The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-09-14
Aitllu,ond nispatclr.
IA, 1867.
What Can be Done.

look back and see what We have omitted
to do; because it is thus that men Of hope
and energy see what they may do, and
apply themselves to its accomplishment.
We lack ways of communication with the
inexhaustible sources Of production in the
great West as the means Of maintaining
hero manufactures and commerce. We
have lost time by directing our exertions
to other objects. 1t is now our duty TO
cndeavor to repair losses by concentrating
all our forces upon that purpose which
was plainly the true one Of the past gene
ration. 1t is not too late. Harmony and
combination, guided by energy and spirit,
will achieve all that has been neglected,
and thus 1--WE will say postponed, not lost.
1t is no cxtravagant picture to the
minds eye that covers the hills of Rich
mond with compact buildings and fills up
the open land on the south of James river
with an animated city. 1t is but neces-
sary that we should, by direct lines, estab-
lsh communication with the West and
Southwest, in order to accumulate here an
immense population, engaged in commerce
and manufactures, whose wants and ne
cessities will cover all the country now
commanded by the view from the capitol
with buildings and a dense and active
population. Philadelphia, the second city
in the United States, is seated upon the
shores Of the Delaware a long way from
the sea-as far as Richmond is from the
Chesapeake. There is no water power for
her in the Delaware, as there is for Rich
mond in the James. She has lost the
chief part of her foreign commerce-all
her China and European foreign trade
being taken from her by New York. Yet
Philadelphia most wonderfully continues
to grow and swell out her boundaries as
rapidly as New York. How is this! 1t
is done by her manufacturing industry.
Throughout the business part of that tiou
rishing town are small manufactures OF
almost everything that enters into the use
and consumption Of man. She supplies even
New York with vast amount Of fabrics
which arc sold by wholesale stores of that
city. No population in the Union is more
actively engaged in productive enterprises
than that of Philadelphia. We say pro-
drc.iye for they convert the raw mate
rial into manufactured articles, and to the
extent of the enhanced value of the IA"
material thus metamorphosed they are
producers creators Of arcdth.
But for this industry and art among
Philade!phians their city would have de-
clined in prosperity. For Notwithstanding
the extensive back country it has, and the
magnificent style in which it is cultivated
by the Germans aud people Of German
descent, Philadelphia, with the loss OF al
most her entire foreign trade, could not
have advanced an inch but for her manu-
features.
With this striking example before US,
what may we not hope for for Richmond !!
We have the advantage Of Philadelphia IN
water power-wo have the advantage in
being upon the line Of greatest energies
and of most uninterrupted labors-irced
alike from tho Instructions of winter
frosts and the cxhausting heat Of summer.
We have the same great West that Phlla-
delphia has-wc have fine lands, watercd
as no other lands are, and they will be occu-
pied ere long by populations which will cui-
tivate them with an economy and thrift moi
unlike that Of Pennsylvania tillagc. Then
why may we not look for similar results
with those in Philadelphia from manufac-
lures in the various branches which may
be so successfully followed in Richmond q?
Most assurcdly VIC may calculate with
confidence upon such results. Give Us
but the way Of communication with the
West and Southwest-the Chesapeake and
Ohio railroad, the connecting line with
Lynchburg, &c.-and all these conse-
auences of increased and increasing popu-
lations and wealth will most asSuredly
follow. In no place in America can manu-
factories be more favorably conducted.
All we want is the connections with the
interior. Towards the sea We are free and
uutramelled. Open the way to the West,
and manufacturing enterprise will spring
up here unsurpassed for its activity and
success. This must invite commerce OF
considerable magnitude, and though it is
not now matter for our especial Boosting,
that commerce will be sufficient to crafty
our ambition.
This is the improvement upon the past
which it falls to our lot to make. Let
there be no shrinking, no doubt, no nesita-
ton; but let us all give our hearts and
hands to the work, assured upon the most
practical calculations that the results here
foreshadowed will follow.
First in order, let's build the Chesapeake
and Ohio railroad.
Big SANDY BRANCH.-A meeting was
very recently held at CeredO, in Wayne