Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-01-12
For TIC ENQUIRER.
STEAM VESSELS TO NEW YORK.

(W LN LH4Hbt.
STEAM VESSELS TO NEW YORK.
In the enquirer OF the 9th, an article appeared
over the signature OF Enterprise" 10 which !
propose TO offer a reply in some SOFT, conscious
al the moment that | shall have In rely mcie upon
a practical than theoretical discussion OF the
subject (tor really Enterprise" discourses most
eloquenlly) in relation 10 the application 10 the
Legislature ior an "act OF incorporation Tor
steam ressels between Inc ports Of James River
and New York, for tie lauiablc purpose" Gas
Enterprise remarks) of facilitating trade. The
sicountc7 memorial submitted Ia Tie Legislature
man have signatures attached 10 il OF persons
who are Interested in Inc sailing Graf but very
few OF them, | aprrehend, have any dollars and
cents invested, bu, are in ,he main interested in
The commerce and general prosperity OF the city
OF Richmond and the STATE al large. "En.erprise'
taunts them by saying, that "slIaws tell winch
way The wind blows" This would seem 10 lie
writer 10 come with very i'll grace from these who
ask for an act o Incorporation, the purpose OF
which is 10 seek the aid and patronage OF the Le-
eislaHrc Of the State i'll prosecution OF an EN-
leiprise tending diyecty 10 m0nopo'p and foster
ing the far 10 the injury The mann; Tor there can
be little question lha. the stock in The proposed
company would be taken up ny lew IN New
York and Richmond; ard, II consumma'eG, pro-
pose 10 Indicate some OF the results that would
follow In the nature Of things, ioserod a il
would be by S,atc legislation III the hands q
few OF the wealthy, aho, ike the resi- OF mankind,
desire TO have iuil return ior their outlay, would
they no; only have The power, but, a. Is natural,
would they not USE that power i'll prescribing Tho
rates oil freishls, and The conditions upon which
shipments were 10 be made2 Aaain-why should
the aid Of The Legislature lie invoked IN tt!S
mailer any more than any otao pertaining 10
commerce? Why should The few he granted prl-
vlleges and aid 10 The injury OF the greater num-
bel What is 10 become Of your 'o0t Interests?
IS il 10 BIZ expected that these m0sa!faa steam
vessels" are going 10 throw in coal with -four,
corn tobacco, ion, &c, Sc1 Surely moi. Then, is
il moi apparent that lhry 1.-THE steam vcsscls) will
seek monopoly OF these articles; and, II so, IS Il
not equally apparent that the "sai crafts" will be
cautious in coming TO James riveI1 for all i,sy
can expect is coal freight; and, consequently, they
would not come, uIless under some assurance Oh
an adranced rate freight. The coal trade is al
ready in a auguishing state The only Po@5ts
means by which VIRGINIA Goals can be placed IN
mafke, is BY getting treishs al The lowest possible
rates and il is most obvious that the more vessels
that appear in the co VICINITY the greater will be
The competition ard the lower the rates this is
not less true al ohcr than OF coal ireishts l. Is
within the memory OF most II not all OF the inci-
chants ol this CITY, that this S'e0m-ctS%l "en'cl-
prise y has been attempted by New York anc 4
few of Richmond sometime since. Two or Tree
steamers appeared, retired, and felinqaishcd Ihr
scheue-why so : II any very great ADVANTAGE
had presented itself 70 The merchants hcfs, wouid
they not have availcd lhemse Ives # il Surely,
but these monopolists inding i, impracIicabc 10
cary out lhei. design under iair competition
come up ard sraye!y ask the Legislature q tins
good old common wealth to help them 10 contrl-
tu'e 10 The great emporium, The "polar STAT
New York Tor one Ihink We are rather loo near
10 New York already, and verify believe me
nearer YOU gel Ia her, the weaker the ciiies 81
this Stale will bc We have already ample
facilities for conveying rrSoaSi 10 The polar star
and i, does seem The writer that any esisa-
ton which may affect The regular course o' Ira,ie
undcr a lair competition, would not only he
uu;rst bn iacrpcdieai III Ihe extreme Moreover,
the disbursements, iol the mos: part will he Al tie
euI cf The line holding The greatest amount II
stock: that Of course will lie .Ncic York. The
prospect Of a direct trade with tor,,ga markets
would be more remote, when as "Enerwee'
saws the mariner, endeavors IL steer Tor The polar
star" New York; il you assure ,ha, marine:
that Richmond and Petersburg have made
store ao,tsc Of New York, ior heir products.
Asio Inc inlcrTosaory Q! Enterprise, when he
says Has any nels; 5 il Ssw York S1 Bqf S
Wheclin. 10 New Orleans suffered ~ the intro
duclion q! steam vessels, have only 10 say,
that steam vessels in The cases referred 10 have
been designed fur he most par; for conveying
passengers, and undertake 10 say. that Il 4 re-
si,ler OF The names OF those who have in The lat
five years lost their lives by the bursting Of
boilers and the burning Of steam boats weia
presented 10 the view oi onr legislators, they
would al least stop 10 enquire into he nature d
this application. The imTniaiion that opposl-
lion comes lroni "seiGst clique is rather I'M
charlable but as Enterprise" has ty il 90
clearly indicated his eira motives, il may
20 OF What worth, IL snor'. assnne ma 80.
CRAFTS are safer AMI cheaper; that fever lives and
less properly have heen los, III any given period
since The introduction o scam by sail ctaiis,
Than steam r.sscis. would encourage individual
enterprise bu am luectlg orpo ed 10 M nopoly,
and, being 50. shall continue 10 plead IN behal.
| Of FREE TRADE AND SAILORS ILGnTs.
| Richmond, Sh JAM 1916.
Norr-Thc Richmond, Fredericksburg < Potomac
Railroad Company, incorporated hy The state, anu 10
which The State IL degree pledged not n create
| rival company and steam boats plying between kich.
rnond and Baltimore, raj low rates. which line I" steam
boats was gotten u and hus tetn kept by individual
r1rrtion