The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1860-01-17
THE DAY BOOK.
Direct Trade with France.

of the gentlemen who have undertaken to
promote a'line of packets between Norfolk
and France, is Mr.. LACoUrURE. We have
before rs a paper of his, aadressen to the
commercial community of Fran &c, advocat
ing, in strong terms, the commercial con
nection of st. Nazaire with Norfolk. For
the benefit of our readers, we translate it,
and insert it below:
''To the Commercial Community Of France
A NeD Direct Commercial Line Jet,veer
France and the United States--Betooeen
Saint Nozaire end NorfOlk:
"The opening of railroads in France and
America has created markets, and given
birth to emplonents, which nobody antici-
pated. Heretofore important productions
were consumed on the spot, and numerous
elements Of expectation remained entirely
reproductive The South and West of the
United States, particularly, deprived of ave-
nues eff communications and s.neans OF trans
port, were absolutely dependent upon North
ern spectators, who imposed the hardest
terms upon them.
"a change, however, has taken place. Ia
America, as in France, railroads have been
completed; they traverse regions between
which the boldeSt imagination could not
formerly have conceived that communication
was possible; products Of every description
can be collected and transported. The most
elementary principle OF political economy is
tor the consumer to avoid all those accessory
expenses, which Cypress commerce, without
benefiting the producer; that is to say, circu-
itous routes, commissions, loading and un-
loading. To accomplish this, the places OF
production and consumption must be, bruoght
as near together as possible, the tine Of pass
age must be made as briet as it can, the price
of freight and insurance must be reduced, and
the evils that spring from the opposite of all
these gotten rid OF.
"France has been receiving from America
nothing but the raw meterial for her manu-
features, save an occasional supply of bread
stutis All these products come from the
South; cotton, rise, tobacco, salt meat tim
Der for building, states, roSin, minerals of
every description; in a word, everything NE
cessary to supply the mercantile marine; yet
all these products either descend to New Or
leans, or ascend to New York, (that is to
say, the two extremities OF the American
continent) to the great detriment of both
seller and buyer; for trade is thus burthened
with tax equal to all that excess of trans,
port, without afording any compensation
to either. This process was unavoidable,
ten. The new routes which have been Great
ed, without superceding those ancient ave-
nues OF communication, viii reduces, by one
half, the expense of transportation. From
q report of the Secretary of the Treasury of
the United States, it appears that the .eX-
ports to France were, IN 1857, S37 1000 900
while the imports from France, amounted, in
round numbers, to 100000, of which at
least two-thirds were consumed in the South.
From that it is evident that it is to the in
terest of France TO turn her attention to that
quarter.
sThe greatest railroad in the world sets
out from Norfolk, in Virginia, (the most
central point of the United States,) and will
soon be extended, by Cincinnati and St.
Louis, to San francisco. 1t is plain that all
the products which lie along its route, and
those of its branches, will take advantage of
the facilities for transportation which ii Of
fers, and will either seek a vent, towards
Europe by Norfolk and the Atlantic, or,
protiting by the new markets which have
been opened in China, will find their way to
those remote regions by San Francisco and
the Pacific. These two points, both termini
of railroads and shipping ports, must expand
to enormous proportions; as consequence
there must be, both in Europe and ASIA, lit
toral points in direct communications with
these two great entrepots. In France there
is no longer any doubt about the spot. Saint
Nazaire, is situated where the Loire dis
charges its waters into the ocean, the termi-
nus of the greatest system OF railroads in
Europe, is destined, like Norfolk, to an envl-
able prosperity. Possessing an immense
ship basin, encompassed by the railroad
=, already the recipient OF numerous YES
sells, and being the port of destination TIC
several lines of steamboats, in full operation,
it is the point of departure for the grand line
already decreed for transatlantic service to
the West Indies and New Orleans Gus
tom entrepet has just been established there,
and thanks to the constant and enlightened
protection of the Head of the Government, a
new ship basin will soon be established
there. Docks will soon be constructed, and
in q short time will make it; according to
the happy prediction Of high ianctlonary,
protector OF its interests, the liverpool Of
the West These two maritime cities will
be on each side oi the Atlantic,
the great entrepotS OF The trade
Of Central Europe and the centre OF the
United States. Going and coming, twill be
transported IN all Glrectlon'
without the expense OF transhipment. Com,
merce will be incontestably benefited, and
merchants possessing the. sagacity to form
at the outset in each OF the
two cities, have certain chances OIL success.
"For the South and West of the United
States it is not only a commercial question,
but condition Of political Independence
The North has grown to glgantr; proper
tious. Thus far it has had the exclusive mo-
nopoly Of maratime ornaments, and its po-
litical influence has proportionally increased.
The South wishes to liberate itself, and, by
way of counterbalance, has organized IN Its
turn Warat;me transportation. a i the gail
roads Of the West and South understand
each other, and have established company
Tor The navigation of the ocean with steam
between Norfolk and St. Nazairie.. The
Orleans Railroad Company In france IS uni
ted in interest with them, and very shortly
the line will be in operation. United with
all the railroads in Europe by that great
route OF communication, the city of st. Ma
zaire vail become its Inevitable e"trcP0t lor
all merchandise bound to the centre ana
South OF the United States. Emigrants, IN
stead of passing by Bremen and hambprg'
will come to embark at st. Nazaire, whlch