The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-05-26
A DREAM WHICH PROMISES TO
COME TRUE.

Element of the Peninsula, that great towns
were to spring up along the margin Of the
James and York. III
The names of many of our counties, as for
example, James City, Charles City, and
Elizabeth City, show this belief of the early
settlers in the ultimate growth of great GEN.
tres of trade and commerce.
At Hampton, company of London mer-
chants laid off all that large tract known as
Little England, with streets, and parks, and
lots, all duly numbered
But, the dream of the old traders was never
realized. There always was in that region
an abiding faith that at some blessed and re-
mote future, Newport's News would expand
itself into a town, and it seems now that the
vision is approaching its realization in part
at least IS. a.ie5 "a. ,.1s.. ,5q ..s.a.l q.
We learn from the Richmond Wing that
books will be opened at the Office of Messrs.
Lyons g. AUGusT in that city, on the %
of June, for stock subscriptions to the pro-
iected railway from Richmond to Newport's
News. s...-. ,.,...e IN ..i...
The estimated cost of the work is $3,OO0,-
900, of which our authority informs us IL al
only $4,000 remains to be taken" The
capitalists of the West are engaged in this
scheme; and are seeking the vast natural out
let, pointed out by the supreme wisdom OF
General Washington, years, years ago.
That outlet is through the Capcs of Vir-
ginia In addition to this, the scheme for the
construction of the Kanawha Canal is noise
lessly, but certainly progressing, and we trust
that we shall live to see a vast tide of COM
MERGE pouring through and into the State.
In this announcement there is much to oc-
casion us refection-$2, 100000 have been
subscribed to build this road, with very little
noise, and apparently with very little trouble.
This is a lesson to us which should not be
disregarded, and we trust that measures will
soon be inaugurated here---not in a spirit of
rivalry, but in enc of generous emulation---to
organize and put in operation, the society in
our midst for the introduction of labor The
Valley is moving in this matter; Richmond
is at work i; agents are going abroad to secure
proper class of immigrants, aud we are as
yet inactive. We have already shown that the
demand for labor in the country is great we
are in position to make this demand availa-
Bile fer our own advantage and for the benefit
of the State. If we can organize-and it can
be done-a system by which orders for immi-
grants can be sent abroad, we can secure in
coming cargoes, which will sustain our pro-
jected line, Of which the pioneer steamer will
$ BON be here.
To this end organization and energy must
be displayed. Active and intelligent agents
TO canvass the wealthy parts of the State
would be able to establish local agencies, and
with the establishment of these agencies the
work SO far as the incoming cargoes would
be done. This is not the least bit visionary.
Say these steamers make twelve trips per
annum say that they bring 500 immigrants;
and it appears that the aggregate will be on
ly 5000. Now, we know very we'll that we
have need of ten or twenty times that num-
Der. But the 5000 would sustain the line
provided the produce was here
Col. Lambs experience demonstrates the
fact that this can be secured and now with
this march of Richmond to the sea to instruct
us, we should grid up our loins and enter the
race to win our share of the glittering prizes.
Let our merchants and bankers, at least
discuss this matter among themselves, and
agree upon some plan of action in regard to
this grave matter, by way of support to the
society authorized by law.
The Tribune is of opinion that if we could
ship the trifling sum of 100000 600 in
gold within the next month, it would
probably save us twice that sum in keeping
up the prices of orr cotton, tobacco, cheese
and other staples" In view of this statement,
we beg the Tribune to recall its wretched
opposition to the plans of introducing i'm
migrants into the South and to allow it self
to behold the patent fact that the only mode
of restoring the old balance of trade is to be
found in the productive energies of the
South
When commodities are produced which
have their price fixed in the markets of the
world, such as the two great staples of cotton