_Journal of Commerce_, in the spring of 1857,
_nearly four years previous to the commencement of the rebellion_:

"In an article, written some months since, it was assumed
that steam was destined to be the great moving power for
emigration, and that it would supplant, almost entirely, the
use of sails. Experience is every day justifying this view,
and still more, it is becoming evident that in proportion as
steam can be economized, it will serve for the transportation
of very much of the merchandise now carried by sailing
vessels. In fact, the time is not far distant when the latter
class of ships will be required only for articles of great
bulk and comparatively little value.

"The only question now is, who are to be the gainers by this
revolution in navigation?

Figures are very convincing arguments to American minds. Let
us use them:

In January last it was stated that less than eighteen years
have elapsed since the first steamship propelled wholly by
steam crossed the Atlantic; and now there are fourteen lines
of steamers, comprising forty-eight vessels, plying between
Europe and America."[A] Upon looking into this with a view to
test its correctness, it was found to be within the truth;
for, including transient steamers, the number was greater than
stated. And it incidentally appeared that of them all, there
were but seven under the American flag--all seven, side wheel
ships--and, on the average, unprofitable, even with the
support of government, upon which they leaned."

[Footnote A: In twenty-one years the number of our
transatlantic steamships has decreased from seven to four,
while those under foreign flags have increased two hundred
and fifty.]

Maintaining then, as now, that the screw must supersede the
side-wheel for all purposes, excepting perhaps those of mail
carriage, and that iron screw steamers are, in all commercial
respects, preferable to wood steamers, the argument was
adduced that England, being able to construct this class of
vessels more economically than we can, must of necessity have
the monopoly of building them. Her monopoly, in this respect,
we cannot prevent; but it depends upon ourselves and our
government whether she shall share with us the monopoly of
owning and sailing them.

I have taken a bold, and it may be, _appar