The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-11-03
nrA;,,k We'll Of Your City.

..,r;ct;on that few men in the city OF hio ga
mond properly appreciated the aavah.ass1
Of it's location and the admirable natural
fac;,;,;es It affords for industry ana en'.i
nr;.. sor the successful prosecution OF .ae
nrrs';.a Of a large population, and for It's De-
coming the greatest inland city An WV
Union. It is only upon this assump'.on
tha.. we can account for the apathy wnion
has prevailed amongst intelligent ol'la. as
with reference to public Improvements 40
their indisposition to take measures ~ -
,,omo.;on Of the local facilities OF uaue
Intimately connected with their own HUI
WA :. Sonld very much expand their IDEAS
80 ,bem far more liberal and just to
the city they live in, if they would once a
wsst or a. short intervals, get upon nigh
r,oce-Church Hill, the Gallego MILLS or
the capi.ol-and look upon the surrounding
scene. Could there be o fairerY whether
We consider it in the light of beauty OF
utility, where is its superior For manu-
faetures. for commerce, there is space as
we'll as eligible situations-room and
motive power the most admirable 'or
comfortable dwellings, sites the most
inviting! Her noble river, on the one
hand Offering water-power for great manu-
factories, on the other affording On outlet
capable of transporting to sea all the pro-
ducts of the ten southern States. Occu-
pyipg the main valley of the State equi-
distant between the mountains and the
sea at the head of the tide and the terml-
nation of the flowing water enjoying the
salubrity of pure air, and the health which
that. combined with pure water and
country of graceful hill and dale based
on granite foundation, makes perfect,
there is scarcely anything needed that can
60 to make large population healthy, en-
ergetic, and contented.
In looking over the panorama of the
power and advantages of Richmond we
should not consider alone the north bank of
the river. Manchester is really part OF
Richmond. Put down one point of pair
Of dividers on the centre of wholesale trade
in Richmond, and draw circle with the
other point of one mile in diameter, and o
third of the area will lie in Manchester.
That third should be made available as
tributary to the active industry OF the
whole. The streets of Richmond should be
continued into Manchester by at least TWO
free bridges-well built, broad, and lighted
with gas at night. The south side is the
side of easy grades and fruitful soil. The
horse railroad might traverse the whole
country in every direction, meeting with no
difficult grades, and the whole graceful
landscape from the river for miles to the
interior might TEEN with an industry
which would be tributary to the common
wealth Of the locality. On the north side
would be the deposits and the sales and set
Elements, while the productive industry OF
the south side would invigorate the tcrcHs
and promote the comfort, as 1t would en-
openingof the sianchester sia ; e. eiaa de- The
ness population would enable it to live near
the place Of business, whilst the gardens OF
the south side would multiply Immensely
the supplies for consumption. In the view
of the future, it is matter of the greatest
importance to Richmond that its streets
should cross the river. It's bulk of trade
and business should indeed be in centre
of an available circle, otherwise that centre
will be deprived of SO much accommoda-
ton as may be afforded in that part of the
circle not open to that business.
If We look out Of the city, what have we
to build expectation upon? Vast mineral
wealth, with which this city is in very fair
communication already, but with which, if
we take care of our interests, we shall In
time have the most perfect intercourse.
Prominent amongst these resources are coal
and iron, which never fail to make that
people great who work with them. The
canal traverses country Astounding in
these minerals, and affording the cheapest
rate of transportation. The Chesapeake
and Ohio railroad will open to us new and
valuable resources of raw material, and
new fields for trade. The extension Of the
Danyille Railway line to Atlanta, in Geor-
gia, will immensely expand our commerce
in that direction. and all we shall then
need will be direct road to Lynchburg, in
order that we may relieve ourselves from
the serious detriment we now suffer for the
want of that direct intercourse. The cana
to the Ohio will, we are sure, be superadd'
ed to these conduiss of trade, and will Dc
the most important of all. That canno'
fail to impress itself upon Congress as
national work with SO much force as to ex'
tort the means for its completion.
It is needless for US to fill up this grand
scene at the head of tide and at the falls Of
James river with the activity, the enter
prise, the teeming population, and the busy
hum Of industry with which it is to be filled
and made to resound in the course Of 8
short time. Every man Of practical sense
and not too much contracted in his ideas
will easily do this for himself, and far more
to his satisfaction than if we attempted to
paint the picture for him.
Let every man 60 up to q high place fire.
quently and look at Richmond and the sur
rounding country. It will grow and i'm