Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-09-23
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
I Correspondence Of the Hiehmo"d E"quIrer
Evu YORK. Sept 81, 1859.

Nrw YoRx, Sept 81, 1897.
The aurorial display, which occurred on tile
18th nit. was seen in England, and probably
extended around the globe in high ATTITUDES,
was followed by tempestu"us weather on the
Atlantic ocean. All the steamers arriving on
this side, including the Persia, report having
experienced stormy passages. The BoruSsia
at this port on Sunday, the Kangaroo ycStcr-
day, and the Anglo SaXonat Quebec last week,
also experienced strong gales and head winds.
Tue Persia brought out 232 passengers, among
whom were quite Number OF merchants, As
well rs Southern families, returning FROM a
visit to Europe.
4 gentleman who came out in the screw
steamship Anglo Saxon to Quebec, gives IA
vorahlc report of her speed ard the comfort
afforded her passengers. The actual distance
OF open ocean travcrScd hy steamers running
in the Quebec line. Is said 10 lie only about
coo miles; the mouth of the 81. Lawrence
is reached, 700 miles below that city, from
whence the passage is made in comparatively
smooth water. He thinks. 80 far rs dollars ana
ccGtS are concerned that the screw steamers
possess great advantages over those with side
wheels. The consumption OF coal by the Persia
is said to amount to about 100 tons per uay'
while that consumed by the Anglo saxon Only
reaches - tons per day. The speed between
the two does not vary, generally, more 'ha''
4 day or so.
There is great effort going on for the pur-
pose of ,llvcrting trade from the upper Lakes
to Europe via the 81. Lawrence. daring ltlc sea
son Of navigation and over the Canadian uF'hd
Trunk Railway in winter, via Portland Name
In other words 10 divert a heavy potion ol
the trade from Buffalo, the Efc Canal ana
State Rail Roa,i> Should the screw steamers
running to Quebec pay, it Is calculated greatly
to enlarge their tonnage and increase Their
number One thin. is certain, that TINS move
mcnt has already caused heavy direct ship
mcnt Of Canadian Hour and wheat, which lor-
mcrlv found its way 10 out ports through tiiiS
market. This route is also very favorable !or
the cheap and speedy transportation oil emf
grants bound to the new States OF the West;
To co,mtrr;,ct this movement has compelled
the people Of this State To adopt the policy OF
cnlar.ins the grand canal 10 4 sufficient depth
and width 10 admit OF its navigation 10y steam
canal boats
Takin. into consideration TIE rapid growth
Of the West, the prospect is, that 1t WILL ere
long, Weld sufficient 10 supply both routes
with agricultural produce.
There i, a prospect Of Il great revolution ut
hand so far aS this city and lis commerce are
concerted, and which, if carried out will IN
effect turn the island round, or change It's
heaviest commerce from lis Southern cXtrcmi-
~ about the battery, to lis Northern terminus
on the Harlem river and its opposite shore,
about Morris wharf in WcStchcStcr county,
distant from the former about eight miles
The largest ships including the Great Eastern
herself can approach the vicinity OF Morris
wharf through Long Island Sound. Now, the
nl,n ,ita,cd Is this, To build large iron screw
steamers a.: :. u0n tons, and send them to Nor
rj,' wharf via the Sound, where they could
readily load and discharge through the all o;
lighters, which! are already employed by vessel:
to Il large extent.
In maxim. a new port for steamers OF the
largest class at Morris wharf, the end Of the
town would lac turned round, and the city would
crow a> .>, at the upper, Il it formerly did at
the lower end. 10 further this important
movement, it is proposed to prevail upon the
CITY authorities 20 lay oil Blackwclls and
EqndalrS Islands, in the t.iSt river into lots.
and sell them of ipr watchouSing and other
building purposes, aud remove all the present
! institutions on them, 10 body of land secured
for the purpose in Westminster county
The lots would sell cor an immense sum Of
money, sufficient to erect new buildings on the
most magnificent and extensive scale. The
removal Of the pcnitcntitry, a>ylumS, hos
ptalS, and poor houses, woud add to the
valuc o; property immensely on the East side
! O: the town. and thus augment the city rcvc-
uucs from taxes The Islands would be acccs-
>iblc to large ships the year round, and the
water b.ing quite deep close TO their shores,
wls:chou>oS on their margins could he 80 con
Struc;ed As 10 project over, and, thus enable
vessels TO load by letting down Grain from
their floors directly into their holds, or raise
the same from their holds up to the floors Of
the building. In addition 10 these improve
mcntS, it would he proposed TO open the liar
lem river from the North TO the East river, SC
as To allow loaded canal boats to pass through
and discharge at, or near Morris wharf along
side of the grand steamers, or into adjacent
warehouses on the Islands, OF on the main
land.
The wharfage room at the lower end Of the
CITY was ample in past years, when vessels
were comparatively small, and the tonnage with
the general trade of the port was liz ht
Now, il is altogether insufficient. In busy
, seaSOllS NcSStIN dlC N'iui'SilSi W NhlN S'li'N
times, two weeks or longer, before they arc
son whv the islands IN the East river and the
upper end Of the city should not he devoted Il
shipping conyenicnccS as well as the lower end
Il is said, that Me>SrS Cunard Il CO., have
determined, should the Great Eastern rcalize
expectations. TO Immediately commence build
ing line Of mammoth steamers to run be
tween Liverpool and this city. If so, Morris
wharf, reached through Long Island Sound
will be the place for them. At the rate the
city has grown, within few years past, it will
soon have population Of 100000. while lis
commerce will undergo an equal augmentation
To meet this increase, in people and trade, will
bring into demand, the establishment of com
mcrce at its upper extremity. Besides there
is danger that the present harbor may con
,inuc to fill up 10 such an extent as TO rcndoi
the approach through Long Island Sound ;
necessity
/ The Hudson River Railroad could, also, rur
! a branch of their track over to the new loca
ton, while other roads would find no difficulty
! in sending freight or passengers to the Samt
point. Should McssrS. Cunard X Co., or Other
parties. determine TO run line of huge iror
nropcl!cr steamers to Morris wharf and pre-
viou>ly purchase up the real estate there
aboutS, they would make an immense sum by
its advance in price after the line with its con
ncct;ons become established. There are iSiand'
to the eastward in the Sound, which would
make make excellent Quarantine Stations The
! enormous rents for stores. and heavy cost o
storage in the crowded narrow streets at The
lower end Of the city, are heavy drawbacks
upon the business of the merchants, and de
ducts largely from their profits
The occupation Of the island Of San Juan d'
Luca, bv troops under General Harvey ha:
caused good deal of discussion, especially
among prominent Ensli>hmen residing in this