The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-04-04
RICHMOND INTERESTS.

TUESDAY MORNING., APRIL :. ,eSs.
RICHMOND INTERESTS.
We spoke yesterday Of the importance OF
chamber Of Commerce to the interests Oh
this CITY. We trust that the subject VIII De
horne in mind by all who have the prosperity
&C Richmond at heart, and that there VIII De
+. sneedy movement in regard to it. There
sa.ms to be a strange apathy among our
people. a want of energy and concert OF ac-
zion In reference to matters in which Rich
mond is vitality interested. which to us is to-
,.uv nnaceountable. Whilst Alexandra, Pc
,ersburp. Norfolk and Lynchburg are en-
nlov;ne the most active and untiriDg exer-
tions to make themselves important CONNER
cisl places; whilst there, we see the people
united and moving forward as one man, we
are resting upon our oars in Richmond con-
ten. to be carried with the tide, and forgetful
that the tide may set against US, and carry
us behind all our competitors. And there are
some ugly symptoms that, unless some united
and combined effort is made by our citizens,
Richmond will not be permitted to remain
the Queen City Of Virginia. Of late years
the Legislature of the State, in regard to inn
provements has not been of character to
secure to Richmond that participation in the
j, benefits of public works to which she is fairly
entitled by her contributions to the public
treasury. At the present moment, she is
placed in the forks of two great railroads
one leading from Lynchburg to Alexandria,
and another from Lynchburg to Petersburg
and Norfolk, leaving us without any direct
connection with the great Southwestern
Road, to which Richmond subscribed $780,
900; and, by the way, she was the only city
except Lynchburg that did subscribe to that
work. There was, however, another work
which, if extended to the Ohio, would have
accomplished even more for the trade of
Richmond than the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad is achieving for Baltimore. The
Covington and Ohio Road would have united
Richmond with the richvalley of the Ohio, at
q point having every advantage over that of
Baltimore in the command of the Western
trade, and uniting with the vast network of
railroads through out the Western and South
western States. This road, so important to
Virginia and to her metropolis, the last Legis-
lature refused to aid by the expenditure of a
single dollar. Is it not time that the people
of Richmond should begin to wake up, and
by combined and energetic action, prepare
to defend and advance their interests? Nei-
Their the man nor the community ever pros
pered which did not help themselves. Rich
mond has acted nobly and contributed liber-
ally in past times but her iberality has not
always been judiciously e4erted; nor, after
all, has she made such OUTLAWS and borne
such burthens as many cities in other States,
and as she is herself capable of. But the
time has come when she must rouse herself;
when her property holders and men of CAPT
tai must awaken and put their shoulders to
the wheel; and when we must have unity of
counsel and action. For this purpose, a
Chamber of Commerce is essential With
such an organization as this, and with syste-
matte and energetic efforts, Richmond will
advance at a rate which will make her pre-
sent progress seem a snairs pace; she will
avail herself of all her great natural advan-
tages; surpass the expectations of her best
friends, and crush forever the efforts of the
petty malice which is necessarily yelping at
her heels, and almost barking its little heart
out with spite and envy.