The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-08-07
The Virginia Seaboard Tho Missis-
sIppi and California.

: The SIHla.d Scdoocku AAC CNlSSlS-
|. sippi and California.
A writer in the Washington Chronicle is
advocating with great zeal the line Of i'm
provemcnts from the tidewater of Virginia
to the Ohio and the Mississippi. He dc.
clares that the scheme of improvement by
this route is one that "will pay,"bcing the
shortest, compared with New York, by
about two hundred miles. at Is not he
says, "a simple matter of southern devei-
"opment, but one of gain, OF large di'i-
'dcnds and profitable investment. Not
"only a measure of justice to Virginia ana
"Sorth Carolina, but A GRAND oFPoRi'-
"NlTY To MAKE MONEY" lie adds, 'ha'h
will be. moreover. an opportunity 10
swim golden opinions from our late enc
"mies":i i. e., an opportunity for northern
CAPITALISTS to conciliate the people of Viz
pinia and the South, and the more eiiectu-
ally to restore the Union. This is q very
correct opinion rs to the consequences Of
large investments by northern moncyed
men; and the writer is equally correct in
his opinion as to the profitable naturc Of
the investment upon this Virginia line of
Improvement to connect the Atlantic with
the Mississippi Valley, and thence to Cali
fornia.
lie estimates the distance from Cincin-
natl to Hampton Roads at six hundred and
twenty miles but the distance from Gin
cinnati to tidewater, phis city, where
produce will strike sea-going vessels, is
only about five hundred miles. To City
Point it is five hundred and sixty miles.
But when the Newport News railroad is
buil,-as We trust it will be-the distance
will be shortened at least fifty miles,
making the distance by rail from Cincin-
natl 10 Hampton Roads 1--WE hundred and
seventy miles. The railroad route will be
ample for all light ireights going west but
We shall have, We trust, the water line IN
time and that and the railroad combined
will be equal TO al! the demands OF trans
portation TO and from the Mississippi Val
lev. While on this point, we may say that
inquiry has been made here by persons ill.,
tercstcd in the Niagara canal, whether
MesSrs. BELLoT DES MINIEREs BROTHERS y
Co.. would likely execute their contract.
Whatever the motive for the inquiry, it
can but show the Importance Of the canal.
Even il those gentlemen merely desired to
take measures, if possible, 10 defeat its
construction, that would but show that it
is q serious competitor with the Niagara
canal. But il Is fair 10 infer that they de-
sire 10 finish il to the Ohio, since they in
quircd further, whether the authorities Of
the canal and the representatives Of the
State would be willing to transfer the con-
tract to the Niagara company. OF course
the latter part Of the question could not
be answered. The Mc>,rs. BrLLoT, VT
believe, have manifested thus far no great
show Of ability 10 proceed with the canal
but as peace is re1stabliShcd in Europe, II
will be soon time for them to make report
as TO progress and prospects.
The writer in the Chronicle is risht. He
says correctly that "Cincinnati may be
"consideIcd As the central point for the
western and southwestern trade and
"travcl aud here the railroad system Of
"Virginia and North Carolina should aim,
"for here they can meet competition with
"advantage and enjoy a trade which no
~"rival can ever impair. We have shown
"that the distance is less over this route
Ethan any other, and that the grades are
"not only less, but almost q dedd trol
"when compared with the grades Of all
"other lines from east to west"
The writer continues:
"Hampton has the finest harbOr in the
world, and the most magnificent site for u
city-a city that such a road would COM
maud 10 spring up with a more wonderful
growth than the famous cities OF the West.
Here q steam marine Of the greatest size
and power could lind ample depth of wa
ter in which to ride, and an unlimited
supply Of mineral fuel for long ocean
voyages. Local interests at Richmond, Pc
tcrsburg, and Norfolk may oppose such a
scheme but would not all such opposition
be simple folly and u "dog-in-the-manger"
policy! 1t must he evident to all practi-
cal men that none OF those cities are SO
situated as to command II great export
trade, and any attempt by them to con-
centrate i'll competition with
the great cities of the North would be
utterly impracticable. At Hampton, how
ever, the case is far different, because here
all the Virginia and many of the North
Carolina cities could concentrate their
trade, and command u traffic which would
at once be important. This, then, would
bring its return direct, and consequently
benefit thereby every interior market. In
connection with the great artery proposed
from this point to the West, it would not
be unreasonable to hope for q fair show OF
the vast now concentrated at
New York and other enterprising northern
cities"
The writer is mistaken so far as he APP
prehends opposition from Richmond to the
projects he refers to. Richmond is anxious
for them, and is perfectly willing to take
her chances for the trade they may COM
mand, whether domestic or foreign.