

11,400,000

58.5

3,290,000

16.9

4,785,000

24.6

Area, in sq. miles...

122,551

58,320

47.5

31,718

26.0

32,513

26.5

Tonnage, entered &

56,015,816

42,651,334

76.0

6,379,791

11.4

5,864,171

10.5

Tonnage, entered &

eld. abroad, sailf

17,799,516

15,623,498

88.0

1,565,386

8.8

503,990

'2.8

Tonnage, entd. and

eld. abrd., steamf

3,916,489

3,697,470

94.0

193,154

4.9

5,551

0-1

Total tonnage, ent.

& cleared abroad f

21,716,005

19,320,968

89.0

1,758,540

8.1

509,541

1.6

Spirits distill' d, gal-

25,077,511

11,021,446

44.0

6,019,026

24.0

8,037,039

32.0

Spirits distill'd, gal-

24,353,754

10,209,731

42.0

7,266,867

30.0

6,877,156

28.0

Spirits exported,

gallons, 1856

4,628,903

2,600,309

56.0

1,518,643 33.0

509,951

11.0

Spirits exported,

5,924,884

2,844.052

48.0

2,610,280 44.0

470,552

7.9

Spirit duty, 1855...

£7,666,943

£4,316,733

56.0

£1,772,217, 23.0

£1,577,993

21.0

Spirit duty, 1857...

£8,895,736

£4,083,892

46.0

£2,906,746' 33.0

£1,905,098

21.0

Malt manf., bush.*

39,127,383

36,313,925

93.0

1,122,301 2.1

1,691,157

4.3

Malt expt'd.,bush.*

143,147

139,029

97.0

4,118 2.8

Malt dutyt

£6,697,610

92.0

£236,474 7,910,764

3.5

Paper manuf., lbs.*

192,297,399

74.0

4.1

Paper exptd., lbs.*

15,312,576

13,202,644

86.0

2,097,466 13.6

12.466

0.8

Tobacco in bond,lbf

41,568,171

37,826,263

91.0

2,152,553

5.2

1,589,355

3.8

I.ailway,miles opn*

9,116

6,777

74.3

1,269

14.0

1,070

11.7

Railway receipts*

£24,183,610

£20,527,748

84.9

£2,510,478

10.4

£1,145,384

4.7

P.O.Money Orders*

£12,178,309

£10,381,663

85.0

£1,002,857

8.2

£893,789

7.3

Bank notes in cir-

£37,581,999

£27,201,025

72.4

£4,305,251

11.4

£6,075,723

16.0

Money in Savings

Banks, Nov.,1856

£34,946,012

£30,404,870

87.0

£1,938,572

5.5

£1,723,726

5.0

Where the three items (England and "Wales being * 1857. t 1356.

REVENUE IN IRELAND.

reckoned together), relating to England, Scotland, and Ireland, do not exactly make up the sum total of the United Kingdom, in the official tables there are a few figures relating to the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands, that are not reckoned under either of these three separate heads. This will account for an apparent deficiency in some cases.

6. The subjects heretofore considered, are those relating to the employment and resources of the people. Let us now look at some items of national revenue.

REVENUE FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES, IN 1855 AND 1857.

DATE.

UNITED KINGDOM.

IRELAND.

PERCENT

Income and Property Tax ... 1855 Income and Property Tax ... 1857

Post Office Revenue 1855

Post Office Revenue 1857

Revenue, other sources 1855

Revenue, other sources 1857

Total Revenue 1855

Total Revenue 1857

£23,213,797

23,275,743

17,632,139

17,910,614

7,063,610

7,470,627

15,159,458

11,396,435

2,767,201

3,038,113

4,715,940

5,165,558

70,552,145

68,257,090

£2,224,766

2,244,792

2,649,646

2,883,890

450,077

485,309

1,149,290

842,911

196,816

230,950

9,969

13,698

6,680,564

6,701,550

9.5

9.6

15.0

16.1

6.4

6.5

7.5

7.4

7.1

7.6

0.2

0.3

9.4

- 9.8

There are certain taxes and imposts that are not levied at so high a rate in Ireland as in Great Britain. There are several reasons why the national revenue is not so large in Ireland, in proportion to the population, as in England and Scotland. But making all due allowance for these, the population, and the cultivated land of Ireland, being about one-fourth of the entire amount in the United Kingdom, the revenue from all sources should amount to far more than one-tenth ?

STEAM COMMUNICATION.