Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-09-15


Dor OF generations 10 reduce to efficient production.
The trade already exists. Ii has grown up under OBJ
s;acles. 1t has been driven from lis natural outlets 10
enrich distant and foreign interest in other States.
But the tact of it, development under such disad
tagss proves that it may readily be secured, whilst the
anxous interest of the whole West proves the aacrity
with which ii would operate in the regeneration OF
the commercial interest of the Virginia cities.
There may be persons however, ncredulous that the
trade OF Virginia exported from Northern, West
and Southern cities be directed to the ports OF
the Chesapeake 1t will not be doubted that the great
ter portion OF the products OF the Valley and western
Virginia are destined for consumption in the Northern
States in Europe. These products would ADOPT the
most direct line of transit between production and con-
sumption, but tor the natural obstacles wnch
and condemn them to the tedious, torluous and perl
lous navigation of the rivers and coast ne direct
line of transit would pass through the chesapeake
ports of Eastern Virginia.
Western Virginia was cheaper than any artificial line
of dec transit attempt TO divert that trade might
have been hopeless. The opinion that no railroad
could succeed unless it connected popuous points, by
short line, has been reversed by experience Con-
sidering the railroad and locomotive almost as heve
ation for the South, may be pardoned for referring
to the causes which are now product ng through their
agency, such important social, commercial ana pot-
cal results. Time has become essential element IN
the value OF merchandise and staple producuons. mo
producing region, and mercantile community, can
adopt slow and crcuitous delivery, IN competition
with others.proGucing or vending the same articles,
with greater facilities OF transportation than them
selves. Travel and postal communication now tole-
rate no delay impeachment. 1t is lmpossloe 10 pre-
sent any formula to show how lar sh oenlng me time
OF transit equivalent positive reduction OF freght
The telegraph and express lines every where well
sustained, prove the estimated value OF tune 10 De very
great though it vares OF course, with the lear OIL CON-
petition with the value OF the commercial subjects, and
with the relative importance OF individual transactions
But we from the opening OF the artificial lines OF
Boston, New York and Philadelphia, that the COM
mercla patronage OF the interior is Immediately trans.
Iered to the rapid and direct lines OF outlet and
ntercommunic 1t is thus that the great cities OF
the North have severaly penetrated the interior with
artificial lines until they have taken from the open and
untayed current OF the Mississippi the commerce pro-
duced upon its borders. These great artificial outlets
have been competing amongst themselves lor the COM
of the INTERIOR until they now offer, not only SUI
peror certainty and reduced time of delivery but they
offer upon many articles cheaper reghts tan the Tver
aud coast routes referred to. we copy from lhe New
Orleans Crescent notice othe reversing OF the natural
current OF trade resulting from the construction OF me
great artificial lines referred to.
"For years past, cotton has gone up the Ohio river
from Tennessee through the Pennsylvania and New
FORK canals to the factories in the interior OF these
States and often the cities of Philadep ha and New
York. We recoect last September OF one Shipment
OF upwards ofseven hundred,baes shipped from Louis
vile via the Ohio and NJ, Y canals to New York
city The treghts were less than by the way OF New
Orleans, and the difference in exchange and lnsu-
rance wasnear two per cent In favor the Northern
route 49,
The amount of cotton that passed up the Ohio
last year is estimated by one familiar with the trade,
at sixty thousand bales This season. nearly all the
boats from the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers,
bound up the Ohio river, are frelghted more or less
with cotton The packets between Memphis and
Louisville and Cincinnati, of which there are several
lines, take cotton up the rivers nearly every trip
"The quantity OF tobacco that takes lts course up
the river rom the lower Ohio, for the Eastern mar
kes, by Northern routes, is rapidly increasing That
raised in Ohio and Kentucky above Cincinnati
aud among the latter, the celebrated Mason county
tobacconearly all goes by the way OF the canals 10
thaE ocf1 Ey Eton mt IN.
shed, the difference in The cost OF transportation from
Louisville 10 New York, is four to Eve dollars per
hogshead in favor OF the Northern route whio the
cle escapes the sweat which it undergoes on shpboards
while passing through our ia!lu- IS.
Grain is now carried from the Wabash to New
ork by the canals the cost OF freight as is
charged by the way OF New Orleans; but by tae ORTIZ
ern route they incur waste nor risk of damage by
heating, the whole cost OF sacking for it is
carried in the bulk, and the number OF measured
bushels delivered in New York as received on
board the canal boat from the shipper. The lard pork
and flour from the region are taking the same
direction Last autumn the rich regions OF Ohio, In
diana and Illinois, were flooded with the local bank
notes of the Eastern States, advanced by the New
ork houses on produce TO be shipped by Them by the
way OF the canals IN the spring.
"Ihese moneyed facilities enable the packer, miller
and Spectator, hold to their produce with The
opening of navigation 10 the spring, and they
longer obliged as formerly hurry off their shipments
during the win er by the way OF New Orleans, in order
oreaze unds by drafts on their shipments. The bank
ting facilities Of the East are doing as much to draw
trade from as the canals and railways which East
ern capital is constructing.
Cali the lead from tine upper Mississippi now goes
East by the way OF Milwaukee But the most recent
and astonishing change In the course OF the North
trade is 10 behold, friend tells the
Der of steamers hat descend the Upper Mississp-
p loaded TO the guards with produce, as Tar as the
mouth OF Illinois river, and Then turn up that stream
with their cargoes, to be shipped to New York via
Chicago.
"The Illinois Canal has not only swept the whole
produce along the line OF the Illinois river to the East
but it is drawing the products from the upper Mississippi
through the same channe thus deprivng not only N.
Orleans, but ST. Louis, ola rich portion of their former
trade
To this we may add the fact that cargoes of corn
have been recently shipped from Iowa, down the Mis-
stssippi along the Illinois Canal, by way OF the lakes
to the city OF New York.
The cause OF this astonishing result may be thus
planned
Artificial lines afford not only the most speedy means
OF transportation but the unity and system OF their ad-
mnistraton gives Them great advantage over the ct.
forts OF individual enterprise They have basis OF
travel and mail monopoly which enables them to dis
crmnate in favor OF any specific Article OF commerce,
the actordge and financial results Of which may be
sufficient in general to indemnify them Tor the abatement
OF reights, whilst the revenue OF the improvement is
sustained by an increased charge upon business net
subject to competition, or by the large amount OF
trade which they command. These exclusive resour-
ces rapidly certainty and safety OF transportation,
with the power of discrimination, has enabled these
great lines to from the Mssissippso much OF its
produce.
To establish the capacity of artificial to compete
with natural lines, publih the following tabular
showing the contest between New York
and New Orleans for the trade ofthe Mississippi:
NEW YORK AND NEW ORLEANS IN WESTERN TRADE.
Ne,o York Population. Canal1rade.
1910. III sc, 3O3 1872
1850. ......... .3,093sl3 l56, 1897. 1923
An increase Of Is per CT in population and $50 per
CT in trade, by canal, in 10 years.
Produce of West received by Neio York Canals.
1872. Observation-Disclosures. 1922 ISL 0I3
An increase of l45 per cent.
Produce Of Vest receiued at New Orleans
1850. Sc 897, 1878
Or an increase OF 1870 per cent; or a comparative
increase by New York OF IS per cent over New Or
leans Western produce in years In the three years
3l2 1Zl hhis 1onr. at Neyy Vork