The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-05-24
Correspondence Of the Newark Daily Journal.
Letter from RiehmOnd---Nancie ester--.
Hts Manufacturing Facilities, &c.

beautifully situated on the James river, OPP
posite Richmond. 1t boasts Of being the
second place settled in America, and, Jldg-
ing from the antique and dilapidated condl-
ton of its buildings, it might have been the
first, and date from the Noachian period at
that; and yet, though possessing one of the
finest watcr-powers in the world, It's popl-
lation does not exceed five thousand souls.
Its paucity in this respect is owing to
many causes, the principal Of which, pro-
badly, is that the larger portion of the land
hercabout was formerly in the hands OF a
few wealthy proprietors-an agricultural,
not manufacturing, class-whose arlStC-
cratic tendencies lead them to turn the cold
shoulder to practical people deSlrouS oil
seiZing and turning TO account the I'M
portant advantages nature held out to them.
1t is related that many years ago wealthy
corporation determined to establish an cX-
tensive paper mill here, and went so far as
to purchase Il site and advertise for surveys
and estimates for their buildings, when the
citizens held an Indignation meeting pro-
testing against the establishment, urging
that the importation of foreign rags, and
the use of chemicals necessary to the buSi-
ness, would bring pestilence, disease, and
foul smells upon them and, finally, that
the influx Of factory operatives and work
men would dcmoraliZe society. SO much
opposition was manifested that the company
became disguised, threw up its charter, sold
its lands at a loss, shook the Manchester
dust from its feet, and departed, eventually
establishing its mill at Petersburg, to the
great gain of that enterprising city. The
same me narrow-lninded policy prevented Man
chester from becoming the termini of the
james River and kanawha canal and the
various lines Of railroad leading SOuth-the
config,lration of the ground here being far
moro favorable than at Richmond.
But times have changed within the past
twenty years, and manufacturers arc now
heartily welcomed and extraordinary facill-
ties and advantages extended to them; so
that it may reasonably be expected that ere
many years this present insignificant town
will give place to an immense manufacturing
city, and the ccaScless roar OF the James he
drowned BY the hum of myriad of looms
and the clank of ponderous machinery. The
greatest drawback to our present prosperity
is that we are saddled with a monopoly
more annoying than that so generally, and
vet withal so causelessly, attributed 10 your
own States railroad interests. Manchester
is connected with Richmond by three
bridges-two of them devoted to railroad
purposes. while the third is the only cause
way by which the city may be reached from
this direction by foot or carriage. This Is
W
sion of the famous Mayo family fOr-the Lord
knows how many generations. The family
have complete monopoly, and, believe,
Il perpetual lease and every man, woman,
child, darky, or quadrupcd, crossing is
obliged to contribute his, her, or Its, mite to
the already pcthoric purse Of the MayoS.
The tax on foot passengers Is comparatively
light, being one cent per capita, but on yc-
hicleS it is decidedly oncrous, amounting to
thirty cents (liitccn cents each way for
single horse and carriage, and III proportion
for teams. This may at first view seem Il
trivial matter, but when you remember that
the manufacturers here are compelled TO
have an immense daily carriage over the
bridge YOU will see that it becomes grie-
vouS tax. ] am assured that the tolls OF one
Of our cotton factories amounted, before the
war, to over five thousand dollars per year.
\ free bridge is Il palpahle and public ne
ccssity. and must one day be built,
The JamCs river, is you are no doubt
aware, is navi9ablc for large vessels only to
Rockets, just ut the outskirts of Richmond;
while small crafts may reach Mayo'S bridge.
Up aboTC, and reaching from far beyond
G0ochIand, the river is Il series of rapids, so
that the securing of an admirable water
power is perfectly Simplc-all that Is ncccs-
Sary being to throw slight cofcr-dam out
desired into mll-race, and your power Is at
YOUR command, while, is the banks and the
rapid dccivity of the stream are favorable,
almost any required head and fall may be
secured, The power obtained from the wa
tors OF the James Is steady ana reliable, aS
the Strcam-unlikc most other watcr-collrses
OF the country-neycr runs dry, nor so low
rs to interfere with the working of the fac
tories. The Watcr-poWcr OF ManchcHtcr Is
owned Ivy the corporation. and, together
with mill sites, is leased on very reasonable
! terms. The le;lS"s are for long periods. II
| desired, and the city gives its pledge to pur-
chase all buildings erected during the occu-
pancy at an appraised valuation, should the
parties decline renewing their lease ut cXpl-
| ration. We have already In full and Sue
, ccssful oi,Crat!ou two extensive cotton fac
| tories IA paper mill, cedar ware hi%ri"!ac-
tory, several Touring mills, foundrleS, ma
chine shops, &C.; more extensive account
of which ! propose giving you III my next.
Our local governments at present lin common
with all other parts of the State)is OF course
| in the hands of the PhljstineS. although
| our carpet-bagger> are mucli DcttcraS a class
than the South generally Is favored WIN:
| There has naturally been Il grand rush OF
the cormorants for the Offices that pdtd, anu
some of the lccches are even willing to give
their valuable services for very small pay
| when there is chance to steal. The trCa-
sury of this county being empty, it has been
quite difficult to find men (cli@lDic) to I'LL
the places. To give YOU an idea of the straits
to which we have been driven, let me state
that the firm your present correspondent
honors by membership represents the fol-
lowing dignitics: Judge OF county court,
president Of board Of trustees, justice OF the
peace, two aldermanships, ovcrsccr of the
! poor. coroner, county assessor, and street
! commissioner.
Now our firm consists Of but three mem
bers, one of whom, the subscriber, is incll.
gible from being unwilling to take and swal.
| low the iron-clad oath; so by the aid OF 4
little arithmetic you can satisfy yourself
that it is, as one OF our darkics graphically
expressed it, cherry much office for two
! Yankees in ole Eirginny." Our latcly-ap'
pointed sheriff holds, liz connection with
that position, the postmastership, an alder
manship, and about bakers dozen OF
minor offices. lie is loyal man, having
been connected with the Union army,
and report has it that he was wounded
| like unto Solon Shingles grandfather
who 't lit into the Revolution, THAT is,
he "was kicked by muet," his otficia
rank that Of sutler, bringing him into
intimate relations with those deadly wea
pons Of war, corked heels. And yet he IS ;
very clever fellow, having been Democrat
before he fell from grace and became car
pct-bagger and his appointment was al
acceptable one to all parties, the more cSpc
cially so from the fact that he keeps Il gro
Gerry, gives long credit, and sells good whis
key. Some Of the recent appointments have
been somewhat singular, ITO say the least
The presiding justice of our county bencl
is a northern junk dealer; and the first cas'
that came before his worship was that Of ;
brother junk dealer who had been indicted
for receiving stolon goods. As a "tellow
feeling makes us wondrous kind his Honor