The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-10-26

FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER Is, 1866.
NoHFoLk-THE FRUiTs or Inactivity.

! NoRFoLK-THE FRUITs or INACTIvITY-
Waiting, Macawber-like, for something to
turn up, and doing nothing in the mean
while has long been the prevailing policy Of
Norfolk. ai
What are its result? Shall it continue to
prevaii7 These are questions that every man
should ask who feels an interest in the future
Of the city We propose to answer them,
hoping to stimulate our business and work.
eingmen to work hereafter to better purpose.
J. This policy has done to Norfolk what the
shears Of Delilah did to Sampson. 1t has
shorn her of her strength and activity It
has caused her to become almost incapable Of
sefhelp. 1t has made her the "Sleepy
Hollow" of Virginia. 1t has forced many of
her sons to resort elsewhere for the remunera-
tive exercise of their energy and talents. 1t
has discouraged men of capital and brains
from other places from engaging in business
within her limits 1t has paraysed enterprise
1t has hindered Development 1t has di-
verified trace into other channels. 1t has
diminished capital and labor. 1t has dwin-
Al died the sphere of mechanical, manufectur-
= ing. commercial and mercantile operations.
It has yielded the profit of business to more
active competitors It has neutralised all the
advantages derived from location and climate.
1t has led the people to. view all schemes de-
signed for the public and general good, from
an individual and isolated stand point, and
seems to have destroyed their capacity for
conceiving, omprehending, executing or
supporting any measure not Immediately
: yielding profitable return. 1T has weighed
upon her prosperity like AN incubus. 1t hes
subjected her municipal interest and duties to
incometpent management, and has created
condition of embarrassment from which eX-
trieation is most difficult. '-
sd 1t has reduced the only commercial and
81 maritime city of the State to the third rank
10 population, the fourth in wealth, and per-
haps the lowest in activity, energy and en-
terprise. Whilst Richmond and Petersburg
4 have been quick to perceive and active to adj
vance their interests, Norfolk, like the
foolish virgins Of scripture, has g sluinbered
and slept qs
ID, 1t avals not now to enquire into the causes
of this state of affairs Let us rather seek
remedy, and strive to arouse our people from
their supine inactivity. We have too long
been . penny-wise aud pound foolish"
Ruinous and .unwise management has ip,
yolyed us in debt, impaired our credit, d.
unfinished our resources Of payment and
created an insane fear in the councils to en-
gage in any beneficial scheme casting dol
lar, lest taxes may be increased. I'VE must
now change our whole system of directing
city affairs, OF be satisfied to hnger and Ian
guish in all time to come, as in the past
Let US arouse and grid our loins for the race,
and we may yet overtake and distance our
rivals. If our men of capital and business
will, in the future, be less selfish and more
public spirited, ii they will act unitedly and
vigorously in support Of beneficial schemes,
il they will foster labor and encourage man
ufaetures, Norfolk may yet be redeemed
d Let them give us the water works, and
they will thereby give employment, for the
money Of the capitalist and the labor Of the
workingman. sstsa a .sasa5 sf