The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-01-25
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.
PETERSBURG, January "A, 1900.

PETERSBURG, January -, iSoo'
Among the first railroads built In the Initea
States, If not the very first, was the re'e,'
burg and Weldon road. subsequent! "
Southsidc, connecting Petersburg WIN NV
upper country; and the City Poiht' Win "esp
water-toge;her with some Improvements VI
another kind-were carried through, anu III"
terially added 10 the trade OF 'ne CITY n"'
other cities, in taking care OF their own ih'e
rests projected and completed hhes oi improve
ment conflicting with ours. The Seaboard
rod and the Richmond and Danyille road,
detached considerable portion of the produce
which had been brought to this market and
now the line from Lynchburg TO Alexandria,
under an energetic management, is withdraw
ing another portion, and furnishing trans
portation to the Northern markets at cheaper
rates than the route by Richmond or Peters
burg The energy and administrative abih's
of President Malone may be equal to the task
Of recovering the trade that has been diverted
but however that may be, there is one great
Improvement that Petersburg must accom-
plish. or else she will lose her prestige among
the cities of Virginia, and all her FORMER
enterprise may eventually be thing OF
naught.
This is the improvement Of the Appomattox
river With the harbor of the city ten miles
distant, and with vigorous rivals on either
side, her situation becomes extremely critical
This work has long claimed the attention OF
her merchants, and years ago far seeing men
advocated the digging OF ship canal TO Broad'
way a distance of six miles. But the city mas
been content thus far TO depend on deepening
the channel and removing DISTINCTIONS. All
that il is possible TO effect in this way is TO get
a maximum depth Of eight or nine feet oil
water, which requires ceaseless vigilance ana
q heavy annual outlay TO maintain. The I'M
mense amount of detritus borne on the oft-re-
curing floods of an angry river, and deposited
as soon as il reaches slack water, is enough to-
choke up any channel. During the war, the
operati. n Of dredging machines was necessa-
rily suspended, and the consequence is that
everything has to be done again Us If from the
start.
Now, n canal that will float ships of the
largest class-such as come up to City Point
and bring them to our very doors, would place
the city on an equality with Norfolk, and give
her decided advantage, as port, over the
metropolis The cost of importing goods TO
Petersburg would be no greater than TO Nor
folk and for the rest, the public spirited mer-
chants of this city would be able to march
abreast with the foremost in the great rivalry
of trade.
1t is believed that the time has now come
that the citizens of Petersburg should settle
down in the conviction that 4 ship canal is
indispensable TO the maintenance of its pros
perity. The danger is imminent, and the case
requires an heroic remedy. If content TO sink
into gradual decline, such palliatives rs the
Improvement of the channel may serve TO pro-
long her existence, but are unavailing To
restore her to vigorous health.
The number of bales of cotton brought in
per Southern railroad yesterday was one
hundred and twenty nine. The market is
weaker for 4 day or two past, the prices ruling
from Acc. to 46Ec.
The quotations of tobacco at the several
warehouses may be given as follows
West Hill Observation-Disclosures & Parham.-
Hogsheads sold, fifteen.-Sl3.5o $40 %, $40 Is,
az. so, 100, $50, S7.75, $27.75 $3.50, 1925,
-. go, s.. so, ST.. 90, So 80, $1,000.
Centre Haretouse.-Rowlett Macln. Hogs
heads sold, five.-sl7.5o, $3.50, $500, $3.50,
oaks Warehouse. -Bond i Hawks.-Hogs-
heads sold, eleyen.-Sl07 IS, 81 90, Sll 20, $3.50
$40, IS so, $3.50, sl4.o9, slj 90 sl2s, 500
heads sold thirty fve.-$l7.o0, $3.50, $50,
$500, ST. so, sS.75, s2O.35, 1915, $50, $24.2O
1915, $l5.75, $50, $6. So $50, s2o,25, Si5.25
$50. so, slo75, $3.50 800, sle. so, s2e So IS so
800, 80, So 80, Sls.25, 1925, $780,
&29.75, 1915, Sl4.40, $3.50.
A novel but painful spectacle on Bank street
to-day attracted a considerable crowd--it was
the skeleton foot of a man, no doubt a soldier,
found lying in the middle of the stree and in all
probability brought there by dog from some
shallow grave on the lines round the city
The papers are agitating the subject of giving
decent sepulture to our heroic dead, and it is
hoped that some movement to that effect will
be inaugurated at an early day.
SSowDES.
A MOST DISTRESSING OccURRENCE.-It is