The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-07-27
4nln,to,sd 9ispahh,
,,,rnNpsnAY JULY u, 1870.
The straight Shoot.

rhe generators in the charter OF ehe
.,ra;cbt shoot railroad from Lynchburg to
R;chmond met in this city yesterday, and mo
TOOK measures for raising the minimum
c,nital of 100000 preparatory to the or
sanitation Of the company. A report o.
their proceedings will be found elsewhere
in the Dispatch Of this morning.
The gentlemen present were fully I'M
pressed with the importance OF the roaa'
and were confident that II will be promp's
built. ...,..s4,,,
This road is absolutely indispensable ~
; well to Virginia as Richmond itseif. I'M,
State cannot afford to leave her prhcipa'
city overslaughed, pretermitted, playing
second fiddle to places which have not the
ability to compete for trade ana ih"N'
that use Of commerce which VIA sc
cnre to the State the advantages Oh
ranid,y.increasing manufacturing power,
n dense population, large consumption u
agricultural products, and actiVe develop
want Of mineral wealth. In order That
Richmond may be made in the highest oe-
oyce available for the promotion OF these
GREAT objects of state policy she must have
direct. unobstructed, and rapid intercourse
with the western and southwestern inte-
rior. In this day Of active and exped'tlo'ls
communication, when millions are eXpend-
cd to save a few miles in distance, and hours
and even half.hours are esteemed important,
and have their weight in the scale OF COM
petition, no place can hope to flourish whose
lines are not straight, and whose fate is not
even that of a way-station OF a man line,
lint IN he far from that line and communi-
eating with it by lateral line at loss oi
twenty miles in distance. %..
The strengthening and eXpediting OF our
communication with the Southwest VIII
n,,t q new face upon our commerce with
that teeming part of the country. Inc
road will be one of the most active and
busy in the State, and will, beyond ques:
ton. be one of the most thrifty. 1t will
I've a bright day for Richmond when it COM
mences operations. Let the citizen OF
Richmond imagine his feelings when look
ing upon train Of cars, built and equip
ned in the latest style, drawn by the most
improved locomotive, departing from tne
western limits of the city directly for the
Southwest.
Would he not be aroused with enthu-
s,asm. and feel himself filled with hope ana
energy by the sight? Would he not know
that at last we had direct communication,
efficient and active social and commerciai
intercourse with the prosperous ana leeh-
ing Southwest? And would he not 1eel
that we had this communication under cr-
cumstances that secured to Us all the ad-
vantage of distance that is possible, ana all
the energy and enterprise that activity ana
speed could ensure? Contrast the impulses
that would be impaired by such sight
with the feelings inspired now by looking
ut the Danyille train as it leaves the depst.
Does any man think of the Southwest
when he looks upon that train! Can he
realize the idea that he, citizen Oh ken
mond, is to communicate through that train
with Little Tennessee and East Tennessee,
and have any material share in the rlch
trade of those fruitful sections! The con-
trast is as wide as the poles. Nobody 1eels
1le DanNlllt TOttt ditSi5 pSe'NNii -"
and the Southwest. 1t has no life as such,
and we no life throughit. 1t is great road
in its own sphere, and direct road to the
South, opening to this city q grand
commerce but rs conduit to Southwest
Virginia, &C., it is not impressive-it is not
eficient-it is not satisfactory and rs 1t
was never intended to subserye any such
purpose, it is no reflection upon it to say
that it does not. But it would he an ell
during disgrace upon this city if it were
content to continue the employment OF IN
expedient so entirely deficient in this day
of unparalleled activity and competition
Let us build the g straight shoot at
once, and thus yindicate our character for
sagacity and enterprise, and protect, not
only our own interests, but the integrity OF
the trade of Virginia. The people OF Rich
mond and the people of the Southside resi-
ding upon the line of this proposed road
should subscribe to it heartily and prompt
". 1t is q work fraught with inestimable
hon afitc for them nil