In 1850, the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company established a
steamship line competing with the U.S. Mail
Steamship Company between New York City and Chagres.
Through 1850 they built 8 of the 38
steamships constructed in New York until that year, including the Franklin and Havre (the first steam vessels for the Havre
Line), followed by Arago and Rhode Island (for the government) and Eagle and Morro Castle (for Spofford, Tileston &
Company).