Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-08-01
CITY ITEMS.

THE FrrrRr or RIcHNoSD-The following interest
ing article is copied from the editorial eolums Of The
United States Railroad and Mining Register" Of ss.h
inst published at Philadelphia The editor is mistaken
in stating that the present population Of Richmond has
been indicated BY the returns OF the The enume
ration Of the Inhabitants has not yet been completed;
but have very little doubt that the result will sustain
the estimate which made short time ago,cOrresPond-
ing with the figures used by the editor Of the Register,
as the basis Of his remarks;
The returns Of the census indicate that the nhabit-
ants within the corporate bounds Of the city Of Rich
mond number nearly 40 600; and that its suburbs con-
tain from 10000 20 II OOO Inhabitants masking the whole
population, city and suburban, more than $4,000 souls
Since 1850 the increase within the city has exceeded
forty per cent whilst in the decades commencing in $40
aud 1880 the increase Only thirty per cent Rich
mOnd therefore, Notwithstanding the three years Of
valsiOn and prostaon which aveinteened in the last
decade has increased faster in population than be-
fore; and being nov urban community Of pOre than
fifty thousand inhabitants Richmond is the metropolis
as well as the capital OF the Old DomioOn, and may be
made. We believe, the largest city between Baltimore and
New Orleans.
Already she Is the commercial centre Of Virginia and
the nucleus Of her manufactures and Virginia is a
vast Common wealth Astounding, like Pennsylvania with
coal and iron and blessed too, ike Pennsylvania with
rivers and ridges and bills and valleys giving diversity
10 her landscapes and variety 70 her soils Virginia will
divide with Pennsylvania the great markets Of the
for coal aud iron not 10 Jealousy and competition but
in harmony and cooperation; for along the seabOard
and down the Ohio, Virgins aud PENNSYLVANIA will both
find market for their mineral staples in the augmenng
mtrtS Of commerce and manufactures.
And then Richmond Ike Philadelphia, becoming the
centre Of STATE trade inermxed With interstate trade
and foreign trade will attract capital and numbcr and
bscome the scene OF new Improvements and large invest
meats
EjOyng tideWater communication with the ocean, aud
rail communication with deep water ports upon nume-
rivers flowing into the Chesapeake she might i'm
port in bulk and distribute in package situated upon
the route Of practical water line Virginia terri
tory 70 the Ohio nvsr and at the term Of iron
line that Pierees the Blue Ridge and is Winning its length
westward interOck with the network that covers the
Olio Valley, and with divergng lines stretching South
aud East and constituting links in the great cords which
bind cities and States in the ties Of commerce and inter
course Richmond rises up in the contemplation Of the
future the mistress Of Virginia trade and the chief en-
trepot upon the tributaries which aOE into Chesapeake
By.
Cheap fuel pure water a. prolific surrounding cOun-
try accessibility 70 The ocean, and easy transportation
have made Philadelphia city Of almost 100000 souls
aud as all these facilities in Proximate degree are pos
sessed by Richmond, she too may number hundreds Of
thousands OF inhabitants
In 1890 no city in the United States equaed the pop
ulaton Of Richmond sud its suburbs in 1860 10 1850
only New York and Philadelphia exceeded Richmond in
1859, for, In 1870 the population Of Boston only
u 9a7 and OF Baltimore 90 III In 1910 Philadelphia
and NeS York the orly cities that eded Rich
mOud in lS6u, Boston in 1910 containing 33 25U sous
aud Baltimore So 5S3 In lS2O bu four cities exceeded
the population Of Richmond in lS6u VII, New York
philadelphia Boston aud Baltimore, the last tao cities
then containing Boston 43 POS aud Baltimore 60 I3S u-
habtnts Ia 1850 only four cities exceeded the popu-
htOa Of Richmond in 1860 70 wit New York. Philadel-
phi Boston and B,ltimOre New Orleans then contain
ing but 46 $40 inhabitants. In 1910 but five cities
ceeded the population Of Richmond in 1860 to wit New
York, PHILADELPHIA Boston Baltimore and New Oreass;
Cincinnati then having but % J3S inhabitants 10 1880
but eight cities exceeded the population Of Richmond in
1860 70 wit, New York, Philadelphia Boston, Balti-
more New Orleans. Cincinnati, ST. Louis and Brooklyn.
In S6b add the eight aiOre-named cities san Fran
cisco, Pitsburg, Chicago Cleveland, LOUISVILLE Charles
ton Buffalo, Albany, Washington aud Providence.
These statistics indicate the growth Of American cities
in some cases on localities aud with surroundings and
facilities TO be ramed along with Richmond in natl-
raj advantages and uheu Virginia becomes more con-
mcrcal. then will Richmond augment more rapidly in
population and resources aud take her rank among the
large cities in the large States. Any great State that
has aiso as great city Is doomed 20 be 0gersAaosi
by tha influence OF eonceutra- capita by poserul
press and by superior facilities Cor receiving and coz
yeying utellgence and iOs transporting persons and
goods "