The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1860-01-06

The Icy EMBARGo.--Almost every line O
steamers plying between this and other port
have been stopped this week on account O
the ice. The steamship Jamestown running
between here, New York and Richmond, via
Norfolk, arrived here Sunday evening, and
proceeded to Richmond, where she has beer
detained ever since by the freezing of james
River. The same cause which has detained
her, has laid the steamer Glen Cove quietly
up at her wharf, where she will have to re-
main until James River is clear of ice before
she can resume her run to Richmond. The
Steamship City OF Richmond plying between
| Philadelphia and Richmond has been caught
up the turbid stream which meanders
| through the immense territory between
| here and Richmond;and like the jamestown,
will have to remain ice-bound until rain,
or the warm rays of genial sun shall dis
solve their frigid !etter.. The Curtis Peck,
running on she York River, in connection
with Richmond and the York River Rail-
road, has been caught up the York River,
and will have to remain until the weather
changes, and her ice-b0nds are removed -
The steamer Sea Bird made an attempt to
rech Smithlield two or three days ago, but
finding it impossible to get through the ice
in the Greek, had to return and land her
passengers at Rock Wharf in James River.
The navigation of the Albemarle and Chcs-
apeake Canal is closed. The Dismal Swamp
Canal is frozen, and our intercourse with
North Carolina by water for the time sas-
pended.
Norfolk, remains open The Delaware to
Philadelphia is closed; the Patapsco to Bal
timore is closed; the James to Richmond is
closed; the Potomac to Alexandria and
Washington is closed; and thus tho regular
business operations of the cities of Virginia
and Eastern North Carolina, have been
brought almost to dead stand; not alone
from the absence of their usual receipts of
freight, but from the absence of advices by
mail, for the great Northern mail has been
stopped, and business has been stagnant.-
During all this time, the port of Norfolk is
as free of ice as if 'twere mid summer, and
vessels have been free to come or de art, as
they could have desired.
The Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad
also, has been constantly at work, and in
good running order, and the steamships in N.
York have only to bring their passengers,
freight and mails to this city, to have them
distributed all over the States of Virginia
North Carolina and Tennessee next day.
This fact, of our harbor being open at all
times for the ingress of vessels from New
York, South America, or Europe, is one OF
the strongest arguments We know OF in ia
vor Of the Norfolk and Petersburg Rail-
road. The York and the James River may
remain for. the next six months, and still the
regular line of steamships from New York
may come and find no difficulty in catering
our harbor; and from here they can send
whatever they bring, to Petersburg and
Richmond, via Norfolk and Petersburg Rail-
road.
The detention of the jamestown in James
River this time, must prove exceedingly
costly, and will no doubt take away the
profits from several trips to Richmond; be-
sides, there is the probable damage she may
sustain from the ice in the river, which will
help to swell the cost of navigation in that
crooked and shoal river, which is so full of
"bars," that unless large vessels chit the
20
In view of these facts, We are surprised
that the various lines of steamers from the
Northern cities to Richmond and Peters
burg, do not effect some arrangement with
the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad for the
transportation of their freight and passen-
gers; at least. in the winter time. By the
way, it does occur to US that there is a new
line running between here and New York,
which, it is said, will run in connection with
the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad -
True, they are propellers, but are represent
ted as com fortabe, expeditions and reliable.
We hail with pleasure any move which
NAV have tendency to increase the bust
ness OF our Railroads. and take great pleasure
in stating that this line is fixed fact; and
only regret that those comfortable side
wheel steamers which are so well oicere
| and manned, and which belong to the New
/ York and Virginia Steams hip Company, dc
not stop at Norfolk, and connect with our
Railroad.
| rs" At regular monthly meeting of the
Hope Fire Company, held January 5th
1860, the following named gentlemen were
elected officers for the ensuing year
| President-Cha b. langley.
| LIST Vice don. W. Quarles.
End Vice do--Jas. Bryant.