Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-06-29
For the Enquire;
Hor the Enquirer.
Commerce OF Observation-Disclosures
Wharf, a. Il shipping Point for tho Ct
Of II ond. Z

or Hichmond, &c.
Messrs. Editors-It is with pleasure We A..
tice the improvement, in the last few years in
the commerce OF the ''Old Dominion" If one
will only note the arrival Of steamers Gione, at
the port Of Norfolk, within one week. and 90!
| to that number, those which 90 direct to Eicl..
mond, without stopping at Norfolk, feel con
Vlnced, when n comparison is Instituted be-
tween the present number and that ot five
yeas ago, the great difference will at cEce be
] seen.
But a lew years past there were only two
steam freight boats running from the waters Of
Virginia to those OF some other State. Crhe
Baltimore freight boatS) There were no
steamers to New York, Philadelphia or Boston.
Now, we have three running TO the first .ancd
city, and excellent ships they ,are--two 10 the
second named, and one to the latter place; be
sides two first class boats to Baltimore; il;
all, eight
Whit facilities for trade and ;raves are now
offered! What a vast difference nor, when
compared with the facilities offered ten years
ago! And these advantages are yearly mutt.
plying Until recently these boats, or steam
ers, stopped only at City Point on their route
from Richmond 10 Norfolk down James Rive".
Now, through the accommodating agents 9!
the Boston steamer. New York, that fire
ship will regularly call at Newpor;'S News
wharf And just here permit NE 10 cs atten-
ton to that point, tie wharf, the surrounding
country, etc. Mr.. Parker West, to whom the
property belongs, has recently completed one
Of the finest wharves in Virginia; it IS un.
doubtcdly well and substantially made, SU!i!-
GENTLY large for three ships TO be mo0red
alongside at the same time. and with sutii.
ccnt depth Of water to float frigate.
We are pleased to sec Mr.. West moving CT!
from the shore. lie is now going in tic right
direction, and will soon build up the place, if
he shows the same iiberality Of spirit which all
agree in saying he has exhibited in his char
ges for freight put off at his wharf. suppose
the people Of your city, refer to you: pro.
gressiye business men-have all heard OF New
ports News point and lis fine harhor. SoEic
have talked Of making it the eastern terminus
Of railroad. know not who will commence
it, have no idea what 'go.ahead" man wi!!
undertake to put it through, but ain sure. vi
all places, there is none to equal it is i harbor
not for small coasting vessels alone but for the
largest ships in the world. The Great Easter:
could easily lie there ut anchor, il She dre%
tHenty.cight instead of TWENTY-FIVE or twenty.
four feet Of water I have been informed
that ono Of our most Intelligent officers
in the United States Navy who has been
attached to the coast survey, says, after
visiting different ports in various parts OF the
world, there is no harbor aClording anchorage
ground to equal that to be found 1t Newports.
News. Why, then, do not the people OF y0ur
city make a move, and move in that directi9n'
Why notmakc Newport's-News por; o: entry
for the city of Richmond? Can any one begin
to estimate the great advantages likely 10 be
the result Of the construction Of n g0Od atr.'ns
RailroId from Richmond to Newport S-Ncws
point?
Your merchants cannot expect 10 receive
goods consigned direct to them from Europeas Is
things now stand but. with 4 road Of only 20
miles in length, | submit. cannot your mcr-
chants residing in Richmond receive and dis.
pose Of goods Mipped Ia them at Newports-
News Point: To that Point all large class
vessels will come. Ships drawing over IL or
II feet water cannot pass llarrison's Bar, but,
as stated above, any ship that floats can 80 to
the point suggested
Richmond must have her shipping per: if
she erer wishes TO engage in foreign lraGe-it
she wishes 10 have Hi,rct trad" with Eu""Pe;
and, moreover, that port must not DC J"rfy,
,Effy or u hundred miles mp q croo&tN @icsr.
1t must be lis near as possible TO Tie ocean.
| could here give many reasons IN support o;
this proposition, but suppose it will not be
controverted by any one,
Let me, then, advise the entcrprising men Of
your city, to reflect upon this matter Of having
shipping port, and that too us near as lcs'i'
bic to the ocean, where there is depth ?fuGter
sufficient to float ships, though they ma
exceed the Great Eastern" zen Mo"@Haa
tons
The country surrounding Ncwpor;S News is
rapidly improying-lands are commanding $40
per acre-and now since the Northern SteSIn-
ers have commenced stopping at that point. At
wiW, it must go up yet higher. Most Of the
| farmers will, next year, engage tngeiy IN "a"
trucking business, which will materially in
crease the value Of their farms. The Boston
steamer, New York" took of 22s barrels the
FIRST time she touched there The "lsoanokc
was moored several hours at the wharf on Mon
day, and received good supply Of freight
Every assurance has been given the people, by
Mr.. Groaner-whose politcncss they will long
remember-that the steamers will regularly
stop ut the wharf.
II Mr. West will offer alternate lots Of !and
for sale, very soon, the nucleus of town %i!:
be formed ut this point. Let him do So. are
we are convinced trade will increase, ana Tie
value Of the excellent trucking iarnis near ~
will be proportionably advanced
TIDE WATER