Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-08-28
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
NEW STEAM LINE PROJECTED BETWEEN BEL
GUM AND THE UNITED STATES


The last statements presented to Congress by the
Secretary of the Treasury and the Postmaster Gen
eral concerning the steam navigation between the
United States and Europe possess great interest fol-
all who feel the importance to the whole world Of
diminishing the distance between the old and new
hemispheres; and we were pleased to find that to
give fresh and extended impulse to our commune
cations with Europe, and especially the low countries
the port of Antwerp had been again recommended
as the point for the immediate establishment of q
new steam line.
We have long been persuaded that direct com
municatlon between New York and Antwerp is
rendered desirable, not only by our increasing
mercial connexions with Belgium and the neghbor-
ing countries, but also as means of accelerating
and extending our postal correspondence with the
centre and north Of Europe, and possibly with india
China, &c.
This important measure being one which Con-
gress is called on to decide, and one which in
terests largely the commerce and industry of the
country, are induced to give place to the follow
ing article from one of our subscribers well ac-
quainted with the subject which he discusses
TO the Editors Of the National MteHigencer
Which port the European the greatest
advantages central and principal point of transatlantic
communication between Europe and the United States
This question is not simple would at first ap
pear. will however endeayor to throw upon it some
light derived from personal observation and information
graphical position is the first object to be sought but this
must be combined with other advantages, viz:
The resources of the country which chosen port
belongs and those Of the surrounding countries its
means of communication with those countries well for
the transportation of passengers and merchandise for
the transmission of correspondence the Importance of
commerce with the United States and the increase Of
which that is susceptible the liberaty of its
and shipping laws and the guaranty which its
political institutions afford of good understanding with
the United States.
Keeping all these points in view there is no country to
which the attention of the United States be so pro-
perry directed Belgium, and think that its port of
Antwerp, which is connected by Of excellent rail-
roads with all parts of the continent has among other
advantages that of more central position.
will briefly state the reasons for my opinion; the
facts upon which is founded too simple to need
much argument in support Of the conclusions which
draw from them.
As early the middleages, Belgium ranked among the
richest most advanced and most productive countries on
the continent In the sixteenth century Immediately
before the which terminated in the independence of
Holland, she the most fourishng country in the
world Antwerp was then the principal Of the
chandse of Europe. The civil wars which succeeded
that period, foreign occupation the ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of
territory emigration bad Government and the jealousy
Of neighborng nations conspred effect her ruin She
did not revive until the beginning of the present century
and only since her becoming independent State has
she resumed in the commercial world the rank TO which
her vast ene her. BY her admirable system
Of railways which spread over her like network.
she has secured to herself the advantages Of location
which she formerly shared with the Northern provinces
Of the Low Countries These rapid and convenient
Of communication, constructed at the expense of the
State, and managed by it not for revenue, but for the
benefit OF the industry and commerce Of the kingdom
afford assurances of security and durability not TO be
found in similar establishments which sustained by
private enterprise. Combined with extremely liberal
shipping and system, they extend in several
directions into the neighborng States and penetrate the
heart of France and Germany by direct course north
and south through Belgium they unite the which
lave the coasts of England and Germany with the Med-
terranean and make Belgium the thoroughfare between
the rich countries of the valley Of the Rhine and the
form magnificent ways Terminating in the Baltic
and the other in the Adriatc.
The entire system Of Belgian railroads embraces dis
lance Of nearly six hundred miles and is contained in
territory Of 1000 square miles. But within that terri
tory there upwards of four millions five hundred
thousand Of abOrious citizens 375 the square mile
with an active and sSilful industry.
Her commerce. which is daily increasing, amounts,
cordng 70 the official statements Of S49 49, 437 900
francs 2S7 400 which divided into 464 697 900
francs $50 $780, 400 Of imports and 45 900 francs
or S90,34S0 900 of exports.
Belgium has on the North Sea two principal ports Ant
werp and Ostend: the first of which sustain
parison with the port Of London Those ports are
the heads Of the railroads Of Belgium and the Rhine on
the North Sea-
If we cast our eyes upon the map Of Europe observe
the course of the rivers which flow into the ocean,
pare the richness and extent of their respective basins
and the means Of communication which unite them
to each other we naturally 10 the conclusion that
the point where that line should terminate is be found
only on that part Of the Of Europe which is
braced between the mouth Of the Seine and those Of the
Elbe distance Of 525 miles and that Antwerp, which
is situated at about equal distance from the extremi
ties Of that space is in fact the centre Of France Ger
many England and Holland.
Antwerp connected by railroads with Cologne, Valen
ciennes and Lille, and has daily communication BY
steamers with Dover Liverpool London, and Rotterdam
French lines Paris, Hayre, and Strasburg are
now in connexon with Antwerp and the German line to
Cologne viii soon extend norhward to the Baltic trayers
ing the basins Of the Weser and the Ebe through their
principal cities, and joining that Of the Oder, terminate
at Stetn and will extend southwark 10 the Adr1atc by
two routes the first through the Rhine, Wurtemburgh
Bavaria and the Austrian territories TO Trieste the Sc
cond along the Rhine the neghborheod OF Srasburgh
from whence there is railroad Bale and then by ra
roads through the Krzgthal Constance, Bregenz Nero
na Whence, and Venice.
With Holland, Antwerp has ready comm unicatious by
means of the internal Of that country. The st
pulatons Of the treaty Of the 5h November 1881, with
the five great European Powers confirmed by the
tions Of the 9th November 1872 with the Government Of
the Netherlands, secure the Belgian flag by special
privilege the navigation Of all the internal waters Of Ho
land between the Sched and the Rhine the
as the flag Of the Netherlands.
What other port presented such combination Of rapid
convenient and Of communication the
suit Of the impetus given by her worthy the affairs
Of old Belgium, which Europe has always marching
In the FIRST rank nation Of workmen and society Of
merchants people located and constituted for CONNER
cia purposes and capable Of developing their great
sources These means Of communication extend the
tons Of the port Of Antwerp far beyond its natural limits