The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-11-06

3, what Richmcad want&
: There IL in this city no organization to
ssve efficacy 10 enlightened public sssti-
-msus on the Vital matter Of the local ints-
rests Of ths eomAunity. Never In the
Asssosy OF the city ives there % much nsed
Of zach . thing. Never was IL Ats %
critical, 10 welfare h such peril. Insfs
shoaA b now Board Of Trade, % II.
change, and the leading men should b Do.
vossdly enenssd 10 considering The Int.
rests Of The commanisy and the best means
Of Ael only projecting them. but d increas-
ine the coumerce and general prosperity
Of this the larsest town In the State. For
the want Of this organization and this con.
ference anoosst the more intelligent and
iSausutial Of our citizens We are In danger
ofbelns continually kept In Q false POSI-
ton and IN Tho attitude Of hslplssnsss IN
the midst Of hostile elements which have
been steadily obstructing the growth Of
Richmond and retarding her prospe-
'fity. There 10 no community on earth
moro Industrious and persevering than
that IL Richmond. Each man attends
faithfully and with indomitable energy 70
his individual interests, and upon An old
fashioned principle, some think Il The best
way 10 promote the welfare Of oil. But
he new inventions and ensiueries for con.
ductlne trade and keeping up social inter-
ieoufss make very serious inroad on this
olA-fAshioned idea. Men who in cities now
devote themselves to their individual int
rests, and look not out upon the world, and
take no care 70 preserve and extend their
communications with the productive re-
gions that contribute the only means Of
maintaining trade and commerce, will most
assuredly suffer from falling of oftrade
and blight Of all their hopes, and be Left
to decline and decay. Industry will not
save them. They will BIO conquered in
detail by wiser and more sagacious COM
munitiss, and when too late they will dis
cover the great error in following in this
day OF ours very wise maxim Of our
grandfathers.
This is day Of activity and farseeing
and comprehensive policies. Baltimore il
one Of the uoblest examples IN this respect
Of our times. When she began the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad, the project Of Its
construction to tho Ohio over what were
supposed to be insurmountablc obstacles
was considered madness. But Baltimore
persevered. She became oppressed with
debt; the State Of Maryland for . time
was unable to pay the interest on her pub.
lie liabilities; yet Baltimore was undaunted
and steadfast. Her grand enterprise was
in the hands Of the sblest economists and
iinanciers-men of undying perseverance.
She backed the company's credit for mill
lions. More than once was its entire CAPT.
tai absorbed, and as often did Baltimore,
ever faithful to her own interests, come
forward to its aid. Her guarantees were
far on towards the entire value Of her
real property before the consummstion Of
her highest hopes. Long years to her de-
voted citizens were they between the COM
mencement and the completion Of the
grand enterprise. But they passed BY in
time, and Baltimore was put in the pos
session of more than al the brilliant re.
suits she anticipated. No city has grown
more rapidly, while without this noble dis
play by her citizens Of enterprise and con-
stancy, which entities them to oil their
prosperity, Baltimore would have lin
gered-Baltimore would have dreamed
upon the Chesapeake of thrift never to be
enjoyed, of increase and power never to
come to her. But her great scheme has tri-
umphed, her great corporation has become
q power in the nation-a power welded
to Baltimore power which, although
abhorred or dreaded by some, is neverthe-
less even in their sight tho CALLAHAN whose
burthens are always for the behoof and
beneHcence Of that noble PRosPERo-that
Baltimore whose weird wand seems now to
compel spirits Of air, earth, and water to
minister to her grandeur and power.
Compare the natural opportunities and
advantages Of this noble city Of Baltimore
with those OF two cities Of Virginia, and
how small do they appeari Richmond had
advantages much superior. whether We
consider her routes to the Ohio, to tho
Southwest, or the South. Yet she has pur-
sued the old-fashioned policy Of each man
attending to his own business, and leaving
to IN imprscticable and log.rolling Legs
laturs the matter Of shaping the lines Of
improvement and bartering away tho
birthright Of Virginia for not even mess
Of pottage. Richmond has been set back
. half century. Yet people who have
any pretensions to manhood, any spirit and
energy Of character, any ambition to emu
late, If not to excel, their contemporaries,
will not despair and fold their arms in In.
glorious Incidence simply because they
have been tardy to put forth their ener.