The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-01-12
The Contemplated New Bridge.


We regarded the act enabling the trustees OF
the town Of Manchester to borrow certain
sum of money for the purpose OF constructing
a bridge between that town and this city rs
matter of so much Importance to residents Vi
both and of the country around and above MAN
chester that we published it at length III our
Issue of yesterday. 1t is regarded pretty sehe
rally we believe, as the entering Wedge 10
free bridge, which must and will IN the course
Of fine he established between the TWO cities,
or. rather. this bridge itself, when II shall have
paid for itself, principal and interest, will, we
believe. be- made free bridge, whether such
he the design at present or not.
We think il is pretty well settled in the pub
lie mind everywhere that this is to be great
city, and that the town of Manchester must
ascend in the scale of Importance as this city
goes up. Indeed, they can no more be sepa-
rated than the Siamese twins, without infinite
damage TO each. When Richmond dies, Man
chester dies when Manchester dies, Richmond
may make her will and set her house III order
II is of the last importance that the communi-
cation between the two should be as free as
though no river interviewed to interrupt 1t.
Richmond will, probably, always be the
place of business. Men living in Man
chester will always have their business houses
here, as they have now. But in the course of
time, as Richmond grows, Manchester will be-
come the city of residences-of fine houses,
handsome grounds, and of ease, elegance, and
refinement where but little business in the
wholesale line will be done, but where men of
wealth and taste will set up their permanent
abode. twill, in this respect, bear the same
relation TO Richmond that Brooklyn does TO
New York. 1t is, in fact, part of the city Of
Richmond already, and the time is approach
ing when ii will be even more so. We hest
tate not TO express the belief that Manchester
is 10 be one of the most beautiful as Rich
mond will be, next 10 Norfolk perhaps, the
greatest city in all the South. Every thing in
dicates Manchester as the proper spot for
city of the character we have endeayored to
describe. Her romantic situation, her sue
Cession of hills and wales, the beautiful pros
pect from every house in the city, her healthi
ness, the rich scenery of her neighborhood,
the broad river, and broader low grounds be-
low her, the magnificent falls and bright
green islands in her front, the fertility of the
country above her and around her; all these
mark out the spot as the place for wealth to
enjoy itself, and for successful industry TO rest
from its labors.
As Richmond grows, market gardens and
farms for the supply of its daily wants must
increase. The country back of Manchester,
for many miles up and down the river, is bet
ter adapted TO the cultivation of such pro
ducts, is more capable of being converted into
small farms and market gardens, than any
within the reach of Richmond. Why then
has ii not, therefore, yielded hitherto the
fruits that We're to be expected of it? There is
but one reason, and that is the tax it has been
compelled TO pay in transit from the farm TO
the market. That tax, ii is true, has been
comparatively small but this species OF COM
merce, it has been long known, will not bear
even light transit duty. 1t must be free
free as the very air we breathe-or it will
wither and die. Let the passage of the
river be free TO everybody and every
thing, and we shall see little farms and large
gardens spring up in al directions around
Manchester. Lest any man mistake us because
we argue in this strain upon the merits OF a
J.idge which is TO tax those who pass over it,
we take occasion to say that we do it because
it will not be long before it will become free
bridge.
The act establishing the Manches ter bridge
calls for three hundred thousand dollars. 1t
is not dollar too much. Nay, we even doubt
whether it is enough. The bridge ought to be
not only strongly built, and so high as to set
the greatest flood at defiance, but it ought to
be wide enough to afford room for prone
naders, seeking ii for recreation and exercise, In
the greatest number 1t ought TO be illumi-
mated every night-the theory adopted by our
City Council in regulating the supply of gas
for the streets, that the moon is bound TO en-
tighten the earth every night, called for by the
almanac, cloud or no cloud, ought to be dis
carded. Travellers and promenaders for plea
sure or health ought TO have light at all
times, whether the moon shine or not. One
Or two houses should be established on the
bridge which might be used for selling re-
freshments-fruit, confectioneries, lemon AIDE,
&c, but no intoxicating drinks. We would
have these things done for the advantage OF
the public in general, but more especially for
the benefit of the working classes. Many
poor fellow is cooped up in the workshops
and manufactures or the side of the river,
who when night comes, goes to bed without
having gulped down during the day mouth.
full of fresh air or having stretched his wearied
limbs in careless, disengaged exercise merely
because he has nowhere near him to 60 for
that purpose To be sure he can, If he choose,
go TO the Capitol Square or other places on the
hill where the breeze is fresh and constantly
in motion. But these resorts are distant-he
is worried and out of spirit-he sees nothing
before him to tempt him to use his limbs, and
to a wearied and low spirited man some temp
tation of the sort is absolutely essential. Such
a bridge as we have in our minds eye, afford
ing such promenade as we have indicated,
would be of the utmost benefit to this most
useful and most respectable, and, we must
add, most hardly worked class Of citizens.
We know not how the people of Manchester
expect to realize the loan which the act calls
for. But we should think there could be lit
tie difficulty in effecting it. They will, doubt
less, be backed by the whole south-side, with
whom free bridge has been gantd for the
last forty years.
Yaxnac Pi,noYc and Kanau1ha ImfornNa-