THE PEDALTO INSTITUTION FOR INCORPORATED ART

 
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DEPARTMENT OF AMERICA AND WORLD

DIRECTOR   Peter Pelletson

ABOUT

There have been few examples in the world of a commerce on so large a scale, and of so considerable value, having such a development between two civilized nations with so little personal relations between them, and so small an acquaintance of each other. Very few Brazilians have come to the United States, either on account of business or for recreation, and during late years the small number of citizens of the United States who have visited Brazil, went first over to Europe, in order to be sure of a passage in a steamer, in preference to a voyage in a sailing ship. The expense for such a circuitous passage in a steamer is considerably greater than in a sailing ship; but the general taste is for steamers, without even any economy of time. For a first-class passage ticket between New York and Rio, via England, the cost is at least $600, while the direct passage on board a sailing ship would not be over $200 to $250. As regards time, the steamers are twelve days in going from New York to England, and twenty-eight days from England to Rio—in the whole, forty days. This calculation, taking into account all contingencies, is, as an average calculation, rather too low than too high. As to sailing ships, the average time of their- passage from New York to Rio is about forty days, while from Rio to New York it does not exceed thirty-five days. Thus, in general, there is, in the preference given to steamers, no advantage as to time; and, nevertheless, no one can deny that everybody is in favor of traveling on board steamers. The evident reason of this fact lies in the regularity and certainty of a steamer line, which enable merchants and passengers to make reliable calculations, that, under most circumstances, may be of great importance t> their affairs. Besides, there are people who would not be persuaded to leave land, if, instead of steamers, they had to traverse the ocean on board a sailing ship. Thus the regular service of oceanic steamers invites travel exactly in the same manner as the opening of a railroad, wherever it be, rapidly increases the number of travelers between the places it connects.