Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-08

Importance.
The geographical position of Virginia is ono
Of the best in tho world, in commercial point
Of view
The establishment Of line Of comMunica.
ton of such Il description as the one contem.
plated, Oh 4 point Of the globe so favored by
nature, must have results calculated to mark
an epoch IN Europe as well as in the United
States.
! believe that the great interest, rs far rs
France is concerned, would be to become the
direct market for the cotton and grain Of Amc-
rica.
10 these articles must be added sugar, moaS-
srs rum, bacon, copper, lead, wool, and ship
timber. These productions might be received
in France by way Of Norfolk, withou, passing
through intermediate foreign markets.
In case of the failure Of the harvest in France,
it would bc easy to obtain grain promptly from
the West OF the United States. 1t might even
he possible to create commercial current of
this article of produce for our markets.
Without dwelling too much upon other ad-
vantagcs which naturally result from this ques-
ton Of the canal, deem it, however, appro'
pirate to give an enumeration of the principal.
These would be-
lst. Facilities for obtaining the raw materials
in France at first hand, and cheaper, which
would enable French industry to encounter
foreign competition with superior advantages.
ID \ considerable diminution in the expen.
scs Of the purchase and expedition Of tobacco
| for tho government factories.
3D. The arrival, the introduction Of our pro-
ducc, by shorter and cheaper route into the
South, the West, and the centre Of the United
States.
4th. \ relative augmentation in the move.
ment Of our commercial marine.
5th. Rapid and advantageous provisions OF
copper. machine oil, tar, bacon, and salt pork
Of the west, and building timber for our naval
arsenal.
9th. Cheapness of coal for our different ma
ritime stations.
Tlh An immense opening in the great west
Of the United States for French merchandise.
Sth. The probability Of seeing Norfolk be-
come an entrepot for the productions Of French
industry and commerce, TO be distributed in
part in Central and South America by vessels
taking them to complete their cargoes.
The following articles wines, liquors, olive
and linseed OIL soaps preserved fruits, leather,
shoes fine cutlery, mathematical instruments
porcelains looking glasses and crystals, cloths
silks, laceS, rcady-made clothing, velvet plush,
ribbons and trimming articles, carpets, furni-
ture, papcr-hanyings and painted papers, COM
mon papers, maddcr, drugs, colOrs, bronzeS
jcwclry, articles of lashion-obects Of art, Of
taste and Of luxury that France alone can man
ufactre and furnsh-all these articles are OF
such description, that their sale would be in
all cases facilitated by the use Of the canal.
attach great Importance to the question Of
wines As an cntrcpot, Norfolk presents an
advantage not possessed by New Orleans,
where the preservation Of wines is very difficult
on account OF the climate and the nature of the
soil, which, il is said, does not allow Of the
construction Of cellars
Finally, Monsieur les MiniStrc, there is
consideration Of another character, which
will not pass over in silence Since the gov
crnmcnt OF the United States was first estab-
lishcd, Virginia has always cxertcd very great
| influence over the destinicS Of the Union
Politically speaking, she is at the head Of the
South We know not what the future holds
! in reserve for this country. If the enterprise
discussed in this report should one day become
realized, it would be desirable that France
should secure the most favorable position from
the lirS,, and without allowing herself to be an
ticipated.
THE FRENCH COMPANY.
have conferred with Mr.. Ernest Bellot des
MinierrS, who is at present in Richmond.
have known Mr. Beot dcS Minicrcs since
he first arrived in the United States, about three
years ago. lie passes the greater portion of
his time il the West Of Virginia, where lie
owns vast tracts Of land, which he is seeking
to render available. lie has studied the coun
try good deal, especially Virginia. lie is a
very active and competent man, and we'll versed
| in the commercial and industrial questions Of
the United States. He understands thor
oughly the resources Of every kind which
might contribute to the success OF the enter
prise in question, Ito which he seems willing to
devote and apply his qualifications, and these
are incontestably of the highest order.
According TO the explanations given me by
Mr.. Bcllot des Nfinicrcs, the new company will
| be q French company, at the head Of which are
Messrs Trouvc Chauvel, Sari, the Marquis de
la Laurcncie dc Charras, de Grctry, Jubina
and others.
Those gentlemen are in France. They arc
ready, Mr.. Bcllot des Minieres tells me, to place
themselves at the disposition of the admins
tration, for the purpose Of furnishing all the
information that the government may desire or
ask Of them concerning this association.
The base of the affair is the ccssion Of the
works made and those to be made
1t is true, Monsieur lc Ministre, that, accord
ing,t to the new project, the Virginia company
would he merged into the French company;
but the Virginia interest would be about one
fortcth only. Evidently, this company will
have to 50 on with the gentlemen who up to
the present have been at the head Of this affair,
and who directly or indirectly, represent the
prestige Of Virginia by their names, their birth,
their connections their fortunes, their political
influence in and out of the State What is call
ed here 1.-THE canal" that is to say, the mass Of
interests attached to this enterprise, const-
tutcs in Virginia q power which influences
every thing. ~
1t is then great advantage fofthe French
company not to isolate itself completely, to
have recourse to the Virginia element, though
feeble proportion in material and financial
point of view, and to lean upon this power,
considerable in 4 country where public opinion
is the principal lever Of affairs.
1t will be necessary moreover to combine
every thing in such q way as to obtain from
the Legislature Of Virginia the bill cedng the
works Of the canal upon the conditions in pro-
cess Of elaboration, and which will be sub
mitted by the French company to be formed.
These conditions are not yet stipulated, regu-
lated article by article can therefore only
indicate the base Of the project. 1t is at Paris
that all the information in detail may be had.
The passage OF the bill seems almost certain.
1t will be presented at the approaching scs-
sion.
have recently seen the Governor of Virgi-
MIA. He is favorable to the enterprise. Mr..
Ellis, president Of the James River and Kama
wha company, accepts the combination. 1t
has his appreciation and sympathy lie is
authorized by the company to negotiate with
Mr.. Bclot des Minicres. His language is cate
gorc and precise upon this question when he
talks with me- His support may be counted
upon. Mr. Lorraine, chief engineer Of the
canal, has given ME some special and very
valuable information. ! have likewise had oc-
casion to see several very influential persons
who seem to desire, for the interest Of