Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-10-09
Letter from Norfolk.
Correspondence of the Baltimore Commercial. ]
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Correspondence of the Baltimore Commercial
NORFOLK, Va, October 9th, 1865.
decided manifestation Of the approach of stern
winter was experienced in this latitude yesterday
morning. The wind was keen as a Decembers
Northwestern rendering overcoats and fires absolutely
necessary to personal comfort During the day a
large number of sailing craft sought shelter at the
anchorage of Hampton Roads, so fierce was the gale
outside.
Like many other matters, the recent war has com
pletey revouonized the order of things in this sec
ton of the country few years ago. merchants from
the North rarely ever thought of establishing them
selves in business here but 10 what change has
been wrought in four years. The principal firms are
now gentlemen from the North. They have invested
largely in real estate and the time is not far dis
tant when these Yankees, they are termed, will
render Norfolk of the principal seaports in the
South. Previous to the rebellion, the residents of
this city hooted at the idea of supplying the city with
pure water, deeming it almost impossibility to in
troduce the water into their midst, notwithstanding
that great blessing flows in inexhausble quantities
less than miles from here. ne matter however
has been agtated in earnest by the residents
and vote upon the question will be had on the 18th
inst That the majority of the people will favor the
contemplated improvement no one here doubts With
the introduction of water factories of every character
will be reared upon what is now regarded as useless
property emigration will be turned hither business
ofal kinds will receive new impetus and the F. F.
VS.. will then learn that Yankee enterprise is not
myth, but solid reality.
At present, the commerce of Norfolk is dependent
upon the products of the counties of Eastern North
Carolina The preference is thus rendered because of
the oceanic communications possessed by Norfolk
with other points, The question is asked has North
Carolina no other means of communication with the
seaboard save through Norfolk? The answer is thus:
There are Beaufort, Morehead City, Newbem and
Wilmington. Newbern is associated with the vast
commercial centres of the country by Hateras Inlet
which has depth Of water for vessels of seven and
eight feet draught.
Beaufort is of the III ost secure, pleasant and
advantageous ports the entire Atlantic coast-ac-
cessible to vessels of the largest class, with depth on
the bar sufficient to pass vessels drawing seUeae,
feet. Then there is Wilmington, the Cape Fear
River only twenty miles from the ocean, affords nav-
CATION for vessels of considerable capacity and
draught which chains the whole State of North Caro-
lima by means of the Weldon, Charlotte and Man
chester Railroads.
The Norfolk harbor is, or rather should be, equal
| to any on the entire line of Atlantic coast 1t is
capacious and safe, but not deep. Fifty years ago
| there was extraordinary depth of water here.
The Great Eastern could have entered the port and
discharged cargo at almost any of the wharves At
that time where depth of thirty feet was obtained
but eight can now be found. This has been caused
by the vast deposits OF dirt from the streets and
| neighboring streams for half century The ques-
ton of deepening the harbor WILL it is thought. be
taken up by the United States Government as she :.
| vastly interested in that way.
The important question Of emigration" is another
| matter now under serious consideration by the land
| holders of Virginia. Farmers and planters in the
western portion of the State directing their at
tenton to the importation of foreigners to conduc
| the operations of agriculture. One gentleman il
| Charlotte has in his employ thirty-two Swedes al
laborers. They have proved to be patient persever
ing, and industrious. 1t is claimed that the intro
duction of this foreign element will exert good in
fuenee on the part of the colored population, whC
have beguiled themselves with the idea that exemp
ton from slavery is freedom from labor. 1t could no
be otherwise than that confusion will exist consequent
upon the great change which has occurred in the re
ations Of the two races but time will gradually work