Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-02-02
THE RICHM0ND ENQUIRER.

TIE HljHMUND ENH1e
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TUESDAY MOHNsNG, FEh6eAhA =.
NIX. rREsrON's COMMERCIAL MISSION III
EUROPE.
We puS';sh, today. g paragraph from the N"'io'k
. A,.us" announcing the gratifying Tact, that Hoi'
WIN. Ballard Preston has succeeded III etiectlpg AL
nr-spes,nsu, with the Paris ana Orleans Rail hoad
COMPANY for the establishment Of line OF steamers
between the ports of Orleans in France and Norfolk
Virginia. Mr.. Preston, it will be remembered, Wa
commissioned by the Convention at Bristol last year
TO visit Europe for the purpose of entering into me-
co;stions with some more OF the trans Atlantic
s:esmship companies for the foundation OF airec'
trade between the waters of Virginia and an mpor
rant port in Europe. His success is no matter OF d.
constituent. But it must be source OF sincere re-
jocing on the part, not only of every Virgnlan eu'
Of the whole Southern section OF this on'on' "nep
Mr. Preston was honored with the important trust We
cordially commended the judicious selection maze oy
the Convention. And representing, as he dld'tne com
nercia interests Of an nms extent OF country 30
bounteously blessed with rich aud varied resources
Of inher.n, wealth and strength the result OF bis e-
:orts vas almost to be confidently expected, as II
was earnestly desired. Sir. Preston has done bis
part The French company has promised to do It's
part. And it now RENAME only for Virginia and
those of her sister States Of the South Immediately
Interested TO do their part in order to establish di.
rect foreign commerce for the slave States, and rem
der the Southern people independent in importing
and exporting as they se in producing the necessa
ries aud Injuries Of life. But aside from all strict.
ia
attractive a. practically and Immediately involving
dollars and cents. Direct intercourse with Europe
from the waters of Virginia will afford outlet for
the trade and travel Of the South, which the laws
Of nature, economy and commerce urgently demand.
Bat, as We have iutimaled, this question is closely
aye inssparabiy associated with extensive system
OF Internal improvements. Beautiful bays,capaciouo
ha.bors deep rvers aud noble rosdseads. avail But
little for foreign trade unless they aided by rail.
.oads and canals coming down to them burdsned With
inland products. All the great elements Of com'
MERGE and agents OF industry must be made to cor
respond, AMI move and aot in harmony in or
der to effect the ends for which they were design
81.
We are told that Steamships are coming from Or
lsans to Norfolk for freight and passengers. IL u
not, then, incumbent upon the Commonwealth oi
Virginia to extend additional facilities for trade aud
Gravel from the mountains 10 tho seashore, and that
100 ut the earliest practicable momenti Railroads
terminating In Richmond and Petersburg, can contr
bate but little towards supplying ships at the wharv.s
Il Norfolk. until there are other roads extending
to Norfolk and to available points near Norfolk, are
ready to cooperate with them. There a.e two suoh
now In process Of construction, and requiring but
comparatively small sums to complete them. 1t will
Sa seen from the report of the Senate committee, to
which We advertsd yesterday, and which We pub
li,h 10 day, that the Norfolk and Petersburg rail
road With the aid of assistance from the State may
be completed 10 q very short time. And the Rich.
nond and York River road. extending to deep wafer
on ono of the noblest rivers In the world may also
soon be actively employed If the Legislature will ap
propriate to 1t the moderate amount recommended
by the committee. A speedy completion OF both
these roads, it seems to US, emnently and urgently
essential 10 view Of the fact that line of steamers
from Orleans Norfolk, about to be established to
cay nothing of the economy. in any event. OF finish
Ing works that require little time and money 20
complete them.
Itis true, James River affords facilities for comunu-
p!oaton between Richmond and Norfolk, and It 10
consequently connecting link in the chain OF INFER
course between the mountains and the seashore-a
continuance Of the channels Of commences from the
West to the East. FROM the granary to the shipping
point But while calculation Of the respective ca
pscities and advantages Of rail rosds aud rivers,
a. q general proposition, may award preference
to the latter the ground of cheapness Ia quite evil
dent We think to the most casual observer, that IL
the South is to have a foreign commerce, and Nor
folk 10 to be the entrepot, James River will not be
adequate TO the immense trade and travel which will
inevitably and continuously flow from the West and
far South. It must bs remembered too, that James
River il shallow, toruous, difficult of navigation,
and liable to be obstructed by ice, when the harbor
at Norfolk ia open. But this is point which, we
presume, It would be supsrogatory 10 discuss.
II We are to have direct trade let US not wait un.
III The shps are upoored at the Norfolk wta:ves be-
fore We construct the channels to supply them. The
contemplated line from Orleans ffavorably received,
a,.d remunsrsted will be but ths beginning of the
.od 1t viii be succeeded by another line, from Liv.
..oool perhaps, and another from Havro, SOME
other of the important ports of Europe until the 70
reign commerce Of the country may be principally
carried on from the South--f,oni The raters Of Var.
ginia.
This may seem to be an over ssnguine speculation.
But We would ask of those who shake their heads in
distrust, what 10 to prevent il. but want of con
fenoe and enterprise the part of our own people1
Where are the obstacles to be overcome, but in the
timid doubts and approximations Of the South itself
aye, of Virginia herself'
The harbor Of Norfolk is equal TO any in the world.
The resources Of The Southern country almost un.
fivsl,ed. Tners is safer or more direct route to
Europe Let tho inland channels Of commerce BE-
oeensd, and 10 hal! century Norfolk may rival New
York IN shipping And that the initial step for
:, direct trade between the South and Europe. has
seen boldly taken, we trust that the Old Dominion
a, least will do her duty towards sustaining and ad
Saacing it.
THE IMMENSELY OF THE COAL TRADE.
We have read, With interest, the memorial OF the
sosl and iron oompauies--owners and operators OF
tho semi. bitumnous coal lands in tho counties OF
Hampshire and Hardy, in Virginia, and Allegheny
oornty, in Maryland-for aid from the State in
;.s completion Of the Alexandria, Loadoun and
Hampshire railroad. Referring to the valuable m:re
raj rrsonrces OF these counties, they say tina. darDg
s,e sat year. the great depression in
s.usiness ;hers has bsen mined and delivered from
hes. countless to the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and
tho Chesapeake and Ohio canal. about 6O0,OO0 tons
c: coal, That the superior end valuable character 1t
lis COAL for steam aud manufacturing purposes, con-
tiuue constantly TO EXTRACT consumers and that is
.ecen: introduction In this country, into locomotives
Z, saving over wood Of ~ per ssat. promises 10