Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-10-05
From The National MietHgencer.
,EsAPEAKE AND ONO CANAL.-No. Y.

TO the Same. cone lualohs WIN "hie" 'a' o"' ="
this appeal, will serve yet farther to Illustrate
and 10 forify Them.
That extension Of the domestic and foreign
commerce Of city, which arises from the ex-
tension of its inland trade, by roads aud canals,
occasions a Subdivision in the employments OF
meIc antile capital, similar TO that which occurs
in the progress Of manufac turing industry, and
attended with corres spending Dement'S 10 Inc
whole community.
AT first the same merchant purchases ana
| ships the produce Of the country in his own
! vessel, aud imports and distributes its foreign
| returns al his own hazard, or Tor want OF COM
plele occupation In any one OF these pursuits,
| he blends in his annual business as many he
/ can.
| Al last. he finds ample employment in some
| onr. to which he de voics his exclusive a,ten-
! lion. and in which he arrives at the greatest
{ skill: while encounterng competition from ot"-
ers impelled by the same motives with hlmsci,
! his profits, which he constantly aims 10 mere ase
as cons anly tend 10 q reduction whlch shaii
compor, with tie profits Of other similar occu-.
! Da,ious, and the market rate OF interest, which
! i, the common measure OF the income OF ma
tional stock.
The importing and exporting merchant deals
al first with those countries only, which, iron'
yicld prompt returns, suited TO the limited eX-
ten, both Of his knowledge and capital. As
both are extended, he ventures TO embark in re-
mote enterprises. Instead Of lowering near his
native coast, or limiting his voyages TO The
neares, ports Of Europe and the West Indies,
expIorcs the Baltic aud The Mediterranean,
doubles The Capr, and extends his specuItlons
to the mouth of the Ganges, 10 China, the Norih
West Coast OF America, and the Islands OF The
Pacific.
Finally, each merchant becomes exclusively
engaged in one branch Of This extensive traffic,
and acquires thence distinct appellalise. lie
is Russia. Turkey, or an India merchant,
and Is versed in every knowledge connected with
his pursuit, or calculated 10 augment lis profit.
Al the same period, a like revolution proceeds
in the market at home, CT tic sale and dlsrl-
button of what is imported from abroad -
: Wholesale and retail merchants arise, and each
finally restricts his occupation 10 the disposal
Of some particular commodity. Hence spring
up, in numbers, proporiioned 10 the extent oil
The market, dealers In every species OF rude
material or manufacture, from home or abroad.
We have wooden and linen diapers, MERGERS,
hosiers, wine and tea merchants, grocers, and
Drug ISIS dealers in china and glass, coal, lum-
Der, iron, aud cutlery, sc. sc. And in each OF
these single pursuits, the same competition
which has reduced the profits OF the importer,
lowers thai Of the distributor, wholesale or re-
tail, who has acquired by long pr actice, and the
closest attention, an nfa!ible Judgment III the
selection Of The particular al ndnction which he
He extends to his puuctual customer, Gre
dit proportional to the extent Of his own capi-
tai. and that credit supplies TO his customer the
, place OF capital
Need now inquire where The country or
village merchant Of the interior of Virginia will
, go 10 lay in his invoice of goods? Whether 10
Alexandria or New York: or why he prefers
the latter, which is SO many miles farther from
him, 10 The former? Where the village mer-
chant goes, there would every other purchaser
from the country, wherever he may reside, also
repair, who desires to buy any article, however
small its value, il the difference Of distance were
no, sufficient 10 coun,erbalance in his case the
. difference of price.
What tina, last difference may be, is proper
subject OF my present inquiry: for it is precise
ly what the farmer Of the vicinity Of Alexandria
ci OF the Potomac country, loses, by not find
ing there the same extent Of capital which car
ries The villa, &c merchant to New York Ii is
proper subject of inquiry 10 both, in determin-
ing The exprdiency Of fostering a measure cal
cuiated 10 diminish the disparity Of The trade Of
those cities.
Does it amour: to fifteen, twenty, or FIVE and
twenty per cent. on every commodity imported
into Virginia, through New York? To lha, ex-
tent 1t diminishcs the exchangrable, which is
the actual value OF the industry Of the Virginia
or Maryland farmer, who makes his purchases
within the District Of Columbia. But he loses
very nearly, or quite the same amount Oh every
article which finds its outlet abroad, through
the same circuilous channel which has brought
TO him The production Of other countries Tor
his own consumption. His loss upon his entire
revenue, is, therefore, thirty, forty, or fifty per
cent? and in proportion TO this loss, should be
his socilude for the speedy and successful ac-
comp'ishment Of The Chesapeake and Ohio Ca
nal For, II that canal shall reach, as il mnGoubt-
eddy may, The na,lgable waters Of the Ohio and
The Lakes-altnough New York NAV continue
sill FIR in advance, aud remain as she is, the
grea e,t Emporium Of American commerce.
the market Of tie Distuct, or Of the CITY of Bal.
ilmore, or either, NAV surpass thar which New