The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1860-03-12

MErCALF LANE.-The Councils seem i'm
bued with the proper spirit in connection
with the opening of this Lane, and have at
the suggestions of this paper, appointed q
Committee to enquire into the expediency.
&c. By recent action Of the Select Council
that Committee has been completed, and
they are fully organized for the purpose,
a~d now tina they are ready to commence
their abors, we desire to make few sugges
tiohs
LIST. The lane should be widened by CON
demning property only on the West side OF
the lane.
End. The street should be opened as wide
as it is possible to make it by the removal OF
one house, for there is no question but that
it will be one of the most public thorough
fares in the city, consequently instead of a
street it Should be an Avenue.
3rd. In condemning the houses, the city
should purchase them, then put them up at
auction and sell them to the highest bidder,
to be removed in a given time, thereby Sc
curing to the city the best possible price for
the bricks, timber, &c.
4th. The street thus formed should be
called --- Avenue, the partic-
ular !appellation to be determined by the
Street Committee under whose direction the
work is done.
We feel assured from the prompt action of
the Councils that they see the importance of
this Improvement, aud think we may con-
graduate the dwellers on Cumberland street
on the prospect, at no distant day, Of having
a comfortable and genteel street to pass
through without making the elbow at Cove
to reach Church st. This will be as it were,
continuation of Cumberland street, but
from the fact that much of the retail dry
good and grocery trade will eventually be
done on that portion, it would be wise pol
icy to make it as wide as possible.
The BOARD OF TRADE.-This body of en-
ergetic gentlemen hold a special meeting
this evening for the purpose of perfecting
their arrangements in the matter of their
commercial relations with the French "Bu.
labored to secure direct trade with Europe,
and,in conjunction with gentlemen in France,
have made praisewerthy efforts to establish
a direct line of sailing vessels with this port
and st. Nazaire. These efforts which have
cost so much thought, time and calculation,
are about to be crowned with success, and
the PiOn COR oh in 10 IN ha
1t was announced some time ago that
ship was to be loaded and dispatched
from st. Nazaire to this port, which ship
was to arrive here abaut the LIST of January.
This the "Nofolk Bureau" found impossible
from the fact that the China war and other
causes, had absorbed everything in the
shape of French vessel, and ship could
uot be obtained on anything like fair rates
for the voyage. This Bureau, however have
succeeded in chartering the American ship
Lone Star, OF eight or nine hundred tons,
which is now ON her way filled with brandy,
wine, preserves, perfumery, fancy articles,
drugs, &C., &c, all of which, in a true spirit
of commercial faith, has beea consigned to
the Board of Trade of the City Of Norfolk.
Accomp anying this announcement is another,
that second ship will 70 How in few weeks
which will be chartered for the voyage here
and back. The French Bureau of Norfolk
also propose to the Board of TIade of this
city, that an American ship be taken up i'm
mediately, and loaded for France by the
Board, which, beyond doubt, will be done,
and some of our staples, shiptimber, &c 4,
will be sent in return for their liquors, fancy
articles, &c.
Thus we see the grand initia tive step has
been taken; direct trade is no longer mere
speculation, but "fxed fact" and demon
strates to the most unbeieving and OBJ fuse
mind the importance of the Merchants and
Mechanics Exchange, and that important
body at the head OF it known as the Board
of Trade. This Board, as we have already
stated, meet this evening to deliberate and
take counsel together for the utherance of
this important scheme, and the advancement
of Norfolk in the scale of commercial pros
perity.
The ball has been started, and the long
looked for time is coming.
FIRES IN PORTSMOUTH, " esterday morn