The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-11-30

The last ten years exhibit a steady and graf
flying development Of all the great interests Of
Virginia. She has increased in population, in
wealth, IN commerce. In agriculture and min
eral development. and in mocha nical and com.
mercisl enterprises. Her system of internal
Improvements has already been productive of
beneficial results, and given evidence, even in
Its incomplete and unfinished state, of a golden
tide of business and wealth which Will seek
it's channels as soon as they are fully opened.
In addition TO this grand material progress,
the education of tho people has received an
i'm petus such az has not been witnessed In any
previous decade. Our universities colleges,
academies. and female schools, have all not
only increased, but set up higher standard
of learning, are attended by larger numbers and
are presided over by a class OF teacherswho in
qualifications, efficiency, and in elevated moral
tone and social status, have no superiors,
probably no equals, in The Union. A review
OF the material, Intellectual and moral pro-
gress OF Virginia, for the last ten years, Is
full Of interest and satisfaction to every
citizen of the Commonwealth. But great
as ii il, 1t is destined TO be eclipsed by the
achievements of the next decade, If we ex-
ert only ordinary vigilance and energy
The great difficulty is always to make a good
start. John JACOB AsToR said 1t cost him
more trouble 10 make his first thousand dol
lars than all the millions that grew out of IL.
Virginia, in the bread foundation she has laid
for her internal improvement system, aud the
energetic and suspicious beginning she has
made OF mechanical en- terprise, has surmount-
ed the pinch of the hill, and if she push for
ward now with energy and wisdom, she will
have hereafter an easy triumph. Ten years
more and we may hope that all our railroads
will be completed, and, more than all, the
James River and kanawha Canal, 4 work
which, when accomplished, will completely
regenerate this Old Dominion. We envy the
young men Of the day, who are just about to
step on the theatre of action, and who will
witness, in the meridian and vigor Of their
| lives, that glorious contamination for which
| the men of the present generation have hoped
| and waited, and may Idle without the sight,
For more than double the period which the
people OF Israel wandered in the desert, has
| this great improvement dragged its slow length
along among the valleys and mountains OF
Virginia. Generation after generation has
laid its bones in the desert, without catching
the most distant glimpse of this promised
| land. For the last twenty years it has travel
ed Al the rate of about two miles year, al
which speed, il kept up, it would reach the
Ohio somewhere about A. ID. 20o0 But, luck
| lily, our French allies have come to the rescue
| and, in all probability, work will be COM
| pleted within the next Ten years which will
| accomplish as great results for Virginia the
Erie Canal for New York. Thus the Past lie
| full of satsfac lion, and the Future of hope,
| if Virginia will use with judgment and en-
| ergy the advantages she has already obtained
There is no State In the Union, even in the
opinion of those who are most hostile to its
| institutions and its people, which combines SO
many agricultural, mineral, and commercial
capacities for greatness, as Virginia. Now
that these capacities are beginning 10 be de-
veloped and are attracting the attention OF the
| world, it requires no prophet to predict that,
at the close OF the present century, she will be
one of the most powerful, populous and pros
porous OF American States.