The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-08-01
NEW YORK AND NORFOLK.
NAV York Tribune

The various Influences of Trade In
the New and Old World-Their Ten
aency Toward New York as Natu-
ral Centre-The Pacific Railroad
Norfolk our Future Rival on the At
Iautic Coast-The Future of the Old
Dominion. .--..,. +
The physical geography of the continent
,he trending of the Atlantic Coast from the
aulf of Mexico to the mouth of the Hudson
n. general convergencs of the Great Lakes
IN south eastwardly direction, the eastward
,aaection of the Mississippi, between the
Gulf and Lake Superior, the flow of the Mis-
souri to this extreme point of detection, and
.bo course of the Ohio to the same central
noint of confluence OF these vast rivers, all
foyor the truth Of the theory that, not only
hos New York already become the CONNER
rial center of the Republic, but that, at some
npriod in the future, she is destined to WELD
tbe commercial scepter OF the whole world.
There are hundred circumstances favor
mo this theory. The ever-increasng inter-
course by steam: the near completion of tee-
aranh communication between the pillows of
tba Atlantic; the opening of trade with the
Fast Indies, China, Japan, through by canal
from the Levant to the Gulf of Persia; the in
creasing facilities for reaching the Baltic, the
Caspian Sea, and the far East; the Panama
Railway; the proposed ship canal along the
valley Of the Mississippi; the speedy construc-
ton of the Pacific Railway; the immense
wealth of our gold-yisld and, last and greatest
Of all, the disenthralment of the country from
the whitening curse of Slavery; seem calcu-
lated to impress the mind with the idea that
the currents of commerce around the globe
are taking central course in the midst of the
northern temperate zone, and that some city
Of the natural advantages presented by Man
haitian Island is to be the grand emporium Of
the worlds civilization and trade. -r
New York is situated in the midst Of this
great producing belt of the earth, and pos
sesses more elements Of commercial power
than any other city. 1tis difficult to see why
the worlds commerce should mach longer
pay tribute to the emporium of the British
isles. Splendidly situated as, London is she
is out Of the center of the great producing
zone, wherein are found the chief elements of
subsistence and trade. The influence which
eompels the flow of trade in. her direction is
an artificial one and as the scepter Of COM
melce passed from Amsterdam to London, SO
must the latter, however reluctantly, yield it
to her more youthful rival Of the western
hemisphere. la aa ez .sd 9as
This theory is general one; but aside from
it, there are considerations of local nature
which confirm New York as the great axis of
Notwithstanding trade, and bid fair to secure
fur her a glorious future. The enlargement
OF the Erie and Oswego Canal, and the APP
plicaton of steam power to canal navigation,
weuld secure to this city the control of the
great Lake Basin, which would otherwise to
certain extent. pass down the st. Lawrence
though the Indictment climate of Lower
Canada fayors tbs diversion Of trade from
that river, through Lake Champlain and the
Oswego Canal, to the Empire City. In this
direction at least, our supremacy lis beyond
doubt, if a wise admnistr alton of the State
Government shall make our canals toll-free,
whenever necessary to prevent the diversion
Of trade from us,
Regarding our coastwise business, we are
certainly insured against competition. The
interior trade which must pass along the
great railways, and flow through the valleys
of the Mississippi the Missouri and the Ohio,
and their numerous tributaries, affording aa
aggregate inland navigation of over 10000
miles, renders our commercial attraction para
mount to every other, and becomes yearly
more irresistible, taxing the capital and en-
terprise Of the whole country to give due
course to the currents of trade, which, by
law of commsrcs as sure as the law of gravita-
ton, are carrying to our wharvss the business
Of the entire Republic. e
To this end the Ohio river should be i'm
proved, and would be, could the men who
~,
the petty strifes and corruptions Of politics,
and, like statesmen, seek to promote the in
seFests of the country. This mode of i'm
provement should consist OF a judicious sys-
tenn OF wng-dams, without locks, combined
with the plan Of the lamented Ellet This
would secure, at trihing cost, permanent
channel OF trade, with capacity, many times
a. great, as that of the Erie Canal enlarged,
rom Cairo to Pittsburgh. From Pittsburgh
70 Orleans, the Allegheny could be made ma
nhsable, by locks and dams, opening them
larough the Genessee Valley to Rochester, a
water line, SO that boats could pass from New
York to the Ohio River, without breaking
Dulk' The geographical feature. which
seems most opposed to this general view, is
me Mississippi opening into the Gulf with an
Interior navigation Of more than 20, 900 miles
This might seem to designate New Orleans,
Us the city, destined to control the commerce
Oh the valley of the Father of Waters.
.. But the tropical climate of the Crescent
olty precludes the possibility of her becoming
me commercial emporium of the great val
sys, so as to counterfeit the permanent in
1uence Of New York Before the war, New
iork's attractions, in commercial point of
View, inverted the natural how of the Missis-
appi, and was fast subjecting the whole in
terlor to her imperial sway; and even the de-
,ense of New Orleans 10 the war of 1912, and
ner chief commercial strength in peace-the
cotton 4bales-were seen crowding the decks
o. d! steamers upward bound to Cincinnati and
r rlas's6surgh; and they will soon make their
way BY railway, from Memphis and Cinein-
"a1l, via Norfolk to New York A1es 2 s3s
Inc completion of the Pacific Railway will
Contribute immensely to the commercial gran
asur Of the metropolis. If, in the far future,