Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-10-15
A Commercial Experiment.
From the European Times, septembsr

From the European Times, September S7.l
A great and original experiment has been
successfully realized during the last few days
which cannot fail to have a considerable in,
huence IN the expansion of the trade between
Great Britain and the Far West of America
an experiment, We do not hesitate 10 say only
inferior TO the Introduction Of steam as a con-
Meeting link between Europe and the New
World. This experiment will save hereafter
the transhlpment Of grain grown in the i'm
mense districts abutting on the great Ameri-
can lakes, by which there will be not only a
large saving Of expense, but, what is hardly
of less Importance, the article will be brought
TO the British market in a much higher state
of perfection than il has hitherto been.
The Dean Richmond, n rakish schooner, Of
$50 tons register, is now in the Liverpool docks;
her length is l45 feet beam 26 feet depth of
hold l2 feet. She draws nine and q half feet
OF water. This clipper schooner has lust com
pieted a most successful voyage across the At.
lantic, bringing direct from the port Of Chics-
go, on Lake Michigan, in the State of Illinois.
without breaking bulk, 400 tons of grain.
which she has delivered from the ship side
exactly Dc she received il. A direct voyage
like this. which saves tranShipment at Buffalo
or New York, must, it is clear, pour into Eag-
land the produce Of the northwestern State
of the Union by way of the st Lawrence a. a
price which cannot fail to add 10 the trade
The rapid rise of Chicago, the port OF de-
paTture Ofthe Dean Richmond, is a significant
proof Of the teeming agricultural resources Of
that portion Of the United States. In 1882 it
contained only $50 inhabitants il now con-
taing 104 600. The shipments Of grain from
this place last year alone amounted 20 two
millions and fourth of quarters the largest
which has ever been despatched from a single
port in any part of the world; while the ex-
ports of pork were ~ 900 barrels, and of beef
Sc, 900 barrels The canal will not at present
admit the passage Of larger vessels, but even
as regards this feature the future is hopeful
for moderate expenditure Of capital would
admit vessels Of three times the tonnage Of
the Dean Richmond, and with the induce
ments thus offered there cannot be a doubt
that the improvement will he made.
In point Of time and cheapness this new
route, thus brought into play, will compete
very successfully with the New York or the
Black Sea routes, by both Of which large quan-
titles of grain and -four reach this couatry.
The Dean Richmond, we are informed by her
owner, has made the entire passage in sixty
DAYS, which includes 800 miles Of inland
waters; but she had a detention Of twelve
DAYS in the St. Lawrence, which Is not likely
TO occur again. The canal and ship dues are
most moderate; while there are no port, light
or pilotage dues on the inland seas Of America.
The number Of hands through which the
goods pass in the interior transit TO New York,
for transhipment across the Atlantic, adds
largely to the cast of freight and commission,
and to the manifest deterioration OF the goe"s
Items of expenditure which will De avoided
by the direct course which the Dean Richmond
has traversed The great commercial results
which cannot fail to flow from this novel ex-
periment have made the Dean Richmond an
object of considerable interest IN the port OF
T;ysrnoo, but the time is not distant when
this novelty will cease; for the class Of vessels
which will rush into the trade are exactly
those which can be cheapiy and readily cup
piled.