The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1850-09-09

II
For Suryeyor-WM. BRowN.
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The Great West Effects OF Railroads.
The effect which the various railroads
now in course Of construction through the
Western States, will have upon trade and
the interests of the different sections Of
the country, is exciting speculation and
drawing forth opinions Of the eastern and
western presses. We quote some extracts
from interesting articles on this subject,
which we find in various papers. The
Philadelphia Ledger says:
"The diversion of very considerable
portion of the trade of the Mississippi Val.
lev from New Orleans TO the Lakes, seems
to be anticipated ns one of The results Of
the various and important chains Of Rail-
road and Canal communication now rapid
ly progressing in the States oe Ohio, Indi-
ana and Illinois. The first two States
will soon exhibit, geographically, a cou,-
plete network of Railways, in addition 10
the Wabash and Erie and Ohio and Eric
Canals. which serve as the great arteries
Of trade for the heavy business of transpor-
tation. Illinois will soon rivul them in
this respect. The Lake Micbigap and II.
linois River Canal is already in full opera.
tion, and the Railroads from Galena to Chi
cago. and from Chicago across the penin.
sula of Michigan to Detroit and Toledo,
will soon be in full oper ton. All these
works teud to New York, Philadelphia and
Boston. The competition among them
will so reduce the charges Of transportation
ns to divert trade from the Ohio and Mis-.
sissippi rivers, heretofore regarded as the
cheapest avenues to the seaboard. Anc
while this revolution is going on in the
Northwest, the Railroad spirit is abroad in
Alabama, Tennessee. and even in Missis.
sippi, most of the projected enterprises
pointing 10 Charleston, rs rival Of New
Orleans and Mobile for the trade cf the
Southern Valley Of the Mississippi. d
The people Of New Orleans are not in
sensible to these encroacbments upon The
prosperity Of that city. They will doubt
less, take oil practical measures to aver
the danger. Nature has given their empo
rum vast advantages. The great fathe
of waters, and its lower tributaries, affort
facilities to the Cotton trade, which ough
always to secure that important interest
and will unless there is too much indiffer
eEce to the Railroad rivalry. New Or
leans. too, ought TO monopoize, in large
degree, the tr1do in Indian Corn, now be
coming very important item in our com
merce. and destined, We think, to an in
cslculable increase. But in regard t.
Flour, Pork, Beef. &c., she will have t
encounter the most formidable competition
When railroad is taken to almost every
farmers and miller's and butchers neigh
borhood in Ohio ard Indiana, md the rates
of transportation to and through the Lake!
to New York reduced SO low os 10 provoke
shipment in that direction, we much ques
ton whether the Ohio, and Wabash will
longer be regarded as tile cheapest or mos
desirable highways to market. The sam
remark will apply to Illinois and Iowa.
The Upper Mississippi and Illinois river
will, TO large extent, be neglected for tn
Railroads and Canal to the Lakes. w
would not be understood, by these speculs
,ions, as implying that New Orleans mus
necessarily decline in her commerce. N
one who understands the productiveness Q
appreciates the future destiny of the Grea
Valley would venture such proposition
That country is capable, in time, offrelgh
ing. with It's products, oil the railroads an
canals, that enterprise may project, ,wthol
the slightest diminution Of its steambo'
tonnage. Its resources are inexhaustibl
and New Orleans must ever be its chi
emporium. But we apprehend that Il
future Importance ofNew Orleans will !
diminished by the works just referred I
She cannot keep pace with her Easter
neighbors ogainst such odds. Her popul
tion may increase by tens of thousand
but New York apd Philadelphia will, 10 q
same time, add their hundreds Of thousand
Cincinnati, Louisville and ST. LOUIS, her
tofore paying 10 her their chief trbui
win be forced tolook 10. q different dire
ton. or loose part Of their own trade, wh'
the railronds connecting with the East a
al made complete"
yThe following we cut from tho Ne
York Ezpress s.'N
pyyestem Manufacturers The vail
oftho Mississippi Is destined to become
great munufietprlpg region Of the co,inir
There Is great donl done already
the Ohio and Mississippi, and on oil :