The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-14

the great maize, wheat and meat producing
region west Of the Mississippi river. The
line is almost direct one to st. Louis,
from which point the tide waters of the
Atlantic are reached by hundred miles
saving in distance. by making Richmond the
terminus Of the route. A good share of
the work is already done, and at least ten
millions of dollars saved to those who shall
undertake the completion Of this great and
promising enterprise.
This grand. central route has great and |
manifold advantages over the northern one |
by the Erie Canal and the Lakes, or any |
Southern route that can be named. 1t
taps the very centre of the great staple
producing region referred to by the London
Times, and taps it at its chief commercial
and business point, where all the heavy
transactions in those important staples,
must at all times be made. The great nor
them route has to fight the elements or
relentless g King Frost" for four months
of the year, while any great Southern route,
such as the Times covers by its article,
would, in the transportation Of the staples
named, have to fight worse element
still, that Of invincble heat. goa
1t is estimated that there is a loss of not
less than twenty per cent. on the grain and
meat supplies of the Mississippi Valley, by
reason of this element, in shipping from st,
Louis to New Orleans; and tile route pro-
posed in the article which we copy from
the Times will be subject to the same incon-
venences and disadvantages for all time.
This consideration alone should suggest to
our people the great superiority of the
Central route which finds its natural termi-
nus in Richmond. But more than this, the
great central route of transit we have
named runs through the richest belt of coal
and mineral country on the continent, to
say nothing of the magnificent agricultural
region which it everywhere, traverses.
We deem it of the utmost Importance
that this, subject should command the early
attention of our people, and that they
should give theirvotes for the Congressional
candidate in this district, and every Other
/ in the State, who can exert the greatest in
$ tluence in behalf of this important enter
prise, We copy the article from the Lon
! don Times that it may be seen what is doint
. in this direction. and what it is necessary
for us to do. Tt is as follows: ".'S
!. There is project being discussed among TIN
a people of the cotton and food-producing State
y of the American Union which, If carried out
| and it is claimed to be emineatly prac icable-
will greatly alter the centres the usages, an,
e the routes OF commerce between them and tbs
countries of Europe, and villa put the cereal
of America in successful competition with thos
- Of Central and Eastern Europe, and especially $
q in England e., NgNJA tii4@ HUNA 1857 in Y
n The great maize. wheat and meat region of thi
country lies west of the Mississippi river, an
'' from which they are now carried, according to.
k statement of Commodore Maury. either rouu
the tortuous and dangerous Florida passage 9
over a railroad portage of 200 or 800 miles
: New York and Baltimore, at a cost fully equa
to that of the production. To avoid these diff
culties and greatly lesson the cost of delivery 4
Atlantic ports plan is proposed which, to th
N general reader will at first seem to be huge an
impractcable undertaking, and yet when invest
gated is found not only to be feasible and Of chea
e accomplishment, but one which promises til
highest benefits, not only TO the food produces
3, of the Western States, but to European eons'
M mers Us well.
a. sissippi RIVER, a commercial prolongation of thi
stream eastward, traversing the Gulftier of Il
o. states through Chain of estuares which firing
The Gulf from THAI river to the head of III
Florida peninsula, and then by rivers III
" Snwannee and the st Mary's) which virtual
.. Insect that peninsula pass out 10 two or more
W the best harbors on the Atlantic The cha
w mel is to be made sufficiently large to admit Il
quick and easy passage of the huge tlat-bottomt
freight carriers of the Mississippi, the largest
m which, with cargoes OF O hundred thousar
AZ bushels each, do not draw over eft. of water,
re 1t is estimated that the entire work will co
- less than twelve millions of dollars, and that
GU such an outlet an immense saving can be mac
ne on the transportation to Atlantic ports of Il
:. heavy aud bulky commodities of the WEBSTER
IS States, and that through this ronte, wheat c;
90 be put in Liverpool from that section at half
2 cost now required to take is to New y ork
b, rail and by the Northern lakes. IL
At home or abroad there is no work now pr
"a iected in which the people of Western Euro
can take greater interest, it involves the que
:, ton of cheaper food for themselves, and mo
at direct commerce with the sections producing