The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-12-02
TRANSPORTATION.

sented under the above head on yesterday, we
have an article from the Boston Courier, of
Wednesday. which says;
"The Chicago papers state that there is
serious diversion Of trade from that city to St.
Louis, consequent upon the high rates of rail-
road freight. Nearly all the produce of Iowa
and Minnesota is now seeking market at st.
Louis. The rates of freight on the river are
small compared with the rates charged by the
railroads to Chicago, and in this way they are
losing not only large portion of the produce
trade of the northwest but also good propor-
ton Of the mercantile traffic, for it is an inevi-
table result that people will prefer to buy in
the same market in which, they sell.
The Western railroad companies compe-
ting with river routes, may rely upon it that
they cannot maintain their present high rates
Of freight without bringing into existence
powerful steamboat transportation which will
for years sap the products of their roads"
Thus we see the products of the Northwest
turning towards the waters of the Mississippi
for cheap transportation to the Seaboard.
Once on these waters, we believe it can be
demonstrated, that they can be placed in Nor
folk for less mney than in any other Allan
tic port. At the first glance it would seem,
that the natural outlet for produce collected
at st. Louis, would be to New Orleans, and
thence by sea to New York or Europe. The
difficulties of navigation to be encountered in
the Cult, and on entering the mouth of the
Mississippi, are so formidable, together with
the highlcost Of towage and the enormous port
charges at New Orleans, has hitherto rem
dered, and must continue to fix that route as
one OF the most expensive and dangerous which
has yet been attempted. With the completion
Of the james River and Kanawha Canal we
should have safe inland route from St. Louis
Or Cairo to Norfolk, avoiding the necessity of
"hreaking bulk" if desired, from point of ship
ment to point of destination on Chesa ppeake
Bay.
These are not alone our views. Years ago,
as far back as 1868, the Importance of the
Virginia Water Line was fully impressed upon
the leading minds of the country A leading
New York city journal, in 1858, speaking of
this scheme, declared it to be full Of grandeur
ard o consequences" But even at an earlier
day, the great mind of Washington fully real
lied the importance of trade line which,
starting from fer into Kansas, runs East al
most directly to the harbor of Norfolk, pass
ing the great centres of Western and Interior
trade. A line of such overwhelming power
that while it would draw a large portion of
the trade of the Free States no item, of South
ern trade could ever 60 North of it, except
for special consumption a line which would
control in whole or in part the trade drainage
Of twelve of the largest and most fertile, and
eventually the most wealthy and populous
States of the Union line which would be-
come the immediate great trade artery of seven
or eight millions, and eventually of fifty mil
lions Of people, with an annual trade noao,
amounting to five hundred millions of dollars.
and increasing with each revolution of Time.
A line which would thus tie the great West
Northwest, and Interior to us by bonds that
would never be broken--which would bring
out the latent but unparalleled and almost
inappreciabls geological resources of Virginia
to thorough development, fully employ her
manufacturing, and push her agricultural, re-
sources to the EXTREMIST point Of production
which would impinge upon Norfolk trade
that would change her fortunes as if by magic
and make her eventually, if not speedily, one
Of the greatest trade centres of the Union, if
not Of the world-which would, within the
next quarter Of a century. give an enhance
ment of thousand millions to the State and
city property Of Virginia, and many hundred
millions to that of her cities alone. In great
brief, proposition which involves mightler
results, and vaster social, commercial and
financial changes tl.an the continent and per-
haps this world has ever yet seen and in com.
parison with which the Importance of the EN-
TIRE railroad system of Virginia sinks into
utter insignifcance.
In further confirmation of the Importance
of the early completion of the water Line,
we again quote from an admirable pamphlet
on the subject, by the late D. 7 Bisbie, of this
city:
"The master mind of John Marshall inves-
tigated the subject and earnestly advocated 1
the measure Jefferson dreamed of it too, for
at best the conceptions of even these great
minds, were but dreams in comparison with
the wonderful changes that the last half CEN
fury have made plain to the commonest vision.
In later times, Joseph Cabsll, another great