New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-21
i NEW CITY IN THE SOUTH.

The South has always dreamed OF having a great
city of her own-a Southern metropolis; if not a
New-York, at least q Boston, which has pride in
other things beside bulk-a real provincial capital.
with a provincial aTistOcracy She fanced she had
IL when the national capital moved from Phila-
dephia 10 Washington. Washington was the geo
graphical heart Of the country, and il was thought
1t might become the Paris OF The Berlin Of the South
If not the London Of the Continent. But there
were two obstacles, both of which proved insur-
n1ountable. In the first place there was Slavery,
,ond in the second Washington was 200 miles from
the sea. 1t lay Tar inland, up circuitous rivera
very noble river, but not hagbOr inviting to the
shipping OF all nations.
But now a century has gone By IN an exceedingly
short space Of time-in fact since 1860. Slavery Is
passed, and the most effective motive that ever
moved human effort has been planted in the negro
mind. 100000 strong. There is 20 be q cotton crop
of 100000 bales two thousand million pounds Of
cotton year. andlncreasng on that. There Is 10 be
also a seaport, or a seaport rediscOvered after
being forgotten for century, because. although it
was known to the Government nothing led TO it from
inland, and consequently, IL lay unused and almost
unknown TO ships 1t seems now, Therefore as If the
South might realize its old dream of commercial i'm
portance and have a city OF its own, not equal TO
New-York but shortly challenging Boston. Citizens
of the great metropolis can afford TO help her build
competing emporium. since they have quite out
grown any feelings of jealousy and may even rejoice
ct such wholesome competition she can set mp.
There is one reason why the splendid harbOr Of
Port ROYAL has attracted little attention hereto
fore II is situated half way between the long
established ports of Charleston and Savannah, both
Of which have had railway connection inland with
old steamer lines TO New York ;and tbs only recently
that the harbor has been perfectly buoyed by the
Coast Survey Board. Now, however, under the late
Prof A D. Bache il has been thoroughly furnished
In this respect; and it is officially announced that 1t
can be entered by any vessel yet built, without
pilot the only direction necessary being 70 sail in
and out by the eoored sides Of the buoys, which
ever sailor un9eIst2nds. ssuEs---s ' - -
Inc LS@ completion OF the railroad from Port
Royal to Augusta gives through trunk line Of COM
muuication to Nashville St. Louis, Memphis, and
al the principal distributing points of the South at
the same time connecting with the ports Of savan-
nah and Charleston. And there is this remarkable
fact to be observed that the southwestern trend Of
the Atlantic coast, below the capes of Delaware
gives much nearer line Of transportation from st.
Louis the great center of the Mississippi Valley 10
Port ROYAL than 10 the northern shipping ports Of
New-YOrk and Boston. While freights may
be lower over the northern roads for the home
markets Of the Eastern States, II must be much
cheaper 70 take the southern rOadS IOI ali prOuucls
intended for foreign markets as the following
table Of distances clearly shows:
Miles
ST. louis 70 SewYor 1901 To Port BoyaI gi6
louisville 20 New-YOrk.. 965 To Port Royal .65
Menpni, TO Sew-YOrk To PORT Roy
Cincinnati 10 Sew-YOrk.. s6l..-.TO Port Royal.soo
Cincinnati is the point from which, gong west,
ahe distances favor the Southern route. Tins little
table may do a world Of good for the bread-and-meat
eaters Of the North. 1t says 20 the great console
dating and monopohzng railroad lines which
govern our tables Reduce your freights OF you lose
1rade1
Here. certainly. are the principal conditions, now
rst realized by the South for the building up OF
new city on their own delightful coast. II needs
only enterprise and perseverance TO succeed ana
all should hail the project as very important part
of the GRAND work of Southern reconstruction, IN
which the South can hardly fail to receive the cordial
cooperation Of Northern capital and Northern skilled
labor.