The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-09-08
AN IMPORTANT ARRIVAL.

AN IMPORTANT ARRIVAL.
We informed our readers some days ago of
the intention of a large party of gentlemen
of wealth and influence in England to visit
this country in a short time. The following
article from the New York Daily Ne,os, an
nounces the important fact of the arrival of
the party in New York by steamer Scotia.
So far as the South isinterested in the mission
of these capitalists, she would have preferred
to present herself under more favorable aus
pices The effects of four years war, fought
upon her soil, will be readily seen by these
estute capitalists. They will find many of
the great lines of railway upon which much
of their capital has been expended, rent and
torn by the raids of contending hosts. They
will find our lands deserted our homes burned,
our negroes scattered and starving, and thou
sands of our people impoverished. But they
5 viii also find still remaining amid the general
wreck, that sterling integrity, characteristic
of the South; claiming no exemption from
responsibility of debt on account of disasters
little short of humiliation ~ 7s-2gf41 -@-
a A haTbef such as we have here must cer-
tainly attract the attention of this dele
CATION The Board Of Trade ought to
extend to them an invitation to visit our
city. Blythe time theyreach this point, it is
to be hoped our railroads will be in working
order: They may then see not only our city,
but they may take look at3the back country
from which we derive our support. ~ !. -.oa
81 THE ARRIVAL OF FOREIGN 5CAPI-
7z91 TALISTS. 59q
By the arrival of the Scotia, yesterday a
large number of our countrymen and others
from various sections of the country shad the
qualification Of welcoming quite number of
gentlemen from England, who are the repre-
sentatives of British and European capital,
and who are especially interested in railroad
enterprise on this continent. The party of
visitors consists of thirty-two persons, many of
them distinguished for their wealth, others for,
their scientific achievements, and others, also,
for making known, through their literary
ability, the progress of commercial enterprises
which may benefit mankind. Five in the
last classification, are, gentlemen who come
here as representatives of the chief London
journals, and they will regularly report
through their correspondence whatever they
may perceive in their tour through this Wes-
rern world that may be worthy Of the atten-
ton Of foreign capitalists 81" ''|''' 1si1s
1t will be perceived at once that this is no
trivial mission. We have had soldiers, refor-
mers and even princes to make the tour of this
country in public way, but never have we
had SO important body to welcome as the
present one. The party have come at an i'm
portant epoch in our history. Their purpose
is to carefully survey our railroad system, the
character and working arrangements of our
roads, and particularly to notice those which
have been built by the aid Of foreign apital.
That they may have every facility for learning
all that is to be known on these important sub
jects, special trains will be provided for them,
that they may be transported from point to
point with ease, security and promptitude, and
with as little fatigue as may be possible while
fulfilling so onerous a mission. Our principal
railroad men of the Northern and Middle
States have been active in addressing them
selves to these guests of the country, and such
OF our Southern capitalists and enterprizing
managers Of railroads as are here are equally
men of so great influence abroad to acknowl-
edge of the vast profit to be derived from the
application of capital to the wants of the rail-
roads companies in the South Theenterprises
in railroad in the South are not like expert,
mental affairs, or like those in which compet-
ing capital evef-designs and creates the means
of transportation Every road in the South
is necessity fthe population and essential
to the increase of production, andwith the new
order Of things will become vastly more re-
munerative than at any former period. Hence
capital may be safely directed towards the
South. The exhaustion of the war calls for
repairs and renovation, and capital well appli-
ed will more wisely be expended, we think
on Southern railroads than on those which
are under the disadvantage of great and still
increasing competition. However, the gentle
men on this mission, who represent an enor-i
NOUS amount of British capital, win be able
to draw their own conclusions after they have
made their surveys, and we shall be much
surprised fin their reports to European cap
italists, with whom they are associated, they
do not justify the views we have expressed with !
regard to the splendid field for investments
now open at the South . s-ise $50 osT
99gSe1q 40 I; ri