Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1858-03-02
a. J. BkcKErT. secly..

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proceedings OF this meeting.
WM. E. HERNDoN, Chm.
"A. ]. BtckETT, sec'y.
We invite attention 10 the following
lucid. cogent, and instructive article from
the Norfolk Argus:
lMr. PreStou's iiisSion-the Future Of
Norfolk.
We had the qualification some DAYS
since of announcing, on the authority of
4 lettor received from Paris, that Mr..
EPreston' S mission had been successful.
and that arrangements han been made
with one Of the wealIhiest corporations in
Europe, the Paris and Orleans Railroad
Company, to put four of its steamers in
the trade between the city of Orleans,
France, and the city of Norfolk in Vir-
ginia We stated in the words furnished
US, that these seamers would run be-
tween tie ports of Orleans and Norfolk.
but as the former city is situated above
steamship navigation. on the river Loire,
we should have perhaps stated that the
steamers would ply to Nantes, near the
mouth of this river, and there connect
with the railway passing through Anglers
and thence to Orleans. To what partic-
ular port these steamers are to 60, how
ever, it matters not, so that we are to have
direct communication with France.
That this line will be successful. if the
Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad is i'm
mediately completed, we have not the
slightest doubt. Leaving out the other
States with which Norfolk will soon be
intimately connected by railway. Virgin
is alone, if her people will confne her
trade to our port, can sustain this line.
The total value of the productions of
Virginia were estimated at the last census
to be $50, 100000. We can now fairly
estimate it at not less than 800. GOO. 600.
OF this amount it is said $40, ,OO0. 600
are used for home consumption. This
leaves n surplus of $4,000, Coo The
whole amount of foreign importations in
TO Virginia is estimated at $4,000, 600 a
year Her direct importaions through
her own ports are only S436. 900; on the
difference between these two sums she
has to pay commission, DC. She an
nualIy pays the North in commission,
freight, &c, about S40O.C0O. From
these facts we see how easily line of
1 steamers to Europe can be supported.
Let this line be established and it will
be followed by others. European CAPT
ftaiists are at this moment looking for a
new market for their goods. They are
alive to the fact that they have to pay all
the expenses of cotton goods and other
manufactured articles having to go
Through New York. They would be
glad to establish agencies here for the
purpose of making spring and fall sales.
and those agents would, of course. in
making their remittances. prefer doing
so in the productions of the South.
One of the most important points con.
nccted with direct trade from Norfolk
to Europe. is the warehousing system of
the United States. Under that system,
goods can be retained in the warehouse
without paying duties Tor twelve months.
bnt the Southern merchants on buying
those goods have 70 pay the duties; the
importer having that privilege, has six per
cent. advantage over Southern merchants.
five had direct trade port ourselves,
we would have share of the advantages
of the warehousing system. We should
also have inland custom houses. The
State of Maine, with a population Of 60o,-
| 900. has eight custom houses the State
| of Massachusetts,, with population off,
100000, has nine and the Stale of yir
giuia. with 1,500,000, inhabitants, has
Eonly FIVE custom houses. By rendering II
necessary for the South to have these IN
land custom houses, the merchants Of
| the South could save six per cent. which
now goes into the pockets of the mer-
chants of the North.
All the importantinterior towns ofVir-
ginia, North Carolina, Tennessee. and
Kentucky could have their custom hous-
es, the goods could be brought to Norfolk
and then shipped under bonds to the
bonded warehouses along the railways.
and the merchants ofthose towns would
not have topay the duties until customers
were found to purchase the goods
/ ILynchburg, Raleigh, Louisville, Knox
vile and other places should import
through Norfolk, and demand the estab-
Elisbment of bonded warehouses for the
use of their merchants. Cincinnati, the
queen city of the West, has now but
two avenues for exporting and importing
VIA the lakes and Erie canal to New
| York. or down the river to New Orleans.
/ The Northern route is locked by ice for
five months. and the Southern rnute is
liable to sweat, mould and nnmberless
4 disadvantages. She should stretch her
railways to Norfolk. she would then be
within few days of the ocean, and could
import and export by our steam lines,
land by establishing the warehousing sys-
tenn give her mercantile community the
iadvanta0a of n sa1Dort
Let the cities of the South and West
shake off their vassalage to New York
and build up grand enterport of trade
upon the noble Chesapeak. The city Of
Cincinnati would save millions by ma
king Norfolk her seaport.
woRrn KxowISe.-A piece of candle
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