Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-11-04


truth to nearly every capital and important ira.
ding town Of the continent. The balance ofcon-
tinehul Europe. mny be said in fact to be locked
in close embrace with the French Empire
But We will pass on to n hurried and very i'm
perfect survey Of the internal improvements of
France, ior this is essential to proper conception
OF the Importance of the proposed line Of steamers
from tho South, as we'll ms of the suporabun-
dant ability Of the French tradc to sustain such IL
line.
France has always been remarkable for its can
ais. II hns eighty-six canals, whose aggregate
length is two thousand three hundred and fifty
miles, and all constructed in the most approved
and durable manner. Tho object Of its canal sys-
tenn has been to unite the river basins of TINT
country, and to furnish nn interior communication
from the Atlantic to tho Mediterranean sea The
canal of langucdoc starts from, near Toulouse, and
gives n continued navigation from the Mediterrn-
ncnn 10 the Atlantic, passing by Bordeaux. Car
'ussnnne, Narbonnc. and other important towns.
Tho Canal du Center commences at Chnlons and
proceeds to Digion and the Loire Tho Rhonc
aud Kline canal untes these two rivers, and with
tho burgundy canal proceeding from tho Snonc
aud ono ofher communicates with the river Seine.
These three great canals it will be seen, unto
the Rhone. Loire, Seine. and Rhine, nnd gives
easy access from any of them into the other
three.
France rs divided into four great rnil sections
"r districts, and there is company organized
tW caea section with capital sufficient to construct
such works rs nre designated by the acts of nror.
por"ticn. These lines nre projected ns to Form
II perfect systom connecting every important town
and district Of country with Paris, ns the great
central point, and from that city g,iuga direct
transit to other PORTIONS of Europe. One OF these
sections fronts towards England. and includes what
may be termed the Military Division OF France
Brcsi and Chcrbourg ure embraced in this section.
Ono embraces the country bordering upon Bel
a.
tho fourth and most important to us embraces the
cen'rnl portions of tho empire. including tho city
If Paris.
There nre five main trunk lines Of rnilroa5 with
double tracks (as tho other roads of France run
ming irum the coast Of the English Channel 10
Paris, viz: from Dunkirk, Calais, Boulognc. dep
rc mud llavrc. \ trunk line extends from Paris
10 Strasbourg and from that point passes SOUTH
along the valley of tho Rhine, TO Raslc; another
r1c"ods south to Orleans where it forks, ono
branch going to Iarcnnrs and tho other to Bor-
cnuX. At Tours it communicates with tho rail
way to 1t. Nnzairr, on tho Loire. Another great
trunk ino commences ut Marscillcs, and runs to
Ayignon. and from that point. extending north
ward meets tho main trunk line from Paris to l.y-
nns. The same facilities from tho coast Of the Eng
ash Channel to Paris arc also furnished from the
Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. A line of rail
way also passes along the coast Of the Mcditerrn
mean, aud near the boundary Of Spain, for
adorable distance.
The great lines thus radiating in every direction
from Paris M the common center, are crossed and
intcrsected by lateral lines, either built or in
course Of construction that there is not all int
portant district Of tho Empire that is not reached
by railrond- The canals and railroads Of France
taken together, make one of the most complete and
magnificent systcms OF internal improve cmonts
ever devised or carried out in pny other country.
While furnishing every facility for tho develop
nipu ui French q IT,
self with the net work systems Of other countries
80 intimately that with proper outlets. it will. Of
necessity. draw of n large amount Of foreign trade
that passes through England But this sys-
tenn OF Improvements look to ocean outlets and
ocean facilities ~ essential to complete sue
cess. II is ly these adunc,s thnt France can
hope TO become the commercial rival Of Great
Britain,
The Loire river is the lest navignbn stream in
France There Is lnrbor mt the mouth of the
river. On which is situatcd St. Naznire. the
shipping point for Nantes and other interior towns
and the eastern terminus Of the proposed line of
ocean steamers Not satisfied with the natural
advantages ii this hnrhor the French Government
hnS lately constructed basin. at u cost OF four
millions ol dollars. having about twenty-five feet
of water and of sufficient dimensions to contain
one hundred md fifty merchant vessels Of large
size Around these Improvements immense forti-
iications also being erected, 30 to give pro-
storms No one sir, can survey the movements
of the present French ruler, but will be satisfied
that tho continental plans Of his great kinsman
are being carried out but they have been stripped
o! their military appcndagcs, and he has thrown
around them the becoming and more graceful dra-
pery OF peace
St. Nazaire is within twelve hours travel of
Paris, and within less than that time Of the other
important towns and cities of France. The direct
road to Paris is up the valley of the Loire, which
is considered the garden spot of France, and con-
tains the most refined and wealthy portion Of the
French population. 1t passes by Nantes, Toure,
Orlcai and other important commercial and manu-
featuring cities. This road is inersectcd by va
rious lines leading from different portions Of the
country, and crosses many of the principal can
with which that country abounds The continental
traveller is taken Immediately to Paris and from
that city can find direct conyeyanc to almost any
other part of Europe. If We are correct as to the
difference Of time, passenger from Norfolk by the
proposed line Of steamers be placed in Paris
nearly twenty -four hours in advance Of the passen
ger from New York to Liverpool. Your Excel
lency will, | know, appreciate the advantages of
this European terminus, and will conclude,
doubt, that nm immense travel and trade would
concentrate ut that point. That n lucrative i'm
port and export trade would be carried on between
the two countries is absolutely certain. and just in
proportion ocean lines increased from south
crn ports will the prosperity Of the South be in
creased, and the shackles Of northern dominion
| begin ogive way. a.f...
| will state very briefly before concluding that
the great Central Railroad section of France is un-
der the control of the Orleans Company, which is
located ut Paris. This section embraces the silk
raising and vine-grOwing portions of France. 1t
includes population of about twelve millions of
| people, and that comprising the most intelligent,
| refined, and wealthy portions of the empire, The
Orleans Company has capital Of nearly nno hun