The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-12-09

miles below the landing from which the
boat started, and the river is more than q
mile wide. Such was the violence of the
wind and force of the current that if other
boats had been at hand they could not have
rescued the men from watery grave.
TRADE BETWEEN RICHMOND AND TENNES-
sEE.-During the present season, through
the enterprise of one or two firms in this
city, large amount Of wheat and corn has
been brought to Richmond for sale from
Northern Georgia, Tennessee, and South
western Virginia, which would otherwise
have gone to Baltimore, Atlanta, or SaVan-
nah. In addition to this, we learn that
quite recently several carloads Of live hogs
have arrived here from Knoxville and
points between that place and Bristol.
That these branches Of trade between
Richmond and Knoxville can be largely
increased, and that the profits now realized
by northern merchants from traffic along
the Virginia and Tennessee can be turned
hitherward, we feel assured if our mer-
chants will only turn their attention more
earnestly and energetically to the subject
Baltimore to-day gets the bulk Of the
trade between Christiansburg, Va, and
Chattanooga, Tenn, in the way of grain,
haxseed, cattle, and hogs, while Phl!adcl-
phia chiefly secures the dried fruit, feathers,
beeswax, etc. And now, why is this Sim
ply because drummers from those cities are
constantly out in that direction, not only
buying and selling, but exchanging their
wares for the articles we have enumerated.
1t is plain that the farmer or producer IN
l.. - lo&l l,ynv ron RI
convenient to buy from those to whom he
sells, and that he will much more likely
deal with man on the spot than through
letter with a man at distance whose
face he has never seen. And all this
trade is lost to Richmond notwithstand-
ing that the difference in freight is
in our favor. For instance, the freight
on frst-class goods from Knoxville to Rich
nond is $l.2l per 100 pounds; while 1t is
81 40 to Norfolk, 81 60 to Baltimore, Sl.SO
10 New York, and $l.90 to Philadelphia
and Boston. The freight on wheat, too, is
ten cents in favor of Richmond as compared
with Baltimore moreover, the charges IN
Baltimore are higher than in Richmond in
some respects. If our merchants, then,
would, as far as practicable, take such
steps for securing the trade referred to as
Baltimore and other northern houses have
done, backed up by the advantages in our
favor, they could enlarge their business
very materially. Of this view we have
the proof before US in the fact that gen.
tleman connected with house of this city,
during two trips recently made, secured on
the Virginia and Tennessee line large con-
signments of grain and other produce
which he never would have got by any
other means than canvass in person. At
Bristol this gentleman met five representa-
tives Of Baltimore houses, all Of whom de-
clared that he was the first competitor from
Richmond they had met during the season.
Not confning himself to the railroad towns,
he penetrated into the country, and secured
considerable trade from various country
stores, and found that the people had little
or no acquaintance with Richmond houses,
while at the same time they were anxious
to do business with US; and they remarked
that they thought Richmond didn't care
about their trade, inasmuch as it didn't
seek it. They were perfectly familiar,
however, with firms in Baltimore and other
northern cities, through their representa-
tives who came among them.
On the other hand, our Richmond mer-
chants seem, as general thing, not to have
a due appreciation of the vast trade IN the
region alluded to; in fact, it looks as If
that part of the world was an almost terra
incognita to many of them. ,r
81 In Knoxville and Morristown there are
packing establishments, and the people
there and along the line expressed their sur
prise that there was no packing-house here
Many of our readers are probably not
aware of the rapid progress being made in
the construction of the Cincinnei, Cumber-
land Gap and Charleston railroad. This
road, tapping as it does the Virginia and
Tennessee, will carry to Charleston, in
almost direct line, the trade which, by
timely effort, might be secured to Rich
mond.
About twenty miles from Morristown, on
the Cincinnati, Cumberland Gap, and
Charleston railroad, is Clifton. This place,
in February last, hadn't a single store now
there are six-showing that the region is q
richly producing enc. There is, also, a
railroad styled the Knoxville and Kentucky.
This nlso taps the Virginia and Tennessee,
and will bring the produce Of southern Ken
lucky to that line, and thus place on it q
large amount of trade for those who will
seek it.