The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-08-26
Cities and Commerce.

r., "a not favorable localities alono ina
,,okc great cities. We have examples Q
tho triumph Of human energy and enter
nrise in establishing large populations ant
treat wealth in situations but sparscly en-
lowed with those natural advantage
which are suitable to commerce and ma
nnfactnres. ;,
Baltimore is an example Of city bull
M in spite Of limited facilities and III
ncarncss to other great marts, when
tended more or less to Cypress or subordl,
nate il. On the other hand, Richmond j
~ example of city having very superior
,,c;,;tics, which have not been made avail
ohio rs they might hare been with proper
energy. sagacity, and liberality. baiti-
,,o-n struck out to extend its communica-
,;o,s with the interior soon after the
srcccssrul introduction of the system OF
r,;,ro,ds in this country q means OF com
,,,,,;ca,;on and transportation which was,
:.aooa her salvation, confined as she was
NO the Instructions west of her, and pre-
.srm;,ted in a good degree by the ten
do,cr OF the old routes to direct the trade
.o,,rgcr cities. She looked far ahead and
,,orra-cd herself to build the great Baltl-
Woo and Ohio railroad, in spite of obsta-
clos which seemed at that day to defy all
but supcrhuman power and wisdom. She
succeeded, and she has her reward. The
p,,,;more of to-day is the admiration 0!
Tho world, and the great work which it
strained her every nerve to construct has
,ronpbt her q steadily increasing wealth
,,o,rer which makes her now queen
amongst cities.
Had Richmond exhibited o similar en-
tcrprise and sagacity at as early day.
what might she not have been now! ohe
had Infinitely superior advantages 10 BAL
,;,oorc. She is less within the sphere OF
the larger cities--has wider range OF ru-
r,I surface to support her-has a greater
area of mineral riches, whose develop
m.nt must enure to her bencilt-wnlle
onrn;oc westwardly and southwardly from
how were routes so favored by nature for
railroads that she could have built them at
greatly less than the cost of that railway
which has built Baltimore, and with grades
CO mncb easier and lines so much straighter
than those of that most successful enter
,ri>c. that she would have had verything,
every consid in the comparison, i'm
mensclv in her favor What man who
loves this city and knows these truths does
not lament, as 'twere, in sackcloth and
ashes that apathy, that want of sagacity,
which left these magnificent advantages
neglected :?
But if we deplore the disastrous torpol
OF the public spirit and the public energy
which have, let us say, deferred-we be-
licve not lost, yet-the fruition OF the
noble endowments vouchsafed by nature tc
our happy locality-what shall we say no"
should this sluggishness Of the public
heart aud arm be continued? We see
what We haze lost but, thank God, we see
at the same time orhdt lce may no,s achiere
We have lost time, but we have not yet los
the advantages that belong to our position
Spirit and energy will yet win for us tn
great success which we have not achieved
for the want Of them.
We are oppressed indeed but canno
continue so. Society cannot long remain
standing on its head with IFS heels upper
most. Now is the time for us to deter
mine to rise superior to adversely. Lik
the noble Romans, who legislatcd for thu
public welfare calmly and resolutely while
the Gaus were laundering at the gates o
their city, we should now take measures
promoting the welfare of Richmond, anc
securing for her that wealth and power tc
which her position entities her. BY acting
thus we shall prove that we possess the
true nobility of man, which enables him t
derive fortitude and courage from misfor
tune-ANT.EUs like, rising with renewed
strength from our fall. Such all example
will command not only the general admi
ration, but the confidence of mankind
We shall invite immigration and the in
vcstments Of capitalists; and all men vii
say that such people cannot be KEEP
down, and must be rewarded with pros
perity and power.
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