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The expenses of a blockade runner.


Wilmington May 22d, 1864.
To the Editor of the Richmond Dispatch:
Enclosed please find a statement of the expense of running a steamer before the war on a basts, also the same for a blockade running steamer on the same grounds. You will perceive that all the reports of the blockade running are without foundation, as it is a well known fact that ovary steamer or blockade runner have made large for tunes, and have turned our currency, and taken all the coin out of the country. I sincerely trust Congress will not after the present few, but make it stronger, and put a heavy tax on them.

Yours truly,
An Old Sailor

Disbursements of a Steamship before the War.

one captain per month$150 00
one clerk per month100 00
one first officer75 00
one second officer60 00
one third officer45 00
one boatswain40 00
one carpenter60 00
one steward and three assistants100 00
one cook and two assistants90 00
one engineer and three assistants250 00
twelve firemen and could plasters600 00
twelve dock hands360 00
240 tons of coal, of $4200 00
Oil, tailors, packing, &100 00
Sleevedores out and home2000 00
Whirlage and boatage400 00
Pitotage cut and in256 00
Insurance 2 ½ per cent per month on $150 0003750 00
Wear and tear 2 ¾ per of per month4250 00
Incidental expenses1000 00
interest575 00
for crew405 00
rations for passengers3000 00
19136 00

Farnings out and homes

freight out end home, four trips14890 00
passengers33000 00
52800 00
Profits made per month, previous to the war, by a first class steamer on a specie currency$33664 00

Disbursements of a blockade steamer.

one captain per month$5000 00
First officer, $600; second do, $250; third do, $161020 00
one boats wals160 00
one carpenter160 00
one purser1000 00
one steward $150; three assistants, $180330 00
one cook, $150; two assistants, $120270 00
one engineer and three assistants3500 00
twelve dremen and coal heavers2400 00
24 of coal at $20400 00
rations for crow2700 00
tallow and packing1000 00
Sleevedores5000 00
Pilotage out and in3000 00
Sea Insurance3500 00
Wear and tear4250 00
Incidental expenses1200 00
interest875 00
Risks, 25 per cent37500 00
provisions for passengers300 00
60265 00

Earnings out and home:

800 bales of cotton for Government40000 00
800 bales of cotton for owners.40000 00
Return freight for owners40000 00
Return freight for Government40000 00
Passengers out and home12000 00
172000 00
Leaving a monthly profit (and if successful in five trips Ill clear the steamer) of $21735 00

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May 22nd, 1864 AD (1)
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