Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-10-29

u small western town, would put in motion and
sustain u line of ocean steamers.
Norfolk harbor 10 admitted to bc one Of tho fn-
est the Atlantic seaboard; il is at all times ac
cessiblc 10 vessels Of the largest class, and fur
nishcs secure shelter from storms and tempcsts.
The favorable geographical position it possesses.
leaves no doubt that profitable business would
Mt once accrue To the proposed undertaking. Tho
hnrbor is formed by Elizabeth river. ut its on
trance into Hampton Roads, aud is contiguous TO
Chesapeake Bay, ono of tho finest ,hcets Of water
to be found along the Atlantic coast. Tho prin-
cipal rivers Of Virginia and Maryland fall into
Chesapeake Bay. The harbor is protected from
hostile fleets by tho mpregnabls Fortress Monroe
at Old Point Comfort, On the one side. and the
Rip Raps on tho opposite side of Hampton Roads,
1t is within ten or twelve hours' sail Of Baltimore
twcnty-iour of New York, and less than that of
Philndelphia Tho foreign tonnage collected at
Baltimore, Alexandria. Richmond, Petersburg,
and other river towns Of Maryland and Virginia,
passes almost in sight of Norfolk in seeking its
ocean transit. The important towns referred to
could avail themselves of the benefit of this place
us shipping point for their direct export and
impoH trade utmost M easily nv il located upon
the harbor ITSELF and il would effcotually relieve
thrm from their present commercial dependence
upon New York. To nll fears that may bc ex-
pressed as to tho sutfcicncy Of American tonnage
wo answer that there IL non annually collected on
mage to give active employment to n somi monthly
line ot steamers. without adding thoroto IL pound
of additional freight. II is believed Tint tho rnl
road and other statistcs of Virginia and Maryland
will more than sustain this assertion.
Besides It's eoast-wse thoilties, tho city Of Nor
folk, by means of rivers, canals md railroads, is
Of cusy access to most parts of tho South and
West A short time will mike tho connections
complete with all the important points. u COM
muncatcs with eastern North Carolina by means
Of the Chesapeake and Albcmarlo Canal, which is
mn important avenue Of trade. There Is ship nay
gaton to Richmond and Petersburg, and thc
trade is further carried into tho valley Of Virginia
west of tho Blue Ridge, upon tho james river and
knnnwha tannl Navigation by steam aud sail
vessels is carried on upon tho Rnppahannock To
fredericksburg. nnd by tho same means TO WASH
ington nnd Alexandria. The Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal extending westward brings immense
ncccssions Of trade into Chesapeake Bay Tho
rnilrond system of the South connects Norfolk by
direct lines with tho central portions of North
Carolina. South Carolina Georgla, and extending
into Alabama and Florida All the principal cit
cs of tho South Atlantic Scnboarl NJ those Of tho
itcrior country hnyc tho full benefit of these con
ncciions. by tho grcnt middle line of roads that
point is in direct connection with South western
Virginia, East. Middle and West Tennessee. and
terminating for the present Mt Nashville and Mem
rhis, with tho promise Of an early connection
with Little Rock, in Arkansas But little remains
to be done in order TO perfect the connections with
Now Orleaus md Mobile The completion of tho
Covngton and Ohio Railroad through the center
of Virginia. will furnish the most direct aud oasy
access to the seaboard from the Ohio and Upper
Mississippi Valleys and invite u large amount Of
foreign trade and travel along that line, haye
already presented such arguments as were deemed
necessary in that connection in favor of opening
direct trade from tho South. and have in this pa.
per hastily and imperfectly offered some Of the
reasons and facts in favor of making the first move
from Virginin seaport. Permit mo to sny in con.
cusion of this branch Of the question, that the
sail from Norfolk to tho mouth OF tho Loire ~ Il
dircr one, and in n temperate latitude; Tint from
New York to Liverpool is IL crcuitous one nnd in
high lattu'le-the channel approach 10 Liverpool
is often dangerous aud difficult, and tho landing at
the mouth of the Morsey. is subject TO tidal inhu-
enccs Nome Of these objections exist as To tho pro-
posed navigation from Norfolk and what would DO
Il conclusive argument in favor Of the latter with
passengers, is, that tho trip can be made from
thirty to forty eight hours less tlnn from Norfolk
to tho French hnrLor than il can be from New
York to Liverpool. take leave Of the Ameri-
can side of the question for the present and shall
in my next attempt to present it's European fea-
lures.
Respectfully yours,
Il. q. PAYNE.
October 4th, 1858.