The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-08-29

innate result would be large increase of direct
importations. This may be seen By The sudden
and rapid Increase in imports Of foreign dry
goods and ft,c,J goods under the transit IN bond
arrangement. With direct and regular steamer
trips, the difference would be immediate and
great and would be at once felt in the with
drawal of some of the best customers from the
New York steamers
10 seems TO be presumed IN some quarters that zoe
ea1)ect 10 decelope trade that does not eriSt But
this Is mistake. We have examined into the
statistics to satisfy ourselves, and we know that
the foreign trade usually transacted by steamers
does exist here in sufficient amount to support a
line But 1t is transacted in so many indirect
ways that little of it passes to our credit. 1he
transit in bond has developed aody aud not The
only one When IL has attained its fullest devel-
opment, there will be still o large trade done for
our account through New York. We must pro-
coed gradually, we find the way, and not ex-
pect to achieve anything suddenly. While zoe
are gcditinq for direct steamers the transit in bond
is demonstrating that zoe haze the importing trade
! The longer we have to wait for the steamers,
the statistics prove that the stronger and clearer
will be this demonstration.
The italics are ours, and when we re-
fleet for an instant upon the enormous con-
Stunning ability of, the States which could
economically receive their supplies of inn
ported articles, by transportation in bond,
water-borne, on the James River and Kan
awha Canal, none can fail to concur with
the american that we should only dcvel-
ope a trade which does exist or rather
that we shouldsby making water transport
tation from the Atlantic seaboard, passing
through the capes of Virginia. to the waters
Of the Ohio, not devclope new consuming
trade, but secure to Virginia her proper
share of an already existing business.
The advantage of direct importation to
the Western merchant, is so decided in a
pecuniary aspect, that inland transit in bond
must increase. The 90 to 60 per cent du-
ties for which he must remit cash to his
New York agent, and lose interest thereon
while his goods are passing through ware
house, and thence by rail or canal to the
desired destination, can be employed in his
business until his goods have arrived at the
inland custom-housc, he is not subjected to
damage by abstraction from examined pack.
ages, or improper repacking, and if there
, is any discrepancy between invoice and con.
tents, he is on the spot to rectify or explain
Ere long, it is an assured fact, railroad
facilities will be offered by the Chesapeak,
| & Ohio Railroad. and Atlantic, Mississippi
& Ohio Railroad, for transit westward il
bond Of light or pershable goods landed a
Norfolk or Richmond, but, as the Ameri
can suggests, the bulk of imports mot il
= value but volume) consist of such articles a
, "salt, tin, lead, zinc, iron, carthenware
| steel, railroad bars, machinery, chemicals
drugs and groceries," and these will see
$ water transportation wherever it can b
e found, in preference TO transit by rail, a
, being cheaper, and equally safe.
f Let us keep public attention directed t
c the James River & Kanawha Canal.
$ In a national point of view, its compile
e ton by the United States government
;, would be an economical measure in
9 local point of view, it is more than a
n economical measure /; it is one from whic
0 the. Old Dominion would gather renewe
. life and vigor, and at once take permaner
s position as commercial State.
n Make the offer to British free traders,
e permit the importation into the Unite
States free Of duty of all their manufa.
lures which passed from the seaboard [
h the West via James River and Kanawl
k canal, on the condition they should con
D plete the canal within five years, and twel
g ty thousand men would be put on I'll
N works within twenty-four hours after IL
% treaty contract was signed. This woul
i insure completion of canal, but it woul
r close every factory on the route. If "
can only interest our Western neighbor
n the work will be prosecuted, and by pros
ID cution to completion our manufacture
or interests will be as greatly benefited
We our commercial.
nc unAY ann VUnnn