Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-02-05
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

TBy PROPOSED VIRGINIA INTER CONTINENT
STEAMSHIP LISE.-We continue to be skeptics
"a To the entire success of the mission of the
Hon. Vim. Ballard Preston, though our Vir-
ginia contemporaries seem to take it for granted
that he has made all the necessary arrange
ments and contracts for the prompt inaugura.
ton of line Of mammoth steamships between
Norfolk, and France. What there may posi-
bly, be in the way of trade to justify hope that
the enterprise WILL at the present time, prove
successful one, we do not know our opinion
being that the absence Of facilities for placing
cargoes of suitable exports to France, on board
promptly-the fact that such cargoes are not
always to be had near the mouth of the Ches-
apeake when wanted-will greatly interfere to
prevent the satisfactory success Of the enter
prise Such enterprises must necessarily grow
up from small beginnings. That's, the success
of a line of mammoth steamships must be
preceded by that of lines Of sailing ships and
smaller steamers, neither of which have ever
yet been in operation between Norfolk and
France. An ample supply of freight leaves
the Chesapeake for New York and other Amer
lean ports, doubtless to sustain a line of screw
steamers in plying to and from Europe. But,
unfortunately, it will take time and arduous
labor to change its present dirsction-to divert
it into a new channel Freight represents
| capital, which is prOverbially cautious of, and
| slow to change. We hope for a better fate for
| this enterprise, than, we fear it will meet In
| stead Of dreaming of mammoth steamer lines
| to Europe, if those interested in the future
of the commerce of the Old Dominion, would
only bend their energies to secure the prompt
| completion of the different lines of railroads
destined to bring the produce and travel of
| Western Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee,
and Kentucky-indeed of the whole South and
| Southwest-to reach the ocean first at Vir-
| ginia's capes, they will soonest secure the
means of the profitable establishment not only
of the direct line Of steamships to France, but
| Of similar lines to England and South America.
To aid such an enterprise under present cir
cumstances, as it is Mr.. Prestons errand to
inaugurate if possible, the State must neces-
sarily invest in it, from first to last as much as
is now required from her in aid of the compile
ton of the various railroads in which she has
already invested millions, none of which can
| yield her dollar of interest until the apprO-
| priations asked for them now shall have been
expended on them.
When that may be done, she will not only
find all her money so invested yielding fair
return to her treasury, but will also find that
the grand result Of her railroad expenditures
| will then be the concentration at her leading
| pOrt-NOrfolk-Of as much produce and other
| freight as now passes over the Erie canal, and
as many passengers as now pass over the New
York Central railroad. Then, there will be no
difficulty in the establishment and maintenance
of steamship enterprises from Virginia to Eng
land, France, Germany, or wherever there may
be people requiring American merchandise, OF
producing merchandise required in this coun.
try Until then, we repeat, we have little faith
in the possibility of the profitable employment
of a regular line of steamships between Norfolk
and any foreign port