Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-10-12

the harbor itself, and it would efeetusly relieve
them from their present commercial dependence
upon New York. To ell fears that may be expressed
as to the suficiency of American tonnage, wean-
swer that there is nOO annually collected on the
wateFs Of Chesapeake Bay q sufisiency Of tonnage
to give active employment to semi monthly line Of
steamers, without adding thereto pound of addi-
tionsl freight It is believed that the Railroad and
other statistics of Virginia and Maryland viii more
than sustain this assertion.
Besides its coast wise facilities, the city of Nor
folk, by means of Rivers, Canals and Railroads is
of easy access to most parts of the South and West.
short time viii make the connections complete
with all the important points. It communicates
with Eastern North CsrOlina by Of the ChesaN
peake and Albemarle Canal, which is an important
avenue of trade There is ship navigation to Rich
mond ana Petersburg, and the trade is further
red into the valley Of Virginia, west of the Blue
Ridge, upon the James River and Kenhawa Canal
Navigation by steam and sail vessels is carried on
upon the Rappahannock TO fredericksburg, and by
the same means to Washington and Alexandria.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal extending westward
brings immense aceessons of trade into Chesapeake
Bay. The Railroad system of the South connects
Norfolk by direct lines with the central portion Of
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and ex-
tending into Alabama and Florida-aIl the principal
cities Of the Sonth Atlantic SeabOsrd, as well as
those Of the interior country have the full benefit of
these connections. By the great middle line of
Roads that point is in direct connection with South
Western Virginia. East, Middle and West Tennessee,
and terminating for the present st Nashville and
Memphis, with the promise Of an early connection
with Little Rock, in Arkansas. But little remains
to be done in order to perfect the connection with
| New Orleans and Mobile. The completion of the
Covington and Ohio Railroad through the center Of
Virgnia will furnish the most direct and easy access
to the seaboard from the Ohio and upper Mississippi
valley and will invite large amount of foreign trade
and travel along that line 1 have already presen-
ted such arguments as were deemed necessary in
that connection in favor of opening direct trade
from the South, and have in tais paper hastily and
imperfectly offered some of the reasons and facts
in favor of making the first move from Virginia
seaport Permit rue to say in conclusion, Of this
branch of the question, that the sail from Norfolk
to the mouth of the Loise is direct one, and in a
temperate latitude; that from New York to Liver
pool is a circutous one and in high latitude--the
channel approach to Liverpool is often dangerous
and difficult, and the landing at the mouth Of the
Mersey, is subject to tidal inhuenees-nOne Of these
objections exist as to the proposed navigation from
Norfolk; and what would be conclusive argument in
favor Of the latter with passengers is that the trip
can be made in from 80 to As hours less time from
Norfolk to the French Harbor than it can bs from
New York to Liverpool. I take leave of the Amer
lean side of this question for the present and shall
in my next attempt present the European features
belonging to this interesting question.
Respectfully yours,
| Oct. 4th 1855 R. G. PAYEN