The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-05-29


O clock night Tho otendns .dnssriconos have pro-
ceeded to California
send these letters through the American Consul Mr.
Birt,Il a gentleman who represents his government
with dignity and to the satisfaction believe, OF all
American travellers
The Oregon sails this evening in the morning for
San Fraaeisco. shall write you Immediately my
arrival. W.A.B.
Our Brussels Correspondence.
BRussEls, April 6, 1910,
Steam Communication With .qntwerp
Nv DEAR Sir
duly received your letter Of 18th January 1S4o by
which you transmit interesting details of the progress
made in the United States in the OF Antwerp
terminus in grand postal communca between the
American and the European continents have always
been convinced that Bremen badly chosen point
for running IL line of steamships, nasmach as the let
tiers and travellers for Germany could reach their
tnation by Belgian and Rhenan railways before the
steamer could reach the quay at Bremen Haven. But
you add to this communication, Monsieur, that the
opinion Of amateurs and business men of New York,
favors in preference to Antwerp and it is to-
wards the French port that company design directing
line Of steamers soon they shall obtain the aid
Of the administration Of your republic.
have disposition to deny the material advantages
Of Havre. 1t is mush more readily approached from
New York than Antwerp 16 to Is hours Of vgation
it possesses magnificent basins q railway direct to
Paris and the centre Of France and the Of
with the United States is much greater than that
Antwerp Yet in spite of these real and incontesti.
Bile believe Antwerp is prefera BILE
it possesses superior advantages not only the
ortaon of letters that incontestibe but also for
the number OF passengers 1t VIII obtain and the guam
tity of merchandise it will find to transport
1t is only necessary to cast eyes upon the chart
in order to comprehend what have stated Antwerp
occupies position equally central and finds itself vt
he head of system of railways well combined that
one can say Its port is at equal distances from Paris
Cologne. Amsterdam and from London, for steam
muncation and that for travellers well for the
correspondence between the two continents Antwerp,
by means Of its railways has become the veritabe port
Of embarkation for all central Europe. and for popu
ation of forty to fifty millions of inhabitants, if we
count Austria.
without doubt Havre Is to Paris than Ant
werp. only because Havre il to New York
than our port but also by the geographical distance
But this disadvantage largely compensated; for Ant
werp by the proximity Of London, Rotterdam, Am
sterdam Cologne, Berlia Hamburg, Strasburg Frank
with which 1t communicates daily by railway or steam.
boat, whilst Havre communicates directly with Paris
only. When the system OF French railways shall be
completed, Antwerp will be to Lyons and Mar
settles, by way Of Rheims, than Havre, by Paris.
believe, Monsieur, that these facts which have dis
cused as briefly possible, and which you will clearly
appreciate upon casting your over the chart
companying this letter. will to counterbalsnce in
the minds Of practical men, the advantages more sppa
rent than real Of the port of Havrc and will induce
them to study profoundly the real advantages of
fered by Antwerp and Belgium in general for postal
But to advantages purely geographical, add, for
their attention, those which my country offers under
point Of view industrial CONNIE rcial aud political
believe that shall easily convince Americans that
Antwerp has right to hope fer their preference in de-
ermining hereafter upon the terminus Of postal line
| between America and Europe.
Belgium you know well as |, Monsieur, is
scntiay industrial country She possesses the greater
part Of the great industrial Developments Of England
Thus, Client manufactures cottons upon great scale
Flanders is renowned for the manufacture of linen
the prime materials; Hamault produces carpeting
porcelain DELPHI iron and steel works and coal in album
usn0e the prTvnte 10. ., ,P foahces cutlery re-
nomica that of Sheffield the province of Lege il
celebrated for its fabrics Of cloths and stus Of WOOL
for its manufactures Of of and of luxury for
Its metallurgc Establishments (of iron brass zinc and
lead) in short, Brussels, Malines, and Antwerp
celebrated for their production of aces silks and cot
ton prints.
Belgium, then, offers in itself all the elements Of an
extended commerce and s attendant relations with all
ADMINISTRATIONS already established, and which
need only to be developed by means Of more rapid and
frequent communication
The central position OF Antwerp between Holland
England Germany, and the North Of France, made it
the eptrcpot for the Of Central Europe when
this port belonged the French empire II it has lost
part Of its natural advantages it is owing entirely to
the customs restrictions imposed upon commerce by all
governments, including that Of Belgium but the ideas
which have originated the restrictive system begin to
give place to wiser ideas concerning the true results of
the hackes imposed upon the freedom Of the mutual
relations Of countries Belgium, by its position and by
the force Of circumstances will be obliged very
soon to practice commercial liberty. Already she has
made great step in abrogatng, like England, the i'm
position upon grains France, on the contrary,
to draw itself farther and farther from these ideasto
throw itself more than ever into the prohibtve
Belgium will Offer then under the head of commercial
facilities advantages that France cannot give without
resembling all her commercial and industrial policy.
Under the head Of purely political, Belgium offers,
likewise, advantages superior to those Of Havrc By
the treaty Of 1882 Belgium was declared neutral in
perpeuy and its ports open TO all nations the postal
service would thus have nothing suffer in time
of war; If it established between Antwerp and New
York This consideration Is very important, especially
at this epoch and should strongly influence the deci
American Congress,
Now Monsieur, resting the question upon the point
of prac teal execution believe that those who intend
applying TO Congress to obtain subsidy for postal
line to Havre would de- better to apply for the port Of
Antwerp, touching at Southampton AS compensation
for the difference Of distance, and more, the Belgian
government appears disposed to allow either annual
subsidy during certain number OF years equivalent
advantages in the changes which navigation Is ordi-
narily subject. believe myself able to assure you
that these advantages subsidies will rise at least to
SlO0 OU0 per annum, (5o0OO francs) sum which Is
certainly not to be disregarded 1t will perhaps not be
central government of Germany at Frankfort but for
this 1t would be necessary that positive deman be
made for Antwerp, and that official step should be
made, powerfully, in time and place.
As to the commerce OF Antwerp, have communi-
Gated your letter and my PROJECT of reply to some Of the
principal houses and they have assured that they
will voluntarily take active part in the formation of
capital and doubt not we will find the same concur
in the principal centres of the country
where they begin TO understand the importance Of face
and direct relations with the United States.
believe that these few details will suffice, Monsieur,
to engage those who interest themselves in the
establishment of postal communication between New
York and the continent to study sttentvely the ad
yantages of the position Of Antwerp point of de-
barkation upon the continent As for myself
completely ut your and their disposition for agitatng
here, to secure the success Of the enterprise.
Accept pray you my dear sir assurance Of the per-
feet consideration with which am,
Your very devoted servant,
AID LIE HARDY DE BEAULIEU.
ID. T. BARnrDr, Esq, Few York.
Our Tunis correspondence.