The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-12-14
For The Dispatch.
THE ANTWERP STEAM LINE.
RICHMOND Dec 9Th.

THE ANTWERP STEAM LINE.
RICHMOND, Dec. 9th.
Mr.. EDITOR lit was with no ordinary sen.
timents of regret that | heard the opinions of
| one of the representatives of this city in the
House Of Deleg ates to-day, upon the sub
iect Of establishing the line of steamers to
Europe.
AS merchant, and as P constituent Of that
gentleman, | feel bound to publicly make
known the difference of opinion which enter
tain. To do this, must state briefly the pro
positions which he set forth, and upon each of
these will give. as briefly as possible, my own
views. Mr. Butler stated, LIST. That there was
not produce enough III Virgina to sustain the
line.
Now, sir, Virginia produces annually nearly
eighty-seyen millions Of dollars from her soil
in value. Of this, there is UPWARDS Of sixteen
millions Of dollars surplus, after supplying our
own wants; and yet we are told that there is
not enough TO support line of steamers from
| our waters. These steamers propose to make
semi monthly trips, which would give them bat
twenty-four departures from the State in the
| year. If these steamers could get but two
| thirds of this freight, it would be but half
million in value for each trip, and this at the
| extremely low rate of one per cent, would
give them freight list OF $5,000-all that is
estimated for in the statement of their expen-
SEES. And this low rate is less than half Of
that now paid, on the average, in sailing yes
sells.
3D. He stated that after providing for the
| large space required for passengers and Goals,
that there would be no room lett for freight.
Now, sir, is it possible that any one with in
teligence beyond juven!ity, should put for
ward this exploded theory of DIR. Lardne.'s,
proved to he false so far back as 1887 Why,
sir the FIRST steamer that crossed the Atlantic
as regular business vessel, the Great West
ern, registering but twelve hundred tons, after
providing for her passengers in the most COM
modious manner and giving ample space for
her Goals, had room left for six hundred tons of
measured goods. And when new boilers were
put in her, with modern Improvements, her
consumption of Goals was SO much lessened as
to afford room for one hundred more of freight
Really, a representative of Richmond should
better inform himself.
3D.. He stated that an intelligent merchant OF
this city had called upon him 10 say, that ons
of these steamers, in one trip, would bring TO
Virginia all the goods which would be required
in one year. Strangely Inconsistent are these
representations. In one BREATH we are told by
our representative that the steamers have moi
room i'll them TO carry freight from our shores
in the next, that they can bring back. in ont
b. voyage, more goods than We can sell in On.
q year! 10 strengthen and make weighty witt
his teliow-members from distance, who mich
- be disposed to think well of his remarks be-
y cause he ia represented as a business man. h.
lr informed them that he was an importing mer
e chant. Will he not enlighten them sill far
70 ther, by giving his proportion Of imports. whe,
. the whole sales according 10 his estimatel O
C ioreIgn goods in Virginia do not equal on,
W shIp load in year? If his assertion be true
20 then his share of imports, in proportion to til,
II. "h9le number engaged in business, cannot ex
~ ceed TWO hundred aud fifty dollars per year
al Is mere not some mistake here?
o. 4th. lie says Boston owns no line Of steam
10 ers' and that part of the English line has becl
- taken Oil; and that her business has moi bee
y" increased by those that were on.
10 strange ignorance Of the facts Of the day
he wnich the slightest investigation would hav
of informed him upon. The Cunard line wa
q formed to Boston by four steamers. When tn
Soiilns line OF steamers was put on from New
es fofk, the Cunard line was doubled from fo,,
IN 10 eight ships, and weekly trips established Il
a, this country, Boston still retaining the numbe
- OF arrivals and departures, and New York h,
C. wing direct competing line with the c,
10 narders.
Ia 9th. He states that Philadelphia suppor
40 line OF steamers by export and import OF fla
10 goods.
s. The maniiests of those vessels show tn.