The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-11 00:00:00

THE TRADE OF LIVERPOOL

( From the Circular of Messrs. Leech, Harrison, d Forwood.)
We have the pleasure to enclose our first shipping cir-
cular for the current year, and to make a few remarks
upon some'features which distinguish the export branch
of the trade of this port. It has been estimated that the
annual value of goods passing' through Liverpool now
amounts to £1(10,000,000, establishing the important rela-
tion that her trade bears to • general commerce of the
kingdom; nor will the extent of her trade be a subject of
surprise when the proximity of the port to the great seats
of the manufaeturing and mining industry of the country
is considered.
Large, however, as this trade undoubtedly is, we hold
firmly the conviction. that, if the obitacles which yet
impede the full development of the export branch be
removed, and, on the other hand, those facilities be
afforded in regard to the working of the docks. &c., which
the advance ofscience and Commercial experience demand,
a further increase, which shall keep full pace with the
general prosperity of the country, must be the result.
The true interests of exporters in the interior would
appear to be to render our port, thus naturally
designed from its proximity to their seat of business, for
their special use, as available as possible, by making
their means of transit with it facile and cheap; and we
conceive that the powerful arguments which were so
constantly and successful used to secure the passing of
such railway acts as tended to these objects are valid
now, and apply to the importance of continually keeping
those means
,of communication, in all respects, cheap and
freely open. The result might be naturally expected from
an Increase of shipments here, which follows in all cases
of enlarging business, that the cost of conducting it, in
reference to dock dues, &c., would be lessened in propor-
tion-to its increase.

These remarks seem called for, as it now appears to be
the policy which the most extensive railway company in
the kingdom is carrying out, to foster the traffic between
Manchester and the metropolis, at the expense of that to
Liverpool, by sustaining a fmileage rate for carriage of
goods from the interior to Liverpool, greatly higher than
that at which it carries masses of goods from the same
points to London. The favouring of one port at the cost
of another by this or any other system, by any railway
company under act of parliament, is contrary to
those principles of common justice upon which the legis-
lature intends to act, in granting the many privileges
which are conferred on railway companies.
It is a question whether two extensive commercial com-
munities, whose mutual prosperity is so interwoven as is
that of Liverpool and Manchester, could secure their
vital interests more completely than by obtaining the en-
tire control of a line of conveyance between them, and as
free from all injurious monopolies or amalgamations, as
their old turnpike road.

We trust this subject will receive the attention it de-
serves at the hands of the manufacturing interest, and
that no monopoqes will be allowed to check the free flow
of our commerce with the interior.
The Liverpool Dock Trustees seem now quite disposed
to act upon the view, that the prosperity of the port has a
very close connexion with the export trade, and are im-
proving dock sheds, stages, ormes, and the means of
transit of goods to the docks. The accommodation just
afforded at the new central docks, will be a great boon to
shippers, and we hope to see further improvements soon
adopted.
Fadlit'es for Sldpping at they Port.--A general outl'

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