The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-09-27

railroads, towns upon the seacoast could
defy the villages in the interior, for sail
ingvesselscould not navigate our crooked
and narrow rivers hundreds of miles
with the same facility they can reach
the wharves in our capacious harbors. In
the days of canvass seaport towns could
command the commerce of the world;
but the discovery of steam as a motive
power revolutiOnized all that, and the
cities which had not already assured
their position and attained prosperity
were doomed to see the sceptre of empire
pass from their grasp, unless they were
disposed to make at least some effort to
retain it. So long as the commerce of
the world was carried OH in sailing YES
sells Norfolk's prosperity was certain and
only a matter of time, without any eff
fort on the part Of her people to insure
it. Her natural growth would of itself
have been all-suficient but the intro
duction of steam made seacoast towns
no longer necessary to commerce, and,
for the time being, the old town was left
gradually to fall to ruin and decay OH
the small business and traffic of the inn
mediate neighborhood, which could find
no other outlet for its trade. Steamers
that can take goods direct to the point
of destination on the rivers and bays
and receive their return cargoes at the
same points, possess a great advantage
over the old sailing vessels. which were
compelled to discharge their cargoes and
receive their return freights at the large
harbors on the seacoast. This is the
true cause of the gradual decadence of
cities on the seacoast like Nor
folk, which, unlike New York,
New Orleans, Boston, and other
great centres Of trade, had not be-
come fully established as commercial
marts before the era Of railroads and
steamboats,. But these facts should not
dishearten our people, and prevent them
from making all proper efforts to force
that prosperity, which will not come to
them without an effort. They must re-
double their exertions to attract bust
ness and population, and must make
the best use of the advantages they
really possess in order to compel fortune
to smile upon their enterprises. Rail-
roads must be built, canals dug, manu-
factories established, houses erected,
and lands drained. An industrious and
energetic population must be induced to
settle among us, and above all we must
encourage new comers by everyinf1uence
it is in our power to exert; by making
our city more pleasing and attractive,
and extending to them every kindness
that is calculated to lead them to cast
their fortunes with us. We must be less
selfish, and less clannish, and at all
times be ready to welcome additions to
our population and capital, come from
whatever quarter of the world they may,
and we must also be prepared to make
them comfortable and contented when
they do come, and hold out to them every
inducement to remain. Manufacture
ers, mechanics, men of business and
capitalists must be encouraged, and,
above all things, we must either build
more houses, or sell land to those who
will build them, in order to accommo-
date the increasing population, at rea-
sonable rents. We capnot expect that
people will come to Norfolk to reside
when they have to give more than they
can make by their labor for the rent of
one Of our miserable novels, especially
when they can do better elsewhere.
Superior advantages must be offered,
or Norfolk will not merely stand still a
it has done for half a century, but 1t will
sink out of sight altogether, and instead
Of rents increasing they will fall
so low that property will become value
less; and finally, like other badly man
aged town, owls and bats only will in
habit its crumbling ruins.