"The quantity of tobacco that takes its course up the river from the Lower Ohio, for the eastern markets by northern routes, is rapidly increasing. That raised in Ohio and Kentucky, above Cincinnati-and among the latter, the celebrated Mason county tobacco-nearly all goes by the way of the canals to the eastern markets. By a statement recently published, the difference in the cost of transportation from Louisville to New-York is four to five dollars per hogshead in favor of the northern route, while the article escapes the sweat which it undergoes on shipboard while passing through our latitudes. than any artificial line of direct transit, any with the trade, at sixty thousand bales. attempt to divert that trade might have been This season, nearly all the boats from the hopeless. The opinion that no rail-road Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, bound up could succeed, unless it connected populous the Ohio River, are freighted more or less points, by a short line, has been reversed by with cotton. The packets between Memphis experience. Considering the rail-road and and Louisville and Cincinnati, of which locomotive almost as a revelation for the there are several lines, take cotton up the South, we may be pardoned for referring to rivers nearly every trip. the causes which are now producing through their agency such important, social, commercial, and political results. Time has become an essential element in the value of merchandise and staple productions. No producing region, and no mercantile community, can adopt a slow and circuitous delivery in competition with others producing or vending the same articles with greater facilities of transportation than themselves. Travel and postal communication now tolerate no delay or impediment. It is impossible to present any formula to show how far shortening the time of transit is equivalent to a positive reduction of freight. The telegraphic and express lines, everywhere well "Grain is now carried from the Wabash sustained, prove the estimated value of time to New-York by the canals, at the same cost to be very great; though it varies, of course, of freight as is charged by the way of Newwith the fear of competition, with the value Orleans; but by the northern route, they of the commercial subjects, and with the re-incur no waste, no risk of damage by heating, lative importance of individual transactions. But we see from the opening of the artificial lines of Boston, New-York and Philadelphia, that the commercial patronage of the interior is immediately transferred to the most rapid and direct lines of outlet and intercommunication. It is thus that the great cities of the North have severally penetrated the interior with artificial lines, until they have taken from the open and untaxed current of the Mississippi the commerce produced upon its borders. These great artificial outlets have been competing among themselves for the commerce of the interior, until they now offer, not only superior certainty, and reduced time of delivery, but they offer upon many articles cheaper freights than the river and coast routes referred to. We copy from the New-Orleans Crescent a notice of the reversing of the natural current of trade, resulting from the construction of the great artificial lines referred to: For years past cotton has gone up the Ohio River from Tennessee, through the Pennsylvania and New-York canals, to all the factories in the interior of these states, and often the cities of Philadelphia and NewYork. We recollect, last September, of one shipment of upwards of seven hundred bales, shipped from Louisville, via the Ohio and New-York canals to New-York city. The freights were less than by the way of NewOrleans, and the difference in exchange and insurance was near two per cent. in favor of the northern route. "The amount of cotton that passed up the Ohio last year is estimated, by one familiar and save the whole cost of sacking, for it is carried in the bulk, and the same number of measured bushels are delivered in NewYork as are received on board the canal-boat from the shipper. The lard, pork and flour from the same region are taking the same direction. Last autumn the rich regions of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois were flooded with the local bank-notes of the eastern states, advanced by the New-York houses on produce, to be shipped by them by the way of the canals in the spring. "These moneyed facilities enable the packer, miller and speculator to hold on to their produce, with the opening of navigation in the spring; and they are no longer obliged, as formerly, to hurry off their shipments during the winter by the way of New-Orleans, in order to realize funds by drafts on their shipments. The banking facilities at the East are doing as much to draw trade from us as the canals and railways which eastern capital is constructing. All the lead from the Upper Mississippi now goes east by the way of Milwaukie. But the most recent and astonishing change in the course of the northwestern trade is to behold, as a friend tells us, the number of steamers that now descend the upper Mississippi, loaded to the guards with produce, as far as the mouth of the Illinois River, and then turn up that stream with their cargoes, to be shipped to New-York, via Chicago. "The Illinois canal has not only swept the whole produce along the line of the Illinois River to the cast, but it is drawing the products from the upper Mississippi through New-Orleans, eight millions the same channel; thus depriving not only | Butter : New-Orleans, but St. Louis, of a rich portion pounds; New-York, 97 millions, &c., &c. of their former trade." To this we may add the fact, that cargoes of corn have been recently shipped from Iowa, down the Mississippi, along the Illinois canal, by way of the lakes, to the city of New-York. The cause of this astonishing result may be thus explained. We have adverted to these well-established facts, and explained the rationale of their operations, to show that the trade of northern cities is derived by artificial ways from the great producing valley of the West. If this be the case-if productions prefer the lakes, railways and the canals of the north to the river and gulf outlet-why should not the products of Western Virginia, which almost circumnavigate their own state, which pursue a distant, indirect and unsafe Artificial lines afford not only the most speedy means of transportation, but the unity and system of their administration gives them great advantage over the efforts of in-line of transit, replete with every danger of dividual enterprise. They have a basis of travel and mail monopoly, which enables them to discriminate in favor of any specific article of commerce, the factorage and financial results of which may be sufficient to generally indemnify them for the abatement of freight, whilst the revenue of the improvement is sustained by an increased charge upon business not subject to competition, or by the large amount of trade which they command. These exclusive resources, rapidity, certainty and safety of transportation, with the power of discrimination, has enabled these great lines to wrest from the Mississippi so much of its produce. To establish the capacity of artificial to compete with natural lines, we publish the following tabular statement, showing the contest between New-York and New-Orleans for the trade of the Mississippi : New-York and New-Orleans in Western Trade. river, cape and coast, prefer the direct communications through Virginia, and the more congenial destiny of encouraging our own ports? There is no reason. Their anxiety to complete these artificial outlets proves its practicability. All the vast aggregate of trade, now existing in Western Virginia, destined for Atlantic exportation, may be safely added to that which we have already demonstrated as subject to be employed in this great enterprise. We may safely say, that if all the existing commerce of Virginia, for exportation, could be collected in her own Atlantic ports, it would not fall short of twenty millions of dollars, nor would her consumption of merchandise be less. Besides this, the very organization of commercial facilities would guarantee an immense accession of mineral and agricultural productions. In this connection, we must press upon all interested the indispensable importance of providing for the improvement of the James River, the common outlet of much of the Its obstructions affect' Chesapeake trade. the trade of Norfolk, Richmond, Lynchburg and Kanawha; and each of them are alike interested in securing the perfect navigation of this noble stream. Your committee have not chosen to awaken controversy by designating any particular mode by which this shall be done; they are aware that if the interests now appealed to, shall be convinced of its paramount importance, the means will be readily devised for its accomplishment. The able and comprehensive report of Lieutenant Stansbury will prove the entire practicability of this work, and the moderate means to be employed in its completion. Or, an increase of 120 per cent. ; or a comparative increase by New-York, of 25 per cent. over New-Orleans in Western produce in five years! In the three years, 1848, 1849 and 1850, the receipts at New-Orleans We may properly add to these resources. by river were 2,312,121 bbls. flour; at New- which are directly derived from Virginia York, 8,636,207 bbls. Pork:-New-Orleans, alone, the products of the states connected 1,536,817; New-York, 211,018 bbls. Beef: with her, by the lines of improvement now -200,901 bbls., New-Orleans; New-York, under construction. Tennessee, and Ken264,072 bbls. Wheat-New-Orleans, 852,- tucky, and North Carolina, will naturally 497 bushels; New-York, 8,798,759. Corn: find their most direct outlet through the -New-Orleans, 9,758,750 bushels; New- Virginia and Tennessee, the Southside York, 11,178,228 bushels. Bacon:-New- and Seaboard rail-roads, now under continuOrleans, 135 millions pounds; New-York, 26 millions. Lard-New-Orleans, 293 millions pounds; New-York, 21 millions. ous and connected construction to the interior of the state referred to. The prosecution of the Canal or Central rail-roads, or the tion, and gave an empire to freedom, who, braving a deadly climate and a desperate strife, planted the flag of Yorktown upon the Sierras of Mexico, be not utterly recreant to the instincts of their race, then must the glorious and peaceful triumph of commercial independence reward their patriotism and enterprise. The rewards of industry and of enterprise will be reserved to our own citizens, and the shameful tribute be abolished for ever. construction of a branch road into the Ohio | be not perverted by a mere introduction into Valley, will add much from those quarters; our own cities-if the sons and brothers of. and but a few years will elapse before the those who subjected a wilderness to civilizaperfected facilities will bring this great commerce to the legitimate ports of exportation. We will not enlarge upon the commercial results of extending these lines into the interior of the southwestern states, and the national and international intercourse which will pour through Virginia, invigorating her local improvements, freighting her vessels, and filling her ocean steamers. It will be plain, upon investigation, that no cities south of Virginia have the commercial advantages of our own-none have the varied products, The committee respectfully recommends the local patronage, the rapid communication the adoption of the following resolutions : with transatlantic cities. Enterprise is now Resolved,-As the opinion of this commitdoing all it can to shorten the line of ocean tee, that lines of mail or other steamers, transit. In this the cities of Virginia cannot or other vessels, from Hampton Roads compete with Boston or New-York for the to some port or ports of Europe, ought transatlantic intercourse of the northwestern to be established; and Virginia, North states; but the mail and merchandise transportation, with the travel between the great southwest and the cities of Europe, belong legitimately to the Virginia ports of the Chesapeake, and will be certainly secured. In embarking in this contest her citizens and commercial cities have a high duty to perform; they must shake themselves of every sin of selfishness or of jealousy. They must co-operate with a rivalry of devotion to the common cause. There should be no greater jealousy between Richmond and Norfolk than between Philadelphia and NewYork-yet, though separated from each other by a greater distance, the joint population of the two former cities is scarcely equal to a suburb of either of the two latter. There can be no incompatibility of interest in the harmony of these and other Virginia cities. Let them unite their patronage upon the great designs of internal improvement, and upon the organization of a foreign commerce, and their destinies are established. Yet the competition will be intense. It will require energy, union and perseverance. The North has enterprise, capital, experience; the South possesses the world staples of cotton, sugar, tobacco, with an immense mercantile consumption. The prize is worthy the efforts of the most gifted intellect, or the most matured experience. It is a strife to be fought with weapons congenial to the enlightened humanity of the present age. It is a contest fraught with consequences scarce inferior to those which hung upon our first great struggle. Virginia has the deepest veneration for the Union, a cordial admiration of those sister states with whom she contends for her heritage; but she cannot break the bread of dependence, or sink into the position of an inferior to those who were her equals. If the commerce to which we have adverted be not utterly fabulous-if its capacities Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and such other southern states are as disposed to aid in the enterprise, should be appealed to; and an appeal should also be made to Congress to bestow upon such line the same mail facilities which are extended to the northern lines; and the bars which now obstruct the navigation of James River should be removed. Resolved,―That committees be appointed to memorialize Congress and the legislature of Virginia, and to prepare an address to the public, upon the subject aforesaid, and the great importance to the people of Virginia, and the South generally, that they should conduct their own trade directly on their own bottoms, and with their own men and means. Resolved, That lines of packet-ships, screw-propellers, or mail steamers, ought to be established between the exporting cities of Virginia, and the West Indies, and South America. Resolved, also,-That the people of Virginia be requested to hold meetings in their several counties, cities and towns, to effect the object of the foregoing resolution; and that to this end it be recommended to them to adopt some organization by the appointment of standing and corresponding committees, or otherwise as to them shall seem best. Resolved, That the merchants of our Atlantic cities ought to import directly to our Virginia ports the productions of foreign countries used and consumed in this and the adjoining states; and that it be recommended to the merchants of the interior, and the people at large, to aid them in this noble enterprise. VINEYARDS OF THE SOUTH.-In one of the numbers of De Bow's Review, I noticed, with special attention, an estimate of the cost and profit of vineyards under the head of " Vineyards and Wines at the In the Patent Office Reports of 1847, Mr. Longworth, the worthy and enterprising head of the vineyard cause in the northwest, contends against the positions of the American Institute, that the vine is an uncertain crop-good one year in four only; that the Isabella, the most noted grape of the North, is not worth cultivating in Ohio: that the Catawba, is of no account in many northern locations, etc. As to profits, at least, the kind of grapes with the certainty of crops ought to come in for a large share of attention. As to both outlay and profit, the most famous southern grape, the Scuppernong (ripening too late for the North, and perhaps northwest) certainly ranks first. All southern vintners should mainly cultivate this grape. I have about two hundred varieties, including the Isabella, Catawba, Longworth's Ohio or Cigar-box, and all American grapes of any notoriety, but would not be without the Scuppernong for all the rest, even including Weller's Halifax, Norton's Virginia Seedling, Vine Arbor, Lenoir, &c. The Scuppernong and other kinds last named, never rot, if properly managed. plowed or scarified the ground, etc. But my profits were more from the failure of fruits in general-for more than common resort was had to my vineyards by individuals paying entrance fees, &c. After entertaining visitors, frequently fifty a day, and selling quantities of grapes, mostly Scuppernong, I made upward of twenty casks of wine; though, apart from uncommon abstraction of grapes and peculiarity of season, I intended to make sixty barrels, according to my usual increase, years past, of ten barrels a year. But, to proceed more formally in my calculation of outlay and profit, I will take the Scuppernong, as emphatically the grape, for all south of latitude 37° 30'. Twenty feet apart, each way, is the nearest this grape should ever stand in a vineyard, and at that distance, about one hundred vines are enough for an acre. This grape grows, not from cuttings, but from layers; and these layers are advanced to be well-rooted vines in the nursery, worth from twelve and a half to fifty cents, according to age and size. Any land that will grow good corn or cotton, is rich enough for grape culture; and there is more danger on account of having the ground too rich than too poor. Therefore, in most grounds South, there is no need of much, if any, cost for manure. For years, my most prolific vines were never manured-although the ground was scarified every fall, to prevent the fallen leaves from blowing away. Common rails or stakes are used, say for two or three years, or till the vines begin to bear well and to branch out sufficiently; then light wood or other posts take the place of stakes to support the scaffolding for the canopies. Where rocks abound, rock pillars, as in some parts of Europe, may support the canopies. I see, before my office, while writing, a Scuppernong vine, canopied as follows: four rock pillars supporting four skinned or barked But, to proceed to a direct notice of the estimate in the number referred to of the Review, the first error I notice is, that two hundred dollars is too high for starting a southern vineyard. Not that the mere circumstance of the high cost of a vineyard presupposes little profit, for sometimes the greatest outlay is followed by the greatest profit. But a sound maxim, doubtless, is, that, in every outlay, the less cost the bet-oak poles, two thirty and two forty feet long, ter. I have a warning myself, on that score, from specimen trees of northern winter apples at the South, and wretched bearers; and, also, from the failure of foreign, and some American, grapes on my premises. If depending on such for vineyard profits, mine would have been, I am confident, an entire failure in the vineyard enterprise. Take the past season to illustrate. Nearly all kinds of fruits, and even grapes in the woods, failed in this region, owing to a very late and severe frost. The leaves and formations for blossoms were killed or blasted in my vineyards; but new ones came out directly, and the result was a fine crop of grapes, especially of the Scuppernong. True, some Scuppernong vines failed to bear, as did others in this region; but I attribute the cause, in regard to mine, to the fact that I had not, as usual, in the fall preceding, resting midway on the pillars and supported at the corners, where meeting, by oak posts set on flat rocks-and two poles, of the length of the four, thrown across midway, supported where they meet, in the middle of the area, by a post on a flat rock. Pine poles, twenty feet long and four or five feet apart, on which the branches of the noble Scuppernong vine repose and form a most beautiful canopy, emblematical, according to Scripture, of liberty and peace, under which one may sit without fear. I here remark, that, if vines were anciently trained trellis or stake fashion only, the Bible expression would be, "every man sitting" beside, not "under, his own vine." As my ten acres of vineyard was gradually formed by turning hands from plantation, business, &c., I cannot estimate, accurately, the cost of any one acre, or its Plowing and harrowing, say.. $ 1,00 20,00 And in six years, with right usage, the vineyard may bear half a crop, in ten or twelve years, a whole crop, or two thousand gallons of juice, or six hundred bushels of grapes and upward-and so on for one hundred years more-as experiments have shown the Scuppernong to be the most lasting of all vines. The proportions of cost for other sorts of vines may be easily calculated. My distance each way for others, is ten feet; and, at that distance, an acre quadruples in number the Scuppernong: or, about 5,00 400 vines at 25 cts, each. 5,00 But if land needs manuring (say plowed in 5,00 $61,00 -$100,00 20.00 20,00 10,00 Digging 400 holes at 5 cts. each.. $150,00 And, for scaffolding and canopies, the same materials and process of using them may be had as for the Scuppernong-except the stakes may be retained, or others put at middle distances of ten feet, to support, by tying, the main stems of the vines intermediate between the posts; or, such intermediate vines, without stakes, can be tied to The ground between the vines, for two the poles above them, as to main stems, and years, may be planted with Irish potatoes, their branches thus spread over the scafbush beans, or any plant that will not shade folding. But if new stakes are used at inor interfere with the vines; and such vege-termediate distances for the vines between tables, manured in the drill and worked at the posts, about three hundred are necesthe same time with the vines, kept hoed clean and trimmed, will tend to increase the sary; and they would be an additional exfertility for the vine roots as they spread. pense of scaffolding to that of the ScupperThe product of the crop thus had, will, per- tied to the poles above, at the medium disnong of fifteen dollars. But if vines are haps, pay the expense, or more, of working the ground the two years. The third incurred than in the stakes and tying. Thus, tance of ten feet, less expense, of course, is year, if properly managed, crops of grapes then, the begin, and the frame, at least, for the scaffolding and canopies may be made as fol lows: 100 light wood, cedar or oak posts, ten, eleven or twelve feet long, and six, seven, eight or more inches in diameter, worth, say 20 cts. each... Digging the 100 holes, two and a half feet deep, Nailing two cleats or shingles on each side of About 400 smaller poles, with the bark taken $30,00 2,00 2,00 20,00 20,00 The cost of the Scuppernong vineyard is $136 00: this, subtracted from $240 00, the cost of other kinds, leaves, in favor of the Scuppernong, $104 00. So, the estimate of $200 00 for farming a vineyard, as made in the number of the Review adverted to, is $139 00 more than that required for the Scuppernong vineyard. All the comparative estimates tend to prove greatly in favor of southern vineyards, on the "American system" of scaffolding, in regard to moderate cost. The southern having vastly the advantage, we may add, as to certainty of yield and profits.-Sidney Weller. |