The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-07-22
SHALL WE GO AHEADi

SHALL WE GO AHEADf
Yes, shall we take step forward, or shall
ve slide Backward We can't stand still,
that il certain. In this country no city can
stand stili. 1t must 60 ahead or It must fall
hsh;vd and be forgotten in the grand strug-
gle for commerce, How are cities struggling
TO maintain tffer ground and increase Their
poweri They are trying to accomplish ibis
by extending their means Of commui'iea'.vn
with the interior and especially win INC
magnificent West Shall VIC snfa'e 'ne'. GA
ample, or shall we back out vigorously no'A
4 contest which requires that poia eAef'ion
which wins both success and bonss Tor the
people who put it forth
The Central and the Covington and ohso
Railroad will give US one Of the routes to me
Ohio-and what is of the highest degree o.
importance it is the only projected route
which promises aid to our james River "a
fal. The Covington and Ohio Railroad VIII
throw an immense amount of heavy tonnage
upon fhe Canal IT its western terminus winch
will swell its revenues and demonstrate the
necessity of its completion to the ONE
Should the Covington and Ohio Railroad not
be made, the Canal cannot receive this a'o'
aud it may stand Just where 1t Is for a century
If not forever.
The extension Of the Central haliroao ~
Covington win insure the building OF the
Covington road from that point TO the Dig
Sandy But if a grand effort is not made 10
push ahead the Central road, and 1t rethaihs
uncompleted beyond Marlborough IN ba'h
county when the next Legislature meets
there will be plan attempted to stop IL AZ
Marlborough and to build the Covington roao
only between the mouth of Creenbrer anu
the Big Sandy plan which completely eA-
punges the Canal from the Internal improve
ment system Of the State, connecting WIFI
fine Ohio.
The plan for stopping the Central Road at
the point indicated was mooted IN the last
Legislature by Mr.. GARRETT, of Essex, and
will be certainly revived at the next session II
there is the least chance of its success. Inc
only positive security against 1t is for the
communities interested in the road to raise
the means that, with the States hree.ttths'
will push it beyond that point and within
striking distance of the line of the Coving-
ton Road Richmond is more deeply inter-
ested in the Road than any other community
in the State, and in this dilemma of its affairs
should come forward and help it ahead, like
a noble city, which has not only the sagacity
to perceive its true policy, but the hberality
and energy to carry it out
The CANAL, people of Richmond, is the
great Improvement of the State, and the very
best for your prosperity. Every thing that
can promote its extension should be warmly
sustained by you The Central line to the
Ohio is that which will render its completion
certain. Then come to the rescue and Sc
cure both at once, as we believe most ear
nestly you can by voting the 100000 on
Monday. That sum, with the contributions
Of others on the line, and three-fifths added
by the State will carry the road to a point so
near its completion that an attempt to stop
it would be too ridiculous and impracticable
to be undertaken. The extension to Coving.
ton thus ensured, the Legislature never will
leave the gap between Covington and Green
brier River,-only sixty six miles unfinished.
There is not even a serious question about
the construction of the road from the mouth
of Greenbrier river to the Big Sandy, be.
cause that's indispensable for the connection
of both the North and South side Railroads
with the Ohio and Kentucky Railroad sys
TENS.
Then shall We 60 ahead? or rather shall
we not go ahead? The real estate of this cit,
has in ten years been quadrupled in value
shall we not make 1t yet at least double it,
present value in ten years to come! Shall
we do this, or shall we fall back into inglori
GUS inactivity and sloth become nest of
old fogies with untenanted houses, grass
grown streets, and worthless lots a civ
abandoned by all men of enterprise left to
creep on and become another Dunkirk of
Virginia where the genius of desolation pre-.
sides. Energetic and public spirited rivals
are all around us ready to profit by our par.
simony and lethargy, and as we fall in the
scale, will they rise until Richmond shall be
eclipsed by them all But shall we not 20
ahead