The New York herald., 1862-07-28
THE CITY OF RICHMOND.

All eyes arc turned on Richmond while Mcclellan
and Wilkes and Pope ratng their and
forces lot US see what and where Richmond is
Richmond the capital Of Virginia. the so-called
capital Of the rebel States, Is situated the loft or
northeast bank OF James river the head OF tda
water aud below ths lower falls II the scat of justice
for Henyeo county and is distant from Washington In
sn air line about one hundred mss south by wost Ths
distance by railroad IS hundred and thirty miles
from washington one hundred and sixty eight from
Baltimore and twenty two miles from Petersburg which
s south of tho Virginia capital Richmond lies IN iati-
tude 81 80 north longitude 1871 west Of Gresnwich,
or O. as west OF Washington. II IS the largest town IN
Virginia has considered one OF the most oe"a
tifu United The situation OF the CITY and
the scenery tho epviron much admired combin
ing a high degroo tho elements Of grandeur, beauty
and variety. The river, winding among vsrdant hills,
which with graceful swes and unduations, Is in-
terupted by numerous islands and granite rocks among
which il. tumbles roams for distance or several
niles Tho city is built several hls, the most
considerable Of which shockos and Rchinoad hills,
separated each By he Shockoe creek and Is laid
out with genera regularity rectangular blocks About
twelve parallel streets nearly three miles IL length OK
tanc northwest and southeast and originally dis.
tnCuhed by the lstters Of tho alphabet A street be-
ing next the river but other names, however, are now
vsnsray used The principal thoroughfare OF business
ana fashion s Main, formerly 'E' street The cross
streets or those which nerssc the strssts Just sn-
toned designated by numbsrs such as First Second
and SO on. The Capitol and other public buildings are
situated on Shockoo Hill ths top of which elevated
plain in the part OF the city. This Is the fash
onas quarter and Is considered the most desirable for
private residences The Capitol for its size and sle-
vated poson is the conspicuous obect in Rich
mond It stands IN the csnsrs Of public square ss
| about eight aorss. In which Is splendid
| caestrtan statue Of Washington. Tho building
! Is adorned with 4 pcrtso Of Ionic columns,
and contains marble OF Washington, By Houdon,
taken from fe and considered perfect likeness The
City Hall is au elegant and costly building, 10 the Doris
style an angle Of Capitol square. The penentary,
which stands the river ia the western suburbs Of
the ciiy front three hundred feet in LENGTH and
one hundred feet dsop The number or prison
es in September, 1853, was two hundred and seventy
thus showing 10 be oommodous The city at one time
contained court house. Jail, asmory three hundred
and twenty long by two hundred and eighty feet
wide market houses, theatre (no long since &C.
stroyed By ro), Orphan Asylum and Masonic Hall.
new custom house was here erected by the United
States government at cost Of about four hundred thou
| sand dollars There were also three banks,
| with an aggregate capital Of over two mil
| lions, and several insurance offices. The public
press wss before the rebellion represented By sevorl
daily and weekly journals in all about dozen, and
| there are twenty three churches IN the 0lty.
beautiful ssmstery, named Holly wood adorns the out
skirts in this tho remains Of President Monroe were
Inferred being removed from this city in 1860.
The tails Of James river are short distance above
the city proper and afford considerable water power by
which machinery Of the factories are worked. Ths
Tredegar Iron Works situated near the river, and
have aterly turned out immense amount Of artillery
and war material. Vessels drawing about ten feet Of
waer could, previous TO the rebellion, have easily
ascended TO place called Rockets, which is only about
! mile from the city, and can now, unless tho
bells have entirely destroyed the channel not unlikely
proceeding AID Ia ger vessels could also have como
within four miles Of Tho city proper. Al City Point
thore are fifty wator In the river and there
also abo,t twelve es OF water over the bar, short
distance above city Point canal has been built around
the falls above them there il navigation for TIVE
hundred miles, to Covsngten.
The city was founGsl In 1742 and became the capital
OF the state in l7s9 In JGns 1851 the rebels made u
the capital OF their rotten oonrsderacy There are ave
direct lines Of railroad which the city, and from
which many others branch within few miies OF ths
same. The following table Of railway distances may bs
| intersstngs-
Distances. Aiycs.
From Richmond to Petersburg .,......... ~
From Richmond to Weldon, via Petersburg. Se
From Richmond to Suffolk via Petersburg 60
From Rahmend TO Norfolk, via Petersburg.
From Richmond 70 Lynchburg, via Petersburg 146
From Richmond 70 White House. .................. "a
From Echmond % fredsrisksonrg ..........'... o0
From Richmond to Aqua Greek 70
From Richmond TO Danve. e.......:.............l4 .l40
From Richmond TO Gordonsville ............. 70
From Richmond 70 stanton, via Gordonsv ls. .136
rrom Richmond 10 Mount Jackson via CordonsyilIs
and Manassas Gap. .2x1
The following extrac, from statement OF gen
tlsman who visited the CITY last summer
The principal feature that strikes every who sees