The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-10-11
IS Now Gslng a Greatly increased Bulk Of
srala and Cotton Trade,
NORFOLK IS NEW YORK's COMPETITOR
innsiness Men of the Latter city
Acknowledge Tint I hey Arc Being
Rcaten--Compiciion OF tine Man
ssS chester Ship Canal of Great Benefit
4 a TO Norfolk ana Newport News

ssnaking Investigations of the advan-
Stages of Southern ports. led to do so
by the recent great increase in the
Il shipping trade of these ports, especially
4 as regards cotton and grain. Follow
Fsing is an extended extract from the re-
y port of Mr.. p. F. Burrough, British
sSics- consul at Kansas City:
The Increasing shipping interests of
& the Gnlg ports and the shorter haul from
i the grain fields OF the West to those
i ports explain the future trend OF the
Z southwestern export grain trade. The
EGulf ports are never blocked by snow
Eand Ice In the winter, and q boat can
: al@Rys arrive and depart. Ii is, down
/ hill grade, and heavy trains can be haul
sSed by the railroads. Men of recognized
& cotnnercal ability have spent time and
money investigating the facts. and have
proved clearly that deep water ports on
5she Gulf. with direct railroad connec-
5ations to the North and West would
I bring an unprecedented era OF CONNER
sgcal and agricultural development
throughout the West.
II There Is no question but what the
& bulk of the exports and imports for the
TERRITORY west of the Mississippi river
will In the future be handled by Gulf
ports The growing export trade at
4 these ports is a subject that is causing
sinuch uneasiness among the grain men
sof other grain cities. The low freight
rates made to these ports by lines i'm the
; Southwest have diverted an immense
amount OF corn that has heretofore gone
4 East Ae regards Chicago. there is no
Y likelihood that any change ut all proba-
sfble could restore to her market her
former interest in the export portion OF
Sthe Western crop. 1t is the natural re-
sSsuit OF business trend. long ago seen
ITO be inevitable by men in the West,
ssbut even now hardly appreciated by the
lake cities and Eastern ports"
rs However, of greater interest TO Nor
stolk business men. is what a member
Abof the New York Chamber of Com
\ rnerce and an authority on transporta-
asfon matters. who has recently been
Smaking a study Of the causes leading
ITO the steady upbuildng OF the trade
&o1 Southern ports, said the other day to
Sa representative of the New York
,sJournai Of Commerce He referred TO
ems manager of the Manchester Shin
4 Canal, as being q strong example of how
adirect trade from New York Is being
diverted. He said:
perused with intense interest the
able presentation of the advantages
\ likely to result from the use of the
i manchester Ship Canal which your
paper recently contained. IT has nj.
ways seemed to me that anything that
sWonld reduce the rate of freight and the
gcosts or transportation between the cot =
\ ION and food products OF America and
Sthle consumptive demand of Great Bri-
4 tam was OF material advantage to our
people. Hence the completion OF great
\ snip canal to the centre of the greatest
midland district in England, a district
I containing eight to ten millions of peo-
slpie, would save our farmers. millers and
Ssnippers the cost of a transfer at Iiy-
Serpool and the added railway carriage.
Inc extent of this saving was very
Panty put In the presentation in your
Z columns by Mr.. Marshall Stevens. the
q manager OF the canal. whom your rem
Tesentative had the good fortune to fully
sIanterview. A saving in freight and
htransfer expenses of six to eight cents
4 e e hundred pounds. at first sight does
shot seem important, yet this saving
means ten to fifteen cents on a barrel
aoI Hour, and II applied to the 475, 900 bar
+ Iets which only last week were produced
8 ~ TOUR Hour centres OF the West
minneapolis. Duluth Superior, Milwau-
kee and st. Louis-would enrich our mil
ElsrS and our farmers to the extent of
nearly 100000 per day.
ss&& Hence the possibilities of the Man
schester Ship Canal reaching the densely
4 croWded midland districts of England
where we now sell no flour, by direct
S5colnnection at competition with Local
niiis supplied by cheap wheat from the
! all-water routes OF Argentine, Russ
austria, etc., opened up a prospect that
Wes hopeful for miller and farmer alike
am not sure but this prospect will
spe realized to greater or less degree
Sand, moreover, that in the matter OF cot.
ION as well as food stuffs this great shlI
canal to the heart of England will be d
boon to North America
f 8But what seems most remarkable I.
i9naf In the growth Of this direct trade
new York does not in the slightest par.
sIiclpate. In the elaborate statement OF
MI. Marshall Stevens there Is an entire
stack OF a New York relation. He speak.
OF direct shipments from several places
and he refers to several railroads witt
whom an alliance has been made by di
Eect lines Of steamers to Manchester
out not one OF these is from New York
:O On the contrary. the only relation will
sthts new and direct trade. involving
saving SO great, is that through Soutf
.Aanerican hne that simply makes thi!
put q port Of call.
Newport News, Baltimore, New Or.
Leans, Galveston and probably our new
rival, Norfolk. are the probable point!
from one or t-yo OF which westerns pro
Soee VIII find an outlet ITO the centre o.
siStngsand via Manchester. Thus anothe
blow will be given to the declining com
meice of New York.
SSther roads than those that Eermi
nate IN New York are able to offer In
sducements that trunk lines terminal tin,
snere are unable to offer. The result |,
that q vast volume OF trade avoids oul
aaEpor, our docks and our shipping.
II Is q commentary on the critica
character OF our commercial supremacy
.That because we have ten trunk lines
centering In this port advantages 81
great as those offered by tha Manchestel
Ship Canal cannot be made available e
New York. Indeed, these advantages
khfa sa,riianr ne S1nn nnn n a.-.- - IL.o-aI,