Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-09-09
The Towing Line.


A illustsative Of the advantages to result from
the establishment OF the Seaboard Towing and
Transportation line, We transfer to our columns
to-day the following article from the Norfolk Day
Book. The Line, as will be observed from an ad-
vertisement in the lryiaiaa, has alrcady been put
into operation between Richmond and Norfolk
and we are sure the writer in the Day Book does
not oyerestimate the prospective consequences OF
From the Norfolk Day Book
The Steam Towing Line to Lynchburg
The Railroad to Petersburg and the continue
tiou by the Suuthside road to Lynchburg, do not
really come into competition with the steam-tuk
line between Norfolk and the great tobacco mart
of Virginia. Experience has demonstrated that
while railway facilities, all other things being
equal, command passenger travel and the carrying
Of articles of light freight, the transportation OF
heavy commodities must be by water. If there are
water hghways--whether canals. lakes. or navi-
cable rivers Thus while the terminus OF rail
road may make the nucleus Of thriving and
prosperous town. the head Of navigation Of an i'm
portant stream penetrating busy country must
be- rs truly now when our fathers studied the
geography. place of consequences with all the
modern improvements We are blessed with, II Is
we'll to hold fast TO that which is good in the old
methods and facilities We cannot afford yet to
ignore the sluggish current Of the meandering RI
yer or the raging waters Of the canals.
From the superior chcapness of water commu-
nication for the carrying Of heavy freight, h,rh'
mond, at the head even Of her tortuous river. has
grown in importance steadily. and taken To her
selfthe prosperity which should belong to Norfolk
"a the great seaport Of the State. No system Of
railroads howeper complete. and whatever may
he the convenicnces they offer. can break down
this stron: rivalry or 80 much rs place us upon n
fair ground of contest with that city. We must
20 down to the water ami meet her there.
We are reoiced therefore at the significant
movement, which has been made in this direction
through tho organization Of the Seaboard Towing
and Transportation Company, the schedule 1T
whose operations will be found elsewhere IN this
paper 1t is the most practical and 3usiness-hke
enterprise that has been successfully launch
cd in Norfolk, and, in proportion to the capital IN
vested in it, is fuller Of benefits to the commerce OF
our city It will supply n need that has long been
felt not only by ourselves, but by the maritime
fundamentally that will bring hundreds OF ships
into our harbor which now pass us up James nv
or. thereby making Norfolk tho depot Of n valna-
bic amount Of transhipment which We have MISS
ed hitherto aud thus greatly increasing the scope
and activity Of our business, while. Mt the tame
time by largely diminishing the expenses and va
rious incon veniences 10 which vessels trading with
sye commerce a. our waters. md makes our mar
ket mare desirable one as against those OF 9th
or sections Of the country, than 1t Inns ever been
so far.
The navigation of the James rivcris so slow and
toilsome that nothing but the abundance OF corn.
tobacco and other great staples which Virginia
produces and which Commerce must hare, could
have made shipping willing to enter it ut all II
a broad and open river, up which vessels OF the
largest class could readily Co. connected Rich
mond with the sen. or if R,hmond with her 9TH
er advantages, hada position easily accessible
MS our own, no ono can doubt that her traffic would
be immensely augmented 1t is well known that
large ships cannot go into Richmond, but arc
compelled to take in cargo at lIarrisons Bar or
City Point between forty and sixty miles below
that city: and these vessels, like those which nc
tually run up to Richmond arc liable to the loss
of their crews and "a the necessity OF sending to
New York for new hands and payingthe expen-
SEES to those points
Again, if vessel lying at City Point or llarri-
sons Bar. need any repairs before proceeding to
sea--even to 70 slight matter ~ replacing sail
or spar-she must send to this city to procure the
services of n carpenter sailmaker, there being
no ship yard on that river.
All these vexatons and embarrassnents tho
Towing Company proposes to avoid by providing
steam barges for the carriage of freight from
Lynchburg and Richmond to Norfolk, delivering
either at our Wharves or directly on board the
vessels. Inc expense OF trip up James RIVER,
for ships OF the larger class sat least sou" Tor
each trip besides the loss OF several days time ana
the manifold other inconvenience we have ailua-
ed to. vessels taking advantage OF the iacillties
offered by the new lne OF barges can now come
into osr hsrbor and receive their cargocs here,
thereby avoiding the loss just mentioned. The
Virginia Towing Company charges nine cents per
barrel to City Point, or eleven cents to iiarrisons
Bar, fifteen aiics lower down. whilst the Norfolk
and Lynchburg Company can bring all the way
from Ricdmoad TO -No.loU for ten cents per bar
rel.