The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-03-31
&it6nIaa6 8tspaE9.
, j sl HoanfNo. ). ..xxRUH il ID isss.

49, ~sN~@>~>.-,-~r> * u 49, -
SATURDAY MORNING. ;. MARCH 81 isee.
Nlahehester naanusacsartne. etc.
This locality, Ne have always eonfended'
must derive its chief source Of wealth and pop
ulAsion from manalact1rtnG.s There y hefe
every facility that could Be desired for manu.
fActurfus undertakings. The sources Of sup.
ply Of coal and iroa ore are con venfcnb ana We
are connected with tAe@ ~ water and rail.
road commuuicastos. Cotton and wool, for the
fabrics tnto which they arr woven. timber for
furuiture. carriages, agricultural Supplemental
and for ship. building, is ~ readily accessible
ana at ~ low a cost ~ IL 10 At any manufac-
tnrsng and ship. building locality In the Union.
Our water and railroad communicate places
us in connection with the whole South and
Southwest enabling us 10 distribate our fab
RIGS with NE greatest ease In thoee parts Of tho
Union.
To these great advantages we can add orr
extensive water power. and the salubrity and
agreeablencss Of Richmond and its vicinity
Its scenery IL not surpassed by that OF any
other place, and there Ii none more healthy
Nature proclaims that must be great man-
ufActuring city, and If man but hall exerts
himself to employ the gifts Of nature, 1t must
become 50.
Looking at James river, we see large body
Of water wasting itself along the rocky and
rugged inclined plane Of the falls. The greater
part Of it may be appropriated to manufac tur-
ing purposes, and may be used over and over
again before it loses itself IN the tide below
These falls-the source Of SO much motive
power-should be the centre Of vast amount
Of industry and wealth. Both sides of the
river should be animated with the busy life of
manufacturing enterprise. 1t is q matter of
no moment that one side bears a different
aame from the other. The motive power and
the sites are on both sides and should be made
actively available. There should be no OBJ.
struction in the way of making one side as
available and as profitable as the other. The
mills and the FORCES should dot both shores
and the operatives, mechanics and machinists
employed in them should be quartered conye-
niently within the circle Of industry Of which
the falls are the centre. There is but one OBJ
struction in the way of this, that we know of.
and that is the tax imposed npon communica-
,ion between Manchester and Richmond Re-
move this, by establishing a free bridge across
James river, and the scene we describe as one
that should exist, will certainly follow.
The Free Bridge, therefore, we consider an
important feature. having powerful bearing
~. We use the term locality" as indicat ting
the spot of earth covered by Richmond and
Manchester whose entire advantages must be
brought into use to secure the highest degle e
of prosperity 10 both these towns. Shut up
Manchester, and prohibit manufacturing
there, and Richmond loses halt the natural
advantages of the point of the river where she
herself has been SO fortunately established
But encourage Manchester, bring all her IA
cili,ies and natural gifts into exercise, and
the wealth of Richmond, as well of that
town, will of necessity be multiplied. Rich
mond must be the banker, the salesman-she
must be the New York to Manchester's Brook
Ign.
We remarked yesterday, upon the relief
which would be afforded to the population in
the centre of Richmonds abreast of the river,
by giving it the benefit of free communication
with Manchester. We now call attention to
the country about that town, as suggesting
other advantages under the auspices of such |
a free transit from shore to shore of the river.
The surface is more regular than that on this |
side. The inclinations to the river are more |
gradual. That side of the river. therefore, is
the side of easy aud pleasant drives, and the |
field for summer recreation would BIT more |
than doubled if the way to 1t were unob- |
structed. The South side, too. affords the best |
land for market gardens, and the supplies for |
city consumption would be greatly increased |
by their free introduction.
So that, whether we consider the mannfac-
turing interests of the locality-the best mode |
Of enhancing the value of the real estate OF |
Manchester and increasing its population and |
wealth-how to benefit Richmond. p increase
the accommodations for its manufacturers |
and citizens, to increase it's wealth and sources |
of supply, and extend the field for the amuse-
ment and recreation of its people, we should |
establish a means of FREE COMMUNICA-
TON BETWEEN THE NORTH AND l
SOUTH SIDE OF JAMES RIVER.
The LEGISLATURE.