The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-04
NATIONAL BOARD OF TRADE.

ut Washington to be Abolished--A Double
Track Railroad from the West TO the Allan.
INSTRUMENTATION by Rail vs.. Watcr-In.
teresting Debate.
RICHMOND, Dec. 2, 1859.
Shortly after twelve O'Clock yesterday the National
Board OF trade was called to order by The President
Frederick Fraiey OF Philadelphia. who, in o few
very happy and pleasing remarks, introduced the
Rev. DR.. Minnegerode, OF this city. A prayer was
offered by this distinguished divine that was ex-
ceedingly appropriate and fitting to tho occa-
sion. An address of welcome, already pub
lished in the HERALD, by the chairman OF
the Richmond Chamber OF Commerce, which
was loudly applauded by the members OF
the Board was read Business was declared in
order and the report Of the Executive Council was
then read which concluded with an affecting tribute
OF respect to the memory OF the late James II.
Branch. OF Ihs city, ono OF the Vice Presidents OF
the Board.
The meeting was held IN the hall OF the House OF
Delegates, OF late devoted to political meetings,
legislative caucuses &C., OF purely Southern re-
publican cafte, and in the dgni1ed appearance OF
the body there was striking ana marked contrast
to those usually seen here. One hundred ana six
members compose the Board, from thirty OF the
most prominent commercial cities OF the United,
and 1t may be said that the Senate OF tie United
physique than Is tho National Board OF
Trade, now assembled In this city. The
Richmond Chamber Of Commerce. in addition
to their representatives In the body, were present
on tho floor occupying privileged seats; the Hobbies
and galleries were thronged with an interested
crowd OF citizens, ana last but not least the meet
ing was graced BY the beauty and eite OF the city,
among whom were many OF the ladies OF the visit
ing members. Altogether 1t was one Of the most
distinguished assemblages ever witnessed In this
city. and one which, from the harmony and good
feeling tnat has thus far animated the proceedings
will reflect the highest credit upon II and result
tncacuiaole benent 10 the material Interests OF the
country at large. The annual report OF the Execu-
tive Council was then submitted and read.
NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.
Upon the eleventh subject IN the programme OF
requesting Congress to establish q department of
commerce to which should be committed the foreign
and coastwise trade and the snip building ana the
navigation interests OF the country an interesting
discussion took place. IL was strongly urged by Mr.
Wetherel, OF Philadelphia, that the Bureaus
at Washington, with professional OF their head,
were not competent to superintend the great CON-
mercial interests OF the country. lie favored pract
cal men VINO better understood business, ami
thought II this should De brought before Con-
gress their views would be Speedily compiled
with. such department. one tnat
would embrace every branch of comlnerce-namey,
trade, manufactures ana transportation both by
land ana water. Mr. uoper. or Cincinnati; Mr..
Grubb OF Phllacelphia; Mr.. Dcrr, OF Chicago, and
Mr. Kirkland, Of Baltimore participated IN the dis
cusslon Which fesfed mainly ON the wording OF the
resolution. and which had Its origin with the Baltl
more Board Of Trade. The tecnnicalities OF trade
and commerce were subjects uf much comment eX-
PLANTATION and lively repartec. Mr.. Taylor, OF st.
Paul, In favor Of the word commerce. mentioned
interest and Congress had under the constltu-
ton power "to regulate commerce with foreign
nations and among the States.n Some members con-
tended that the WORDS ''shlpbulding ana naviga-
ton" were superfluous; but Mr. Kirkland, OF BaltI.
more argued that these were most essential words,
in view OF the fact that our merchant marine was
when the proximate amount OF the trade OF this
country was taken into consideration. Inc entire
debate took The widest latiture and was discussed
with marked ability whlch plainly showed the gen.
tlemen were thoroughly conyersant with the sub
Ject very essential matter noe often Witnessed In
public bodies. The resolution as adopted Is as fol-
lows
A GOVERNMENTAL DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.
Resolved. That Congress be requested to establish
e pc tnowa as TIE Of
country.
committee for report, as ney mostly enaaated from
the ST. Louis Board Of Trade the members OF which
had not yet arrived
Resolved That the National Board of Trade fully endorses
the memorial 70 Congress issued by the Mississippi RIVER
Of I and especially arSe p t9" on ss
appropriation OF sufficient gum 20 eompee the improve
.ss Mssissgp, and 2 'i keep
The passage Of resolution asking suee M
appropriation by tao general government or the compon
sucons to the safe navigation Of the Mississippi
work III concert with the Essayons on the bars At The
S not haa Feet depth
promptly on iGs question o. oSstracons n the
nasable waters OF the country, asking especially for
bridges Of less than uO feet of ouch elevation
sn whs a "a h that
already constructed be made conform their spans
Resolved. That ia the duty Or the national to
would suggest the ropry OF having all bridges located by
PASSING sss
s and SHiS af ss over 'ss asns T
nn Channel w On The Ohio sr Exc s ma y.
Mississippi and the Missouri and all other naveabe
e ee ns e 81 q ssn N. s
approved July ID 1862 allows the construction Of bridges
s snad
an brdse. now Icing cult on said river to BE-
not css than Sc0 feet.
A DOUBLE TRACK RAILROAD
:, For the seventeenth proposition on the programme
Mr.. RICHARDS; OF Chicago, offered the foliowng:--
Resolved That Congress requested to charter railway
n eshs between the centre Of the CHIEF soaroe
supply of grain in The West and the Atlantic States
In support Mr.. RICHARDS made a lengthy address
In which be reviewed the corn trade Of the West for
the past four years. He said the West would soon
consume all the grain raised there and would be-
come shipper or cattle and hogs. Fifty years
hence the West would be the great manufacturing
seat OF the country "a we'll as the garden, 1t
enormous freights charged by railroad corporations
Railroads now carried more than transported
by the lakes because OF the speed or the former
lie contended that the canal now proposed to be
butt by the people OF Virginia would be OF no use
to tneu as It could not get any OF the grain trade
that was expected from the We3t. Grain could be
delivered rs cheap at New Orleans as 1t could at
New YORK; but at neither place would it be worth
more than at Chicago for shipment. On q suitable
railway gram could be transported nom Chicago to
New YORK for ten cents per bushel. The Southern
were not so much in crested in this question as the
nnf
grain growing people. eight railway
from tue West TO the East was what
the cxigcncy demanded, and TINS alone would
30 much depressed by heavy canal aud railroad
freights, aud SOW dellverances. such q railway
should carry grain at len cents u bushei ron Chit
cago to Aew YORK, and Congress should at once
charter road with a double track exclusively for
freight and regulate the tariff In conformity with
LlnnanIa q lanlIa OF all