Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-10-18
DIRECT TRADE WITH EUROPE.
Letter from Commodore Maury.
VA. MlL'Y INST, LEXINGTON, VA, /
-'.a@ October 18th, 1869. !

rnents to she Executive .niycee >.
Lynchbur& Agricultural a4a Mocha l.
cal Society for the honor of the mem
bership conferred, and express my
thanks for the kind invitation to tLeir
Fair.
regret my inability to attend. But
they have my best wishes for a success
full Fair, and I am sure it will be bene-
fetal to the two great branches of
human industry which it is intended to
encourage.
Let us add commerce. to agricultural
industry and mechanical skill, and we
have then three elements, which when
: united in due proportion will crown
society with material prosperity Of the
richest sort.
g Lynchburg is doing what she can to
advance two of these three interests; let
us combine with them the third, and
invoke not only the aid Of the whole
State, but the cooperation of the West
ern' and Southern States also, together
with that of the inhabitants of the vast
inland region beyond the Allegheny
Mountains, who are yet to find among
the harbors Of Virginia their nearest and
best seaport. ia.tt
For forty years the public press has
been preaching up direct trade between
Europe and the South as the greatest of
boons.
The Dutch are now freely offering it
to us but the people Of Virginia have
manifested so much Indifference to their
proposition to raise the capital and es-
tablish line of noble steamships be-
tween Flushing and Norfolk, that we
stand in danger of loss by default for
it has required the greatest exeltions
from few of us who stand out for
Norfolk ~ keep it from New York, and
hold the question of the port on this
Size in allegiance till the people interest
ed in the Chesapeake as an outlet to the
sea can be sounded.
The Dutch are determined to have
line of steamers for direct trade with the
United States. They intend to COM
menee with monthly line, and then AS
business may justify, to multiply YES
sells even to daily line if need be, for
they have the capital. ass
Their first preference was for Norfolk,
but Norfolk manifested SO much indif-
ference upon the subject that New York
grew in favor. %
Last week convention was held in
Utrecht by the Dutch upon the ques-
ton of direct trade with America. The
interest in favor of New York as their
American port for their line was very
strong. Seeing that Norfolk was losing
ground by her apathy, her little band
of true friends, both on that side and
this, exerted themselves to have the
question to the American port adjourned
until we could wake up the people
here, aud secure this important line of
steamers, if not for Norfolk at least for
the Chesapeake Bay.
The convention adjourned last Satur-
day, and Sunday cable telegram from
Commodore Jansen, its president, was
received in Lynchburg for me 1--WE have
no Geographic line to Lexington) with
the sententious announcement, "Final
decision destination as to port post
,poned" I'D
Thus breathing spell is secured and
it becomes the friends of direct trade to
bestir themselves, and see that such
friendly corporation and seasonable
encouragement as our Dutch friends
require be forthcoming.
All that they ask is friendly recep-
tion, and business-like guarantees
against loss. This, seeing that they are
willing to furnish tie capital, seems
reasonable enough. For as the business
is rev, and the advantages Of success
will rebound as much to the genera
welfare Of Virginia as OF liz -
does not seem either fair or req. nable
to expect them to furnish all the capital
and then run all the risks. t q iiA
After Norfolk know of no city in
the State that has a more lively interest
in this line of steamers, or that would
be more benefited by its success, than
Lynchburg.
The saving of distance and time by
sea has now become to be as g.eat a
matter for commerce as is the saving Of
time and distance by rail or canal. The
present route from Lynchburg to
the great highway of nations and thence
Ia the markets of the world is round
about. 10 reach the heart of Europe it
'has--instead of going direct to Flushing
which is the most central and convent
ent and best port for more than one
hundred millions of continental consul
mers Of the products of Virginia--to go
to New York, thence to Liverpool, and
from there to the Continent. a93 II
y The port and other charges levied
upon it by the middle men of N. York
max merchant princes there and create
wealthy power and influence for these
cities. Now take the map and see how
much distance this direct line from Nor
folk to Flushing would cut off; then con-
suit the ledgers of the New York and
Liverpool commerce and forwarding
houses and you may form some idea of
the magnitude of the charges which
this direct line would save to producers
among us. .51.'..... '.,....4-....a II
Lynchburg has a fine agricultural
and mineral country tributary to her,
and though an inland town, her factors
may, with this line of steamers, ship
and trade az directly to and with Hol-
land, Belgium, Northern France, Ger7
many, Bavaria, &c., as she now does
with any of the New England States.
= Last year Memphis and Nashville
sent more cotton via Lynchburg to Nor