Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-06-11

DIRECT Trade VITA EURoPE.-We
published recently the proceedings OF a
meeting held at Morristown, to take The
iniliatory steps toward establishing q
line of Tennessee and Virginia steam.
ships, opening thereby n channel Of d.
rect trade between Memphis and Liver
pool pia Norfolk. We have since re-
ceiyed from the committee appointed BY
the Morristown meeting the following, 10
which we call the attention Of those in
terested in the movement: rr~.
MoRRIsrowE, Tenn. June 4. 1888.
EDIroRs LrDoER: We, a committee,
appointed at a meeting OF the citizens OF
Morristown and vicinity. held on the
30Ih Of May last, do, by their expressed
wish, invite the citizens Of your commu'
nifty to appoint delegation to meet at
Bristol, Tenn, on the 10Th day OF July
next, for the purpose OF inaugura,ing the
organization Of Tennessee and Virginia
Steamship Transportation Company, TO
establish line Of steamers between
Norfolk, Va, and Liverpool, England.
As ready market, with facilities for
reaching the same, commands at all
times the highest price for the products
Of country, thereby bringing greater
return TO the producer and enhancing the
value Of the land, it appears obvious to
our minds that the agricultural aud com
mercial interests OF Virginia, Tennessee,
and other Southern States, will be greatly
benefited by the establishment Of such a
line Of steamers, to run in connection
with the great railway thoroughfare from
Memphis, Tenn, to Norfolk, Va. 49,.
In proof Of this position. we submit TO
your consideration the following facts
and figures: tits well known that Eu-
rope furnishes the United States with a
market for nearly all her surplus agri-
cultural products, such as corn, wheat,
-four, meat, tobacco and cotton. These
six enumerated articles furnish nine
tenths OF the export tonnage and value
of the whole export trade from the Uni
ted States. Then, we will consider the
products along this line OF railway, near
one thousand miles in length, and add to
this the State road of Georgia, the Nash
vile and Chattanooga road, and the
roads running into Norfolk from the
cotton region of North Carolina,
and il is palpable that the ton.
mage to be furnished from these vast
regions will more than suffice to support
line Of steamers from Norfolk to Llv-
erpoel. Twenty five to thirty-fve thou
sand tons will support line of semi
monthly steamers. East Tennessee
alone will furnish at least eight thousand
tons in corn, wheat, -four and meat yearly
in support of such line. Middle and
West Tennessee, the counties adjacent
to Memphis, North Georgia, North Caro-
lima and Virginia will furnish in the same
products, together with tobacco and cot
ton, we can safely estimate, five times as
much. But the citizens OF the above
named sections can better estimate the
annual amount Of tonnage that will go
in this direction from their respective
sections.
All classes of our citizenship far
mer, the merchant, the mechanic, the
labor, and, in fact, everybody in the
States of Virginia, Tennessee, North
Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas
and Georgia have an interest in this
enterprise. The railroad companies
throughout those States would have their
business largely augmented in the In.
crease of freight and travel over their
lines by the establishment of this line of
steamers Emigrsnts from the shores of
the OLD World would seek homes among
us. ard bring to our bills and valleys
that skilled labor, industry and enter
prise which we so much need. In the
matter of the transportation of corn and
wheat alone it will save for us large
amount of money annually. Instead
of shipping from Norfolk to New
York, and thence all the way to
Liverpool why not ship directly to
Liverpool from Norfolk, and thus save to
ourselves the money that goes to New
York for freigbts, commissions, hand
ling, storage and pro6ts2 We can only
do this by establishing a steamship line
of our own, between Norfolk and Liver
pool. :,
We hope that you will interest yourself
in this enterprise, and bring the matter
fully before your fellow citizens at an
early day, and advise us as to any action
your people may take in sending dele
gates to the general meeting, to be held
at Bristol, Tenn, on the 10Th of July
next, in order to enable us to have neces-
sary arrangements made for the accom-
mediation Of the. delegates.
Very respectfully,
DRURY MORRIS,
~ Il H.nnrCpu