The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1860-01-25
Letters from 0mr"LOcai.'
YORK RIVER, Jan. 90, 1860, |
I'm HOnrH of 2tenne,. Sea Bird {


The Curtis Peck having been Withdrawn
from the line, the pretty and swift little stea-
mer Sea Ri d,Captain Rowe, has been PLACED
on thu route between Norfolk aud the White
House, where she connects with the York
River Railroad. She made her first trip up
to-day Monday on which occasion she had
several "through" as we'll as number Of
"way" passengers, who availed themselves
of this route to the Metropolis.
| 1t has often struck US as being wonderful
| that our merchants did not avail themselves
OF this line to make the acquaintance of and
secure the trade of the farmers of this sec
ton. The people living ia the counties
bordering upon the York River are a warm
hearted, generous, home loving people, who
are attached to Virginia, and would much
prefer spending their money in their own
State, but who have been for number of
years trading with Baltimore, because there
| has been no effort made by the Norfolk mer-
| chants to secure the trade. This trade, legi-
mately belongs to Norfolk, and could even
now be fully secured if the proper efforts
| were made in time. If, however, those efforts
| are deferred, the trade will be diverted to
| Richmond, and all future efforts to secure it
will be unavaiing. The completion of the
York River Railroad will open new and
toerably convenient market for all the
grain raised on all that land between York
town on one side and Gloucester on the
other side of York river and West Point
This produce will be sold in Richmond, and
IN return the farmers and merchants will
purchase their supplies there, and Norfolk
will find herself cut oil entirely.
This state Of affairs can be avoided to some
extent, however, by a concerted move on
the part of the merchants of Norfolk, wh O
should at onca resolve to take solae steps to-
ward securing and retaining it. The en-
terprising Company who owu the S.a Bird
and who have, through all seasons, kept her
on the line between Norfolk and the Malta
ponni river deserves much credit, and in
thus doing have done more to advance the
interests Of the nerchantile portion of Nor
folk and this section, than has ever been
done by the merchants themselves.
We commend this subject to the consider
alton of the business portion of our commu.
nifty, and urge them to some Immediate and
nervous action before it is too late We
have conversed with the people living
along the banks of this river, and find them
in every way disposed to trade with Norfolk,
but they say,"we know no body there, while
in Baltimore we do And even already can
the Richmond drummers be seen all through
this section looking for the trade which
they hope to Sc cure through the Y. K. Rail-
read. The contest is still an open one, and
the most tnterprising and energetic win
win the prize. That Norfolk has the advan-
tage is beyond question, for all well in
formed persons know that water transporta-
ion is cheaper than railroad transportation,
and that produce can be brought to Norfolk
on steamers cheaper than it can be carried
TO West Point, and thence sent per Rail
road to Richmond. The Board of Trade
of the city of Norfolk have displayed
much enterprise, and is composed of men
who can look into this matter with as much
Judgment as any set of gentlemen in our
city, would it not be well to discuss this
very subject at their next sitting? If they
will take hold of it, we feel assured that
something will be done towards securing
for our city a trade which without an effort
will be taken to Richmond.
This is a portion of the local trade of
Norfolk, and is worth much more than even
our most thoughtful merchants have esti.
mated. The country all along the York
River is thickly settled with thriving
population, who spend annually very large
amount which would with the proper effort
support daily line of steamers to Walker
ton in King and Queen. Immense quanti-
ties of wheat and corn are raised in the coun-
ties along the line which can, as we said
above, be brought to our port cheaper than
to any other, and we repeat that all we want
is proper effort to secure it.
| A serious subject of complaint up here,
however, is the way they have Of selling
| corn by weight in Norfolk. One farmer
tells us that he shipped 4 lot to our
| city, which he measured before it started;
that it was sold for Is cents Git was white
and only netted him G3 cents per bushel,
which he attributes to "that plaguy weight
business" We do not profess to know much
about this matter; but il it is wrong, cannot
something be done to remedy it? This mat
ter remedied, we are satisfied that our mer-
chants can command every bushel of grain
can run on the Mattaponn, and the steamer
now running out of our port will thereafter
come in loaded to the gun-whale with the
rich harvest of this beautiful country.
The dav is beautiful and calm. the ann