The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-12-04

how TAR we should f8ly upon such demand let "a
examine for moment Whist can be gathered from
an estimate of trade in that article for some years
past By references 20 statistics believed to be re-.
Hablo ft will be found that The exports of corn and
eorn meal from this country, q different periods,
have been ~ follows: ls
Ia ls51 951, ,996 bushels.
1876 3326068 &c ~
= ls49, ........ 15263054
icoU, ,i.-.--.....-.-........ 7e923O2
isoi, ...--.. ...-....... 44i4,a2I
Ie04. 4......-.............-..... a000000O
The above statement shows conclusively that the
foreign demand is rapidly increasing and that not
withsfanding the falling off Immediately after the
famine in portion Of Europe, the exports for the
year 1854 amounted to 90 0Oo0 600 bushels establish
me fact that II Is the cheapest and best bread
within their reach, and that its use, at distant
day, win extend throughout Ill western Europe
La that country 1t IL not grown except to limited
extent Consequently, the supply must be from
the United States, and is destined to form staple
article equal II not exceeding that of cotton in
amount .essld szA :.
have said nothing of the extensive production
OF wheat oats, hemp and tobacco, oil of which ad-
NIT OF transportation and yield fair profit to the
producer. The census of 1s50 shows that the re-
gion of country above named produced upwards of
nifty millions of bushels Of wheat in 1e49 and that
Kentucky alone exported ffty-fve millions of
pounds Of tobacco. This immense and almost in.
caicuable amount of trade must find its way to a
foreign market through some of the great leading
thoroughfares now in operation or in progress of
construction The next enquiry is, can Virginia
compete successfully for this trade and travel ~
The ready answer is, yes. Her Atlantic ports are
nearer the centre of these western and southwes-
tern granaries than any other on the coast her
roads Of easier grade her climate more genial
and the scenery more picturesque and inviting,
while her ports and harbors are more spacious and
safe, and tho egress to the ocean more convenient
and direct than from any other that could compete
with her esl, &
1t is aselfevident proposition that the productions
of country intended for market win be conveyed
by the cheapest and most direct line; and as the
communication with the European markets win be
shorter through the ports of Virginia than any 9TH
err it is but reasonable to infer that the trade of the
south and the west will necessarily pass through
this channel when these improvements shall have
been completed. And yet, for want of them the
census of 1850 shows that there was received, du-
ring that year, in the city of New York, fromthe
western states, 964, ,434 barrels of -four, 3344647
bushels of wheat 60e 961 bushels of corn, l46 $50
barrels Of provisions. besides corresponding guam
tty of ashes stores WOOL butter, cheese, lard, &c,
large portion of which Is forced upon q route
more than 100 miles longer than that terminating
on the capes of the Chesapeake and much of which
must of necessity return by way of the capes in its
regular transit to foreign market, being paIpa
BILE innovation upon the established rules of traffic
the end and object of which is gain to the opera
tor. 5ef 7 s.tI =B ~ tt4szss-r ff5f r
The foregoing statistics have reference to the
section of country bordering on and northwest Of
at the mouth of the Big Sandy river, Virginia
shakes hands with her daughter Kentucky, who
has long been importuning her tardy mother for
permission to pass her rich treasures through the
ancestral domain to the Chesapeake and from
thence by direct transit to the different marts of
the world. Kentucky proposes also to mako COM
mon cause with Virginia in the completion of i'm
provements now in progress by which direct
communication will be formed between Norfolk,
Petersburg, Richmond, Fredericksburg and Alex
andria, in Virginia, and Maysville, Lexington and
Louisville, in her own state, and extending from
thence, by way of Memphis on the Mississippi riv.
er, to that distant southwest road upon which
tho southern man may pass with his property in
safety free frem the taunts eers, insults and rob
berries of northern. abolitionists. But why dwell
this subject when the action of the last legsla
tire, harnonizing with public sentiment, has placed
the completion OF our leading lines of Improvement
beyond the contingency of doubt, the most Of
them being under contract, and large sums Of
money having been expended in their construction
which, in the event of their abandonment, would
result in total loss to the state.
The stem in progress is equally magnificent in
plan and importance and when completed in con-
nection with a direct communication with foreign
cities and depots, will impart renewed vigor and
activity to all branches OF business, greatly en-
hance the value of our lands, build up our Cities
and make Virginia conspicuous among the most
f1ourishing in the category Of states
The Central railroad, which is but the prolonga
tion eastward of the Covington and Ohio road, is
in q state of forwardness, and will doubtless be
completed within the period prescribed for finishing
the Covington road. The Same may be said in re-
ference to the Richmond and York river road, the
last connecting link between the great west and the
capeS of Virginia.
The next improvement in point of importance to
the state and the nation, may be classed tho Vir-
ginia and Tennessee railroad, now rapidly approach
ing completion at the Tennessee line, where it will
connect with network of improments termina
ting respectively at Knoxville, Nashville Memphis
and Little Rock in Arkansas, embracing large
section Of country, with no direct line of commu-
nieation with any foreign mart, and abounding in
incaiculable wealth. much of which will from ne
cessty seek transit by this line and through the
capes of Virginia. Add to this the inexhaustble
quantity Of iron, SALT plaster, lead, &c, which
would pass over this road, and the vast amount Of
merchandise westward bound, together with the
daily increasing travel from the south to the seat
of government and other nothern cities, and from
those cities to the southern borders of the confed
eracy, and the conclusion becomes irresistible that
this will rank among the most productive and ben
efcial improvements within the commonwealth, es-
peeially when the all important connection with the
Gordonsyie and Alexandria road shall have been
completed.
Add to these improvements the great water line
of tha James River and Kanawha company, now
extending continuously two hundred miles, and af-
fordng communication for heavy produce and ton
nage acting the recipient Of these from its own
line and from the important works already noticed,
of tue immense region referred to, in any of the
modes it may prefer. 1t is important, therefore, to
place this company in condition to enable It to
comply with engagements for which the state is
responsible, and to afford it means to extend and
complete its western terminus to the nearest point
of easy connection with the great central line OF
railroad whose completion have so earnestly re-
commended. s&sR q s8se} A-~4sssfT &sfS Z
1t affords me pleasure to notice the fact that the
Richmond and Danyille railroad is rapidly ap-
preaching It's completion to the town OF Danyilie,
its southern terminus, and that before the end OF
the present year it will probably be in use through
out its whole extent Its trade and travel have
steadily increased, and it will be the means OF az
fording facilities to market for Of the most pro-
ductive portions of the commonwealth, developing
its dormant energies, and pouring wealth into
the capital OF the state. 81
The northwest portion of the state Is mott nap
ply situated. The Baltimore and Ohio railroad,
Terminating at Wheeling and Parkersburg places
it within 6 hours of Baltimore, and stili nearer 70
Alexandra, by the Hampshire and Londoun road
which will doubtless soon be made. The North
west turnpike from Winchester to Parkersburg,
and the Staunton and Parkersburg turnpike con,
meeting those points, together with net work OF
well graded turnpikcs, not macadamized, afford all
the facilities for travel and transportation that the
most fastidious could desire With climate healthy
and salubrious, valleys teeming with grain and
grass, and mountains Astounding In rich and inex-
k~,, IL fso