The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-01-19
DIRECT TRADE.

We recur to this subject this morning on
account of its vital and paramount importance
to the interests of Norfolk. The railroads run
ming southwark from this point will, as soon as
the repairs are completed, place Norfolk in
easy and rapid communication with North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama,
and Mississippi. The completion of the Nor
folk and Petersburg and the Southside rail-
roads will soon place her once more in direct
communication with Memphis. Trade will
always seek its natural outlet to market, and
it is reasonable to suppose that the products
of the Mississippi Valley and the great States
referred to, will pass over the routes already
indicated, because they are shorter, more eco
nomical, and may be relied upon throughout
the entire year. Cotton from these States
can, by the way of Norfolk, be shipped to
Europe at but little more than the freight
price now paid from more Southern ports to
the city Of New York.
Such being the advantages soon to be en-
joyed in the way of inland communication, it
becomes US to inquire what are the prospects
for the establishment of 8 line of steamships
between this port and Europe? Without be-
ing informed as to the extent OF the prepare
tons which have been made to establish the
line to France, and not desiring to be under
stood as expressing preference for any par
ticular line, we venture in this connexion
to call attention to some facts which were
elected few years before the war, while
the proposition Of the Belgian Government to
establish line between Norfolk and Antwerp
was undergoing discussion.
If we recollect Alright, the Government of
that country gave assurance that it would CO.
operate with Virginia and lend every aid in
its power towards the early establishment and
permanent support of the line. 1t offered to
give the hostages on letters through its terri
tory as an inducement to establish the line,
and as a public and permanent allowance for
its benefit. 1t proposed that its railroads
(ths property of the Government should
guarantee two hundred and fifty of the best
class of immigrant passengers per fortnight,
to facilitate the transportation Of passt myers
ever the railroads at reduced prices, and to
cost of transportation, 10 aonIG 6ne oee&nIefo
to her harbors as national vessels fires from
port or harbor dues and charges and to
guarantee to her citizens, who should invest
capital in the line, certain dividends per an
mum, which should be equal to the rates of
interest upon invested capital in Belgium.
These are certainly extraordinary advantages
which could not fail to place the enterprise
upon firm basis and we doubt not, if the
proper efforts were used, renewal of the same
proposals could be obtained. 1t was ascer-
tanned during the discussion referred TO, that
the manufacturers and merchants of Belgium
were anxious to secure direct importation into
their country of cotton, tobacco, and other
Southern products, that they might on return
find markets for the products Of their industry
and skill.
The cotton, linen, silk and woollen manu-.
features of Belgium have long been celebrated
for their excellence and beauty. In the manu-
facture of straw hats and bonnets, 10000 per-
sons find constant employment in that coun-
try. All kinds of cutlery, surgical instruments,
agricultural implements, carriages and har-
ness are made in most of the towns for expor-
tation, the quality Of which is substantial, and
the workmanship superior. The cities and
towns of Belgium, where these manufactures
exist, are connected directly with Antwerp by
railroads under the immediate control of the
government. Besides connecting all these
towns, these roads stretch out and join those
of France, Prussia, Austria and Russia, reach
ing through France by Paris, Marseilles and
other cities to the through
Prussia and Austria to Trieste and Venice on
the Adriatic, and through Russia to St. Pc
tersburg and Moscow. Antwerp is therefore
the connecting point at which steam line
from the South may lay under contribution
the entire network of the railroads of Eu-
rope.
We have collected the foregoing facts from
an interesting pamphlet upon the subject of
direct trade, published sometime before the
war, and we reproduce them now simply for
the purpose of reminding our readers what
may be accomplished by a vigorous, well-di-
rected and determined effort To say nothing
of the cotton of the South, if the tobacco,
wheat, flour and Indian corn made for expor-
tation in Virginia alone, could be concentrated
at our wharves, a foreign trade would at once
spring up, which would regenerate the Old
Dominion, relieve her from commercial vas
salags, restore her to the position from which
she has been gradually sinking since the earlier
DAYS of the Republic, and make her port the