The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-06-17
~~.,<,.s-.Richmond Shipping.

uor,a 1snes--Richmond Shipping.
VII VIC consider the amount Oh Tue
.",.tn,e commerce of this city, ana VINE"
.on,em,sr how our people have been OPP
..aad n,th odtous determinations against
them in the rail and water ranspof'a''oh
= may well feel surprise at the apathy that
nrsyous in Richmond upon the subject. AS
matter Of enterprise and certain prom, VI.
n,o,der IA that people Of Richmond 90 Nv
embark more largely in the carry'ns u"' w.
: Before the war we had lines OF san n.or.
Handsomely built and as fast sallers a.
owned in anv port. They contributed m. ..a
~ our wealth, and stimulated gres'"s '"'
80, 81 or,ernrise amongst our people
Since the war we have been W
co. mans. e Is true, but there hss 'een
- aversion to discussing the suplect
-.r;val of our maritime Interests. Inc
WV effort made is to establish a steam line
hotyyocp Richmond and New 10TH
This effort has been an up-hhi ouS',.'s,
Merchants and spectators VINO ao'"''.eo
The importance Of an active coInpe'n'o' ~,
rho carving trade between Richmond ana
New York, and who themselves were pehe-
sc;a RIGS TO a large amount from this compe-
t,tiou, were decidedly const'rated III 'ne.i
subscriptions to the line. The jealous OH
rers of the company had quite ehohsh "
discourage them and to induce them 10 aoai'
don the enterprise !; SO slow were inc p'si-
ness men to help what they admitted was SO
greatly to their advantage.
1t last a sort of crisis has come upon tnem.
They have q superb iron steamer upon the
stocks far advanced towards completion, ana
a sudden casualty involves them in losses
which press hard at the critical momeht.
What ~ to enable them to pass the sharp
no;ntr Aid from the business community,
which has, Us the company can prove, saved
upwards of $780, 600 in twelve months in
frcights BY the competition introduced by
this Virginia line. Have the merchants re-
sponded to the appeal as they should have
done? Certainly not. They have contl1bu-
ted slowly and in a CONSTRUCTED manner.
They have shown no just appreciation of the
benefits they derive from the line, and the
Importance of sustaining it to avoid the high
charges which would be followed by the alb
sence of competition. ~.
Do these merchants not know how they
have suffered by those determinations in
freight charges which enabled northern cities
TO ship goods to points south and southwest
of Richmond at Il cost less than the same
goods could be shipped from Richmond to
the same pointsi Have they forgotten no"
seriously this fatal discrimination affected
their trade? And IL it not worth an effort
to protect themselves against it? This Rich
mond line is a shield for their protection,
and they should rally, heart and purse, to its
support. ~
If they appreciate the situation, they do
not give the proof of it. II they would
maintain u competition that is vital to their
interests, they fail TO show their disposition
with u zeal aud liberality equal to the exi-
gency and to the magnitude of their ILL
terestB.
We hope that these gentlemen will con-
slider the matter more maturely, and increase
their subscriptions. They will be repaid in
the most effective name They will save
In freights, and they will be enabled to in
crease their trade by protecting themselves
from the ruinous determinations against
them.
Not only should we look to business linen
to sustain this particular enterprise, and to
carry out others for The extension of the
maritime trade of Richmond, but we have a
claim upon capitalists to give their aid to
what does SO much for the general prosperity.
and the protection of our from
onerous and discriminating burthens. The
capitalist, however his money may be III
vested, will be benefited by the prosperity of
the city, and when he helps the trade he
helps himself. This Virginia company is
struggling manfully against adversely. A
few thousands would help them out Of their
difficulty. In any other city, at least any
other north of us, d capitalist would feel ii
some duty to himself to help along such Il
company, and would advance the needed
funds. Why cannot this be done here?
We make no war upon steam lines. We
want all to flourish. There will be a plenty
for all. Commodore MoCREADY is "a go-ahead
and wide-awake man of the sen, and deserves
success; but we would not trust to him MOI
TO any other man the u%ndisputed control Of
the freights between Richmond and New
York.
Richmond is a wondcrfully-located city
She has beauty, health, solid strength, and
both commercial and manufacturing facilt
ties wonderfully combined. A sea-goiug
ship Of 1000 tons may lie safe and sound at
the foot of the falls that afford w%ater-power
for hundreds of mills. Our enterprise and
our capital may be divided between the
shore and the ocean. We may own the mills
and the ships, too. We may have our steam
lines to New York and elsewhere, and we
may have our clipper ships sailing to Rio,
carrying out our flour and bringing back
coffee, hides, &C., for the supply of the grea,
West. Let III not 60 to sleep in either
branch Of public enterprise. We appeal tc
the merchants and capitalists alike to come
forward and show a public spirit in keeping
with the exigency that exists, and appro.
pirate to the peculiar advantages with which
Providence has endowed our fair city.
The Southern Editors
on the HoToaKlss excursion to tht