Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-02-03
'IRGINIAN INTERESrS-SOUrH INTE
RESTS-NATIONAL INTERESTS.

INTERESrs-SOUrHE INTE
RESTS-NATlONAL INTERESTS.
The proposed STRAIN Ferry Line between the Che
sapeake Bay and Milford Haven is attracting serious
attention on both sides Of the Atlantic Some time
ago the London Morning Post contained an able and
most favorable review Of Col. Manns pamphlet let
ter "to the citizens Of the slaveholdug States" Re
Gently the best conducted commercial periodical in
Germany, tho Bremen "HandcisblnN," has examined
the subject in DETAIL quoting copiousy from the let
ter, aud expressing the opinion that the scheme Is
practicable, If the opposition which it will have to
encounter in New York, and at the North generally,
be not Of too formidable nature. On this score, no.
thing, in our opinion need be appreheuded. we
will not do so much injustice to the South as to doubt
that its patriotism is equal to the magnitude Of the
enterprise-stupendous as it is in reality.
1t may resuf-we believe i, will result-that
as relates to navigation, the South has sumbered
CONSIDERABLY. 1t never could have been emInently
successful with sailing chips in trade Intercourse with
Europei in the hrst place for the reason that It's In
dustrial citizens havo no desire 10 engage in mere
sea.faring avocation. They prefer employment IN
more profitable and agreeable pursuits. y! saIots'
strictly such, there are comparatively but very few
in the South In the second place. although the worst
navigation 10 the world-ths most stormy and the
most perilous, as relates TO coming IN contact WIN
ice.bergs and coast, Is that between New York and
Liverpool. Yet it is, nevertheless, the most expedi
ous that can be lrayer.sd by vessels propelled by
wind. The causes which operate to render it 30 dam
gerous, are precisely those which operate TO render
the route so speedy By the time the line usually
traversed Is iutersected by vessel from the Chesa.
peake, a vessel which left New York the same day,
is not unfrequony far upon her passage to Liverpool
The capacity for carrying, Of four such steamers as
those contemplated by Col. Mann for the steam ferry
service, will be equal TO three hundred sailing ships
of one thousand tons esch-ilat is they will move as
large an amount Of the products OF The earth, ono
year with another, the Atlantic. Thts is easy
of demonstration. We will suppose the steamers to
make, in the aggregate, fty-two outward voyages
with cargoes Uf seventeen thousand Eve hundred
tons each, and the calling ships to make three out
ward voyages with cargo Of one thousand tons
each. 1t would result that the steamers would carry
9lO,OO0 tons, while the sailing slips would carry but
100000 tons. 1t is quite probable that the steam
ers would make 6iytwo outward voyages ss that the
sailing ships would make nine hundred
Now will estimate the cost of tho four steamers
at ten millions Of dollars aud the cost OF the three
hundred sailing ships at twenty miilicus OF dollars,
and we have an economy in construction Of one halt
in favor Of the steamers. The hull of the steamers,
of iron build, it is believed, will last one hundred
years at least, while wooden bulls are seldom of
longer than thirty years duration. Then there is
still greater economy In behalf of the former plan of
construction, while the and tear of the prope
ing power would be quite considerable in the lat.
ter. Then the number of hands required,
the advantage would be in favor of the steamers
They would need about sixteen hundred Of every de-.
scription, in the aggregate, while the sailing ships
would require ten thousand competent marines!
The steamers would each have capacity for carry
ing 800 arst class passengers, 2OD second class and
1000 third class, outward or inward Sailing ship.
scarcely carry arst class passengers
and outward comparatively none in the steersge. Il
is presumabe, therefore, that the four steamers would
convey one hundred times as many passengers, In.
UiuuiuH 1a.i. q. -
ing ships.
The question will be asked, how are nine hundred
and ten thousand tons Of freight to be obtained In
twelve month in the Chesapeake Bay, intended for
European markets7 Much mere doubtingly was the
enquiry made ten years ago by incredulous minds,
where is Tie traffic to come from which Is to give EN-.
ployment to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad But,
during 1885, 955 900 bbls of -four alone, were con-
veyed to tidewater upon il This result ought to be
sufficient answer to those whose visions not su
oenty clear to perceive where nine hundred and ten
thousand tons of freight are TO proceed from to
csntrate 10 the Chesapeake, where conveyance to a
foreign market at lower rate than be conceived
Of elsewhere, and vastly more expeditions presents
itself every week. ny next autumn the railroad COM
muncation will be completed direct from the Chesa
peake to Memphis and TO Montgomery. thus Offering
to the interior Of the South the benefit Of the steam
From this and through the other railroads
already in operation, together with the facilities afford
cd by rivers and canals, more than an abundance Of
freight for the four steamers will be looking for cheap
and speedy transportation, ready to avail Of them
long before they can be built,
But, independently oi ths traffic, immense as it
is to become there is another region Of the Union,
ever mindful Of its interests, looking with anxious
solicitude to the Chesapeake as an outlet for
Its products. The projected Steam Ferry Line
has aroused it to renewea action. Louisville
wants ta be prepared to avail of it at the
earliest moment after it commences to operate.-
She has just made large Contribution to tho Lex.
ipgton and Big Sandy Railway, In order to get the
most expeditions and reliable conveyance 20 Europe.
Cincinnati, and even Chicago, are anxously looking
in the same direction for they are two hundred miles
nearer than to New York with uninterrupted con
veyance. Somewhere, not far from the Virginia and
Kentucky lins their traffic will cross the Ohio River,
to be conveyed from thence ou the Covington and
Central Railroads to the Chesapeake. AZ soon as
this communication is complete, and We trust this
State will strain every nerve TO hasten it, the three
cities named will alone furnish ample freight for the
four ocean mammutbs, whose benign mission 1t will
be to make the cuitivator Of the sci! rejoice more
than ever in bis nub. saus. This ligament Of iron
will bind Chic and Illinois, and Indiana, insepara-
bly, to the South, to cay nothing Of Pennsylvania,
whose grent central artery flows in the direction In
which her interests lie.
Weknow that increduty is almost aa abundant,
snd fully a. ferocous G, before the locomotive
walked tine earth IN magnificent grandeur, or the
telegraph travelled with Etia.iike rapidity. 1t is
ordinarily, when arra,ed against God like science,
not deserving of consideration. 1t is as unyieding
as it is unthinking, AS ungsncrous Is unipteli
gent. II strkingy persouitiod in the celebrated
Indian Chief Red Jacket, ell! was ln his case eI-
,usable. WheG bridge was first contemplated
from the Niagara, a, the great cataract, to Cont
Island he was amazed at The absurdity Of the white
man in projecting such work. 1t was no. until the
drst shovel full OF earth ,urnsd over that he be-
evsd the contractor Was in earnest. lie doubted On
from day to day as the undertaking progressed, al
ways expecting to see every thug swept away by the
rspdty of the current, aud he"white man dashed to
pscesfor his daring. At length when the last plank
reached the island, be Indignantly exclaimed, "d-d
lie! d-dlie!!" and II is said never returned more 10
behold the bridge. The "whte man" had powers
that the red ono Douid NOT fnmnrehrnd. Thera -