The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1860-02-03

CoIu hoto III Vic Souhsh - 49,
the trade in this staple has been gradually
increasing, until last year it reached the snug
| little sum of over one million and half bush
els, with fair prospect of large incr Ease
this year indeed, from the prospect, we
think it but reasonable to calculate that
this trade will increase fully fifty per cent
! this year. Corn then, for long time, has
been the leading article in our trade and
bore the relation OF King to our commerce.
new dynasty, however, is about to be- set
up; the opening of the Albemsrle and Ches-
apeakr anal, has inaugurateda new era in
our commercial affairs, and while corn still
continues to pour in in one unbroken and ev-
er swelling stream into our city, Cotton, by
main force, is about to usurp the throne, and
at no distant day, will be KING. From
S4l to 1857 most Of the cotton found its
way into this city via the Dismal Swamp
Canal In that time sixty six thousand
six huadred bales were received from
| that source alone, which is an average
OF fraction over three thousand nine hun
hico baiV" Po' yeoi ~ W We nud WV
thousand bales per aanum from all other
sources we find that up to 1857 the total av
erage receipts of cotton at this port was less
than six thousand bales per annum. Since
that time there has been gradual increase
in the receipts of cotton. as Ger instance, the
receipts for the fiscal year ending June 1858,
reached the sum of seven thousand bales -
Since that time the Chesapeake and Able.
marie Canal has been partially open, and
the receipts for the fiscal year, ending June
1859, reached the sum of seventeen thousand
seven hundred and sixty-eight bales Show
ing an increase in that year of ever one
h"ndred per cent on the previous year
The improvement OF the c. & A. Canal
has been gradually going on, until now we
are in direct water communication with
t,oenty too counties of North Carolina, a
portion of which have always been cotton
growing couHties but for want of the
proper facilities, have been shipping but a
small portion of their staple to this market;
| the remainder OF these counties have never
uuiii idIciy SifOu nuL abtculiDu W lie Gull
! tivation Of cotton; now however the farmers
See the Importance OF cultivatiug that sta
| pie, and very many men of wealth and judg
| ment are going extensively into the cutiva-
ton of the article; while Others from other
| portions OF the State are moving 10 this par
| tcular district, that they may enjoy the Ia
cilities afforded for getting their produce
| into market. We know of several gentle
men who are getting ready to plant cotton
| Tor the next season, one of whom will plant
over four hundred acres OF new land in that
article, and no doubt many others will follow
quite as extensively During the month of
January, the receipts OF cptton at this port
| from that section was over FIVE thousand
| bales This too, at the time, yhen we had
just formed e. steam connection with these
people, and in face of the fact, that for two
weeks the Canal was closed with ice. This
i've thousand bales was neo trade which
had never reached us before, and when ad
| ded to the receipts from other sources will
| foot up quite handsomely for the first month
in the year. We are iniormed that there is
a stock on hand in that section of about
| twenty-five thousand BALES, all OF which is
| destined for this market, and will be brought
in as rapidly as Doty's line at steamers and
barges can bring it in. This, added To the
five thousand bales already brought in, will
| give thirty Thousand bales, and il We only
| secure i've thousand by the Norfolk and Pc
tersbarg road, the Seaboard road, and the
Dismal Swamp Canal combined, we shall
then have doubled our receipt OF the past
year, and it will be clearly demo nstrated
that "Cotton is King" in our market.
This vast increase ia the cotton trade
OF our city is one OF the evidences OF
the increasing Importance OF our city; and
the opening Of all this new territory through
the new canal is destiaed to work wonders in
our commerce We have among US an en-
terprizing Set Of merchants, who have an
eye alike to their interest, and the we'll being
of our city, and who, We are sure, vii! ex-
ert themselves to the utmost to secure all
OF this rich tide of commerce which is to
flow ia rom the old North State. They soc
the importance o at once making AN effort
to secure to themselves all the immense ben
cit which is to accrue from The trade in
this artce, ana will not let oov siusle bale
pass their doors except through their hands &.
| We think we are not over estimating the
cotton trade OF this city for the year 1860,
when we set it down at million and
hoB douarS! That this i'm mense traffic in
this one article alone, will give US new i'm
pulse, is certain; and We may, without ego
tism or pride, boldly assert that the COM
mercial affairs of our ity have struck the
"tide in the affairs OF men which is to lead
us on to fortune"
This immense influx Of cotton in to, our