The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-09-17

frcignt whist the revenue OF the Improvement
is sustained by IN increased charge upon bust
ness not subject to CON; etior. or by the large
amount Of trade which they command. These
exclusive resources, rapidisy certainty and safe
ty Of transportation, with the power of discrirni-
nation that has enabled these great linos to
wrest from the Alssissip, 30 much Of its pro-
duce.
To establish the capacity of artificial to com.
pete with natural lines, we publish the follow
ing tabular statement, showing the contest be-
tween New York and New Orleans for the trade
Of the Mississippi.
NEW YORK AND NEW ORLEANS IN WESTERN
TRADE.
Neio York Population, Cnnal Trade
1910 2,l29,72l 66 303,892
1850 3,093,8l3 l56,397,929
An increase of 25 pr cent, in population,
and $50 per cent. IN trade, by canals, In ten
years.
Produce of Wea reesired By ve~ York Canals.
1912 S2375l.0la
1850 55,474, 1897
An increase of l45 per cent
Produce of lYea receired al New Orleans.
1912 $437l6045
1850 90 S97873
On an increase of 1875 per cent; or c,m-
paraive increase ty N w Yolk Of 25 per cent.
over New Orleans in Western produce in 5
years. in the three years, l848, lS49 and
1850, the receipts at New Orleans by river were
2,3I2,l2l bbls flour; at New York, s.636,2O7
bbs Pork: New Orleans 5368l7; New
York, 2Il ,Ols bbls Beef 200 90l bbls New
Orleans; New York, 264,O72 bills. l.,Wheat:
New Orleans, 852,497 bushels; New York, g.
1913 759 Corn; New Orleans 0,75s, $50 bush
els; New York. ll,l7s.22s bushels. Bacon
New Orleans, 1875 millions pounds; New York
26 millions, Lard New Orleans, 2a3 million
pounds; New York q millions. Butter; New
Orleans, million pounds; New York, 81
millions, NC g..
We have adverted to these well established
fac $, aud explained the rationale of their opera
tons, TO show taat the trade of Northern cities
is derived by artificial ways from the great pro-
duciug Valley of the West-Ifthis be the case
if productions prefer the lakes, railways and
the canals ofthe North 10 the river ard gulf ont
let why should not The produce Of Western Nir-
GINA, Which almost crcumuuvgate their own
State, which pursue distant. indirect and unsafe
line of transit repleie With every danger OF river,
cape and coast, prefer tie direct commune lions
through Virginia, and the more congenial dcs-
my of encouraging our own ports? There il
no reason. Their anxiety to complete these
artificial outlets proves its praclicnbty - All
the vast ag 1regate of trade, now existing in
Western Virginia, destined for Atlantic expor.
tation. may be safely added to that which we
have already demonstrated as sub Isct TO be EN-
ployed In this great enterprise. We NAV safe
ly say, that if all the existing commerce of Vr-
GINA, for exI ortatiou, could be collected in her
own Atlantic ports, it would not fall short of
twenty millions of dollars nor would her cou-
sumption of merchandise be less. Besides this,
the very organization Of commercial facilities
would guarantee an immense accession Of min.
ersl and agricultural productions.
In this connect n. We must press upon all in
terested the indispensable importance of proyid.
ing for the improvement Of the James river, the
common outlet Of so much Of the Chesapeake
trade. it, obstructions affect the trad of Nor
folk, Richmond, Lynchburg, and Ksnawha and
each of them are alike interested in securing the
perfect navigation of this noble stream Your
committee have not chosen TO awaken contro
versy by designating any particular mode b,
which this shall be done; they are aware that If
the interests now appealed to- shall be convinced
Of it's paramount Importance, the means will be
readily devised for its accomplishment The
able and comprehensive report Of Lieut. Stans-
bury, which we have embodied In an appendix,
will prove the entire practicabity OF this work,
and the moderate means TO be employed in its
completion.
We may properly add 10 these resources,
which are di ecily derived from Virginia alone,
the products of the STATES connected with her,
by the lines of improvement now under con.
struction. Tennessee and Kentucky and North
Carolina, will naturally find their most direct
outlet through the Virginia and Tennessee the
Southside and seaboard railroads. now under
continuous and connected construction to the IN
terror Of the States referred to. The prosecu
ton Of the Canal or Central rajlroad or the con
struction Of branch road into the Ohio Valley.
y i'll add much from those quarters; and but a
few years will elapse before the perfected fac
ties viii bring this great commerce to the legiti-
mate ports Of expectation. We will not enlarge
upon the commercial results of extending these
lines into the interior Of the Southwestern
States, and the national and international inter
course which will pour through Virginia, invg-
Grating her local improvements, freighting her
vessels, and filling her ocenn steamers. IL will
be plain, upon investigation, that no cities south
Of Virginia have the commercial advantages Of
our own--none have the varied products the To-
cal patronage the rapid communication with
transatlantic cities. Bpterprize is now doing al
it can TO shorten the line of ocean transit In
this the cities of Virginia cannot compete with
Boston or New York for the transatlantic inie--
course of the Northwestern States; but the mail
and merchandise iransportnti, n, with the travel
between the great Southwest and the cities of
Europe, belong lcgitimately to the Virginia ports
Of the Chesapeake, and will be certainly secured
In embarkng in this contest her citizens and
commercial cities have high duty To perform /;
they must shake themselves Of every sin of sell
fishness or Of jealousy. They must CO operate
with rivalry Of devotion to the common cause
There should be no greater jealousy between
Richmond and Norfolk than between Philadel
phia and New York--yet though separated from
ench other by greater distance, The joint popu-
lation OF the two former cities is scarcely equal
to suburb of either Of the two latter. There
cnu be no incompntibility Of interest in the hnr.
mony of these aud other Virginia cies. Let
them mite their patronage upon the great de-
signs OF internal Improvement and upon the or.