The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-07-18
PORTSMOUTH-ITS LOCATION-ITS
ADVANTAGES

Long before we took up our residence in this
town. we were convinced that lis advantages of
location for trade and mechanism were under
valued, and saw with much surprise that the
largest portion of its population made too much
dependence the Navy Yard, for present sup
port, and future independence We have
several times thought of speaking TO our fellow
citizens on the subject. but felt delicacy in in
Producing advise uuasked We have been
since requested, by some of the Oldest citizens of
the town, to give our views, and we comply
There is no maritime town or city from the
city Of New York, to New Orleans, better calcu-
lated, by the salubrty of It's climate, the purity
OF lis water, the richness of its soil, the miJness
OF lis air, lis freedom from excessive heat, lis
protection from extreme fros,s, and lis proximity
to the sea, better calculated for a commercial
Depot, than this town Of Portsmou,l--yes, tet-
ter in respects, and inferior in none, to Nor
folk. We do not wish to delract from Norfolk.
but we must say that Portsmouth, in some res
poets, is superior to her sister city. Let us for
one moment take look at the situation of Ports
mouth, (in speaking of Portsmouth, we include
G osport of course) The town is washed by the
Elizabeth river on the North and East, with water
sufficient the East to float the largest vessel of
war in the world, and only two hours sail from
the ocean. It's South and West borders lead TO
the fertile counties Of Norfolk Suffolk, South
ampton. Isle of Wight, Surry and Sussex, in
Virginia; and Curriluck, Camden, Pasquotank,
Perquimans, Chowan and Gates, in North Caro-
lima, beside many other counties which now occa.
sonally, and would entirely, trade with This town,
II we can make il there interest to do So These
counties enumerated above, bring the largest nor
lion Of The surplus productions of their fertile
plantations TO Norfolk, for sale and exportation to
the North. Norfolk supplies the planters and
boa with goods in part payment for their
productions, and furnishes the means of transpor-
taton TO other parts, while Portsmouth looks idIy
on, and without stretching forth hand to assist
herself, actually contributes in supporting the
commerce of Norfolk, at her own expense. Now
how would we remedy this? How would we oet
our full share of the trade of the rich back conn.
try? We answer. Build our own vessels. Elk
port the goods OF the planters by importing such
goods as they want, in our own vessels. Sell os
cheap can for living profit. Form nu,,.
al stock companies for the building. navio.ti,o
and freighting such vessels Let the mecb,n;o
and laboTer, when they cannot get work in ~ =.
government Navy Yard, have ship Yards IF ,,,o;, !:
own. Let the shares be as low as ten do,Is,. 4
you wilI-Iet the merchant, and mechanic ,,lI
aborer, and all that will take one or more sha,os
in The company OF companies. If the mechanic
and aborer cannot pay for whole share at once
let them pay for half share, and when thew are
out Of empty, let them work on the vessel mr.
vessels in The yard or yards (for if this is once
taken up, there will be more than one shin ward
here) IN part payment for their share or shares
All then will be interested in the great work T.
anraodizng this beautiful town, and in very
short time il will rival its sister across the river
The merchant can with safety give credit to
the workmen tina: are engaged on the vessels
they having The vessel as collateral security G,
the payment Of such small debts the workman
may contract with them, and he that is the most
liberal in his credits to them, will ultimately
make the most money.
These crude ideas are thrown out to call the
attention Of our citizens to the subject. which all
must say, are both feasible and necessary