Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1855-12-19
DIRECT TRADE BETWEEN CHICAGO AND

DIRECT TRADE BETWEEN CHICAGO AND
LIvERPooL-A LINE OF STEAMERS TO BE
FoRMED.-Among the vessels that have sail
ed from Chicago to England, opening for the
first time direct trade between the former
place and Europe, was one for this port, VIZ:
the bark T. +. Parks She cleared for Hull
ut the beginning of October, with cargo OF
oats, oilcake, &C., and her cargo was taken
at $40 dollars per ton. She had the privi-
lege of re-shipping at Montreal, but it was
said she would be likely to 90 through her.
SELF During the past year the subject of
direct trade with Europe has occupied the
General attention OF the merchants and COM
mercial intrests of Chicago, as well as other
classes of community, whose worldly welfare
hang SO much on the extension and develop
.ment of its trade with other countries. al'
At the commencement of last spring,
when navigation was re-opened, the antici-
pations of the public in that part of the
globe were in fair way of being realized,
and to some extent they were So. In the
summer vessels set out from Chicago to the
ocean, and vessel which had been to Liver
pool was also in the harbor. Then came the
dispatching of vessel for Hull with large
cargo, and others for this and various other
European ports, will speedily follow, if COM
mercial enterprise have not already given
full life to the trade between Chicago and
these parts. 1t is stated that now the ST.
Lawrence has been opened by the reciprocity
treaty, no obstacle exists to prevent large
majority of the vessels trading to the Atlantic
or to the ports of Europe. Vessels are load
ed at Chicago almost every week for Mon
treal, and it has been matter of surprise
that large shipments for Europe have not
been made by that place. 1t is said that
not only has the produce Purchased on foreign
account been shipped by Oswego and Buff
falo to New York, but the whole of the for
eign goods imported by Canadian merchants
in the cities on the north shore of Lake On
tario and the west of it have been coming
through New York and Boston. Among
the many reasons which are believed to have
led to this is the present war; The English
government have monopolized the vessels
generally trading to Montreal and Quebec,
in furnishing supplies for the British army,
and hence it is asserted that there are not
vessels enough trading in the st. Lawrence
to afford competition sufficient to keep freights
down to figure which will enable shippers
to forward produce and receive goods in re-
turn by that route. Vessels bound from the
ST. Lawrence to Europe, in order to contin-
lie in the trade must have return trade of
foreign merchandise. 1t is hoped that an
other season will not expire without a great
advance in securing for the West direct trade
with Europe; and we may add that several
fine steamers now chartered to the English
government, will, it is expected run between
Chicago and Liverpool. Doubtless Hull will
participate largely in the newly-opened trade,
and we trust those who have taken the mat
ter up SO spirtedly on the other side of the
Atlantic, will not rest until they have car
ried out their present scheme to as great an
extent as practicable.