Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-11-14
For the ENQUIRER.
4
COMMERCIAL PORT FOR RICHMOND.

,,,ss,s Ein,s0Iu your piper of the 18th ult find
article IF your correspondent, james tver '1t seems W
nfr That had overlooked the claims OF the Port Of Der
ana Hundred which lie represents as only hall the DIS
t.rcc railroad (Which however, Is inisakc) cohPatea
with that the Port York river but WIN reference "
, interests OF Richmond he does not see that by gong 10
Bermuda Hundred ne Icopardses the trade OF Richmond by
bnna it into collision with TINT Of PETERSBURG. and ooi In
Norfolk the final shipping port OF Whatever hoa's
If spoke Of rivaIry" +, had ausion to jealousy
for such spirit belongs not TO our city was 10 aSoln inc
yrna Of either "rvary" jealousy, independent OF
The superiority of the Port advocated York river that
made me urge upon the consideration Of our CITY ms Fort
in preference any port on James rVef even II DC
our doors II is The policy OF every commercial city 10 nave
H., own port independent of others that would come into
ynlry for the trade have said that is utterly nposs-
bic for James rer meet the requirements OF Inc commerce
ot ;b oud if she becomes she will the recipient OF
vast trade from the Western country II she mas no SNIP
ping port OF her own independent Of o1hers .s aue WIN
be subject TO be diverted other points, possessing greater
facilities for eSpor, and import In one year. richmond
could command OF the finest shipping potls on our
coast. II she oregoes the PRIZE ana aoots 10 e
port on james river she will never attain Inc conerca po
son she entitled for supposlng she cleans out e
channel of her river to-day there no certainty but a1 e
Hood after loaded with the deorts ol liic WIS. eou!!
This river waters would fill il again Here Is me source
of perpetual annoyance and expense 10 the narIgaoe pow"
o? this river, and we cannot AVOID H. oli'l VIC su9
city this evil, which may lose US our comiecla GU
pcriorty? Shall luke warning from other cities
similarly situated once the seat OF great commerce. ~"
only accessible in boats
Look at the port the city Of Baltimore now unht out
for vessels Of small draft where al its fst settlement large
ships could ridehe change produced by the lille stream
running through the city, called Jones' nls, which Is ever
bringing down gravel and dirt and dschargne the I'M
checked into The basin. When Baltimore first settled
this creek navgabe for than half mile into the
city for large vessels ard sipyard was established nearly
oIysc the leading up IL the Washington Monument.
Now il reach this point II such m
fling stream this is capable Of eliecng this mischief
what may cxpec; from the workings Of such mighty
stream james River! Let us, Mcs>rs Editors learn Wis
dom from the plsi and subject 10 be ami
hatcd. E%?cdrncy and necessity urge US 10 avail our
selves OF the oer made OF ha!hor, which is moi and
BE- affected stated above End which DC reach
cd from the heart Of city by railroad in as short time as
il now takes TO Ire si!p-antiHg n Rockets
Eui, Independent ui these local considerations, there il
another If general and public character thai urges
give preference oTk River for the harbor
Of Richmond city 1t is this. that il will become the port
for AL the trade OF the Eastern section Of the STATE and thus
SEIZURE this :atc 10 "arsrlves, which seeks other mar
kets, foreign the interests OF Sat" In my last No.
g. have noticed this important consideration and hope
your correspondent james River will give coasits
ration 10 tia paper which may, # he has reference 10 The
interests 81 Richmond satisfy him that YORK River the
proper port vi this ely. Respectfully
ROBE MILLS, Engineer und Architect.