THE STATE STEAMSHIP COMPANY LIMITED - SET OF TWO CREAMERS - GLASGOW 1880'S CHINA

Description

The State Steamship Company, Limited, 65, Great Clyde Street.—
The energy and enterprise which are so eminently characteristic of the business men of this city have been in no respect more strongly exercised than in the organisation and development of the shipping trade, and more particularly in those splendid lines of passenger-conveying steamships leaving this port. And it is particularly interesting in reviewing historically this important factor in the commercial prosperity of the city to consider attentively a few of the leading features of the well-known and highly popular “State” Line of steamships.
The State Steamship Company, Limited, was formed in 1871 to meet the requirements of the rapidly developing trade between Glasgow and the United States. Since that date a regular service has been maintained between Glasgow and new York via Larne Harbour (Belfast). The company’s fleet at present consists of the following screw steam vessels :— State of Nebraska, State of Nevada, State of Indiana, State of Georgia, State of Pennsylvania, State of Alabama. These vessels are all of the highest class, of good speed, fitted with all the latest improvements, and have excellent accommodation for saloon and steerage passengers. With respect to excellence of appointments, comfort, and the high quality of the provisions and general excellence of the cuisine these splendid vessels will bear favourable comparison with any line of ships sailing from this or any other port. They are all commanded by officers of tried experience, whose courteous politeness has become proverbial, and who exercise that care and attention to all the requirements of the passengers which render a trip in one of these well-appointed steamships more of the character of a yachting cruise than an ocean voyage.
The number of men in the regular employment of the company at Glasgow is between five and six hundred ; the regular staff employed at Lame and New York is about the same number; whilst the crews of the fleet range between four and five hundred men ; add to these the number of agents in different parts of the world, the company gives employment, in round numbers, to upwards of eight thousand men. It is interesting to note that during the year 1887 the “State” Line had succeeded, in spite of the excessive competition to which they were subjected, in gathering from various points in Europe and America and conveying across the Atlantic twenty thousand passengers and a hundred and fifty thousand tons of cargo.
As an instance of the splendid organisation and discipline pervading the whole service, it is worthy of special mention that these ships, during the year mentioned, made over fifty voyages, without loss or accident of any kind, with unfailing regularity, and had been discharged, loaded, and dispatched with a celerity which was unsurpassed by any other company in the trade. This line made a new departure a short time ago in regard to first-class passage, by providing the best accommodation with plain substantial fare at lower rates than other lines.
The steamers leave Glasgow for New York every Friday, Larne every Saturday, and leave New York for Glasgow every Thursday, the saloon passage ranging from seven to eight guineas, according to accommodation. The offices of the company, as before stated, are situated at 65, Great Clyde Street. They comprise a spacious and handsome suite of general offices, board-room, counting-house, private rooms, &c., a large and efficient staff of clerks, correspondents, and assistants being constantly employed.
Mr. John Bruce Murray, who is the acting manager, has been associated with the company since its formation, and about five years ago secured this appointment. Mr. Murray possesses the advantage of long and thorough experience, and exercises in the administration of the business of the company that sound judgment and well-directed energy which have always so strongly characterised his business career.