The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-06-25
BALTIMORE.
FRIDAY, JUNE %, 1858.


W. have already drawn the attention OF our
readers TO the fact that the citizens OF Lynchourg
are advocating the adoption OF system oil oirec'
trade between the interior counties of Virginia ana
the sea-board at Norfolk. We have expressed the
oninion that this movement is not only judlcious
in itself but is well calculated to advance the
Commercial interests of one of the finest sea ports
in the UNION The project appears, moreover, to
bca popular one; but from the impusiveness of the
Southern character, and from the absence general
", throughout the whole Southern country, of
that tenacty of purpose which is so essential TO per-
feet success, it is not at all improbable that this
new born zeal may yet be followed by the old
chronic apathy. However, this may be, the pro-
ject is worthy of note, nasmuch as measure OF
this kind, if practically enforced, would nave Il
material influence upon the future prosperity OF our
own CITY, We have more than once, Enormously
urged upon our merchants the absolute necessity OF
asserting our Commercial independence, by import
inc their foreign purchases directly to Baltimore in
stead of indirectly through New York. We have
Glanced at the injurious effect which this mode of
procedure has upon the minds of traders from the in
dom there is, in pursuing a course which casts con-
tempt upon our facilities for ocean navigation and
upon the superior advantages possess for the sup
port ola steam marine in proximity to ineXhauS-
tible beds of fuel. The most plausible objection we
have heard urged against system of direct mpor-
tation is the difficulty in procuring return freights
The only difficulty in this respect is one of our own
making The commercial statistics of last year
show that while our exports amounted to nearly
fourteen millions of dollars, direct imports did
not much exceed ten millions and half; but we
may safely assert that our indirect imports amounted
to seven millions more, for it is well known that
the most valuable portion of our fore gn purchases
reach us by way of New York, where they are
frequently detained from one TO three weeks before
they are passed through the Custom House. and
are subjected besides to the extra expenses of
brokerage, and of coasting voyage, or of over
land transportation. If then we add these seven
millions of indirect to ten millions and half
of direct imports may perceive at once the basis
upon which may build up regular trade, by
which both time and money may be saved
But assuming that neither our fourteen millions of
annual exports, nor our seventeen millions of i'm
steamers we still have presented to us in the port
of Norfolk and on the direct route to and from the
ocean, the means of making up any deficiency in
our outward or homeward bound cargoeS Even
in this case the difference of time between import
ing through New York, and touching at Norfolk
would still be considerably in our favor. If Nor
folk obtains some advantage thereby, we also shall
be correspondingly benefited, while the permanence
of the enterprise would be assured. But we must
not look simply to our co numerical capacity of to-
day, but to what it is destined to be in the near u-
ture. Every succeeding year, from the rapid in
crease of the industrial population of the Western
States, we may safely calculate upon large add-
tons TO freight lists, to and from that section
Of our common country. Independent, moreover,
of that valuable and expanding trade, we are about
to open up new fields in the Northwest which
will place us in direct and advantageous COMPETE
ton with Philadelphia and New York for the trade
of the Great Lakes. Before many weeks shall have
elapsed, we shall be able to penetrate by Rail into
the very heart of that magnificent region, towards
which the wave of population is tending with
gradually acceerating motion, and which is dcs-
tined to become the most densely inhabited por-
than months time, we shall be able to reach the
city of Buffalo in about seventeen hours and TO
deposit the products of the Lakes upon the wharves
of our city, within forty-eight hours from the
time they left their Northern starting-place. We
know that it is possible to do this, and we believe
that before long it will certainly be accomplished
Looking then not only to the commercial advan-
tages which Baltimore now possesses, but also to
the sources of her future prosperity, it is absolute
ly essential with reference TO her permanent in
crease in wealth and population, that her mer-
chants should be prepared to make use of all those
appliances that elevate the reputation of a city as
a commercial emporium. Every river needs an
outlet corresponding to the volume of water it
receives from its auents. If that outlet proves to
be insufficient, the waters will make for themselves
channels elsewhere. Similar results are percepti-
BILE in the operations of trade Obstruct the traffic
by unwise regulations, or by obstacles that pre-
vent freedom of intercourse with the outer world
and it will seek new avenues where better regula-
tons exist, and where there are no impcdiments
interposed. But trade acts reciprocally. We buy
and we sell, and we must not only furnish an
outlet to market, but an inlet from a mar
ket. If we export directly and import in
directly, we are only fulfilling one half of
the conditions under which prosperous trade
can he carried on. Let US ponder well these
things and above all, let us bear constantly in
mind that, although may possess the rough
marble block, the statue that slumbers within it
can only be developed under the creative hand of
the skillfu workman.