The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-17
Richmond - a Manufacturing City.

Without again discussing the question of
the merits or dement's of the Valley Railroad
scheme. now before the Virginia Legislature
il is gratifying TO see that the opponents of
the bill discard considerations of purely local
interest. and base their antagonism upon the
broad and comprehensive idea that the pro-
iected undertaking would prove fatal to the
interests Of Virginia rs State. But there is
another element still to be taken into the cal
culaton, and that is, that although it may be
difficult ut this time 10 make either OF the
principal cities of Eastern Virginia a great
commercial centre, it ought TO be compare
lively easy to make Richmond a manufactu-
ring city second in importance TO none upon
this continent.
The water power afforded by the James river
has been frequent subject of eulogy and
debate and the unequalled sites which may be
obtained for mills and manufactures along its
banks have excited many n complacent
thought in the minds Of the easy-going Nir-
ginian Before the war, the doctrine of Qoietn
non rn0rere predominated in the State, and now
we have not the capital to realize the full
results of the power which Nature has placed
in our hands. In Manchester there are, it is
true, some large factories in active operation,
and on this side of the river the fire of April
>, 1865, SPARED one of the largest and COM
pletest mills in the country. This, however,
is nothing in comparison with what capital
and energy would soon give us, If properly
directed.
On the banks of the James twenty factories
might be built where now there is but one :
Others could see this, If we could- not, and in
comparatively short time after the close OF
the war, foreign capitalists, who are always
seeking good opportunity of investing their
capital, had turned their attention to this city
Ii was expected that in January last the
agents of some of the largest cotton manufac-
turers in Manchester, England, would arrive
in this country, and twas stated that they then
intended 10 purchase, if possible, the ground
upon which the State Armory formerly Stood
for the purpose of erecting cotton factory
larger than anything of the kind that has yet
been seen in this State. These gentlemen have
not vet reached us; but If they do not, others
viii, for it is impossible that the peculiar
advantages offered in this city to enterprlslng
commercial men can continue TO be sighted or
passed by in silence.
The idea of European capitalists coming TO
settle in Virginia will very probably excite
feeling of jealousy in the minds OF those VINO
cannot see beyond the immediate present. IL
will be argued that we should not allow
foreigners to denude Virginia OF her wealth,
and TO amass fortunes which they Will spehd
out of the country. Such reasoning as THIS
might not be utterly devoid of sense II we hao
but the money with which to do the work our
selves but as it is our greatest necessity Is 70
obtain the means OF developing the resources
of the State; and this can be done us erect
ually by English sovereigns rs by American
dollars 1t is true that half dozen Virginia
corporations may never be called into peihg,
and their shareholders and directors will con-
seauently miss the prospect of big dividends
and comfortable bonuses but the same effect
upon the general pros krity of the State can
be produced by foreigners that we could pro-
duce ourselves
The erection of mills and malAfactories will
cause an immediate increase of the pophia-
ton. Artisans and their families VIII require
houses and food, new stores will be built, capi-
tai will flow into the State, and 1t Is lar from
impossible that Richmond may De the scene
of as great and ubstantial an Improvement as
that which few years of labor have wrought
in the cities Of the northwest. This Is no aay
for taking things quietly and as they come.
Virginia will be Virginia still, even III we 40
have to work hard tead of livingin luxurious
idleness; and Iirginans will be more than Sir-
ginians if they will cast aside vain regrets ana
turn to the practical business OF life when
may be hard and wearisome, bat which we
can, if we will, convert into one OF honest
manly success. Jealousy and suspicion now
are miserably out of place. Let capital come
for we need every dollar offer advantages 10
the capitalist and the artisan which viii IN
duce them TO settle here; and when Richmond
is known as the great manufacturing centre OF
the Southern States, we shall be . great people
in spite Of the ilI-omened project OF a misdi-
railroad sYsfPm.