The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-12-19

mr. we find ourselves running INTO ail
OF Aent in favor of the free crossing OF
SIS rivera question whieh we n"!, w.
1sss s,e;der as settled wisely and MOLLY
of this freedom of intercourSe-a
ation fraught with great ad'an-
=. IRichnond and to the people OF
IA er and the contiguous territory.
Is 10. then, to the question Of the Tree
nf the extension, in fact, OF the
"a bf Richmond into Manchester-"e
10 the surveys and the report there
Nv the very capable engineer, Major
<. The purportr1of this report We
Stated. It. clearly pointed cut the route
VIVA line with 9th street as the oeSt anu
most economical of all. The estimate o'
the cost of durable, plain bridge, resting
mon granite piers, by this route, was
v.OOo-a sum greatly less than the cost OF
bridge by any one OF the four otner
YES. We stated in a former article the
p advantages of the site in aline with
ri, s: its prominence It's fine view
r b comparative rise Of the floods,
- bf the rapid flow of water just
Inc Id the central nature of the To-
~ reference to population in Rich
and in Manchester in very
II. .1TheSe are advantages that are
&SG There may be some people SO
IL q their judgments, so impractical
n. tr views, as to oppose free transit
8er.- mes river; but none can be
E(AlNe ina CINE, so blind RS not to see, so
81 hot rAI1fn
p.res with 9th street is the best of all
* t,erior greatly and decidedly.
EzsiSeration has liberalized the
- = : = : BIDS of this grand enter
= IF any scheme, how
II the hacent, ever could-t0
w views vsabisSsds approval Of tine people
IN prlsscheot, md of Richmond. 1t is
90 10. to increase the magnitude
fulnes, as we'll as grandeur, of the
~ X widening it and placing 1t
- kd stone piers, that it may be as
imposing to the view as it will be useful In
commercial and social intercourse. 1t Is
proposed to make it at least thirty feet
wide, and to have track for railway in
addition to the wide road for vehicles both
ways, and the walk for foot passengers.
The bridge thus enlarged will not exceed
in cost one hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars, and it will be structure Of which we
may be proud.
: The eligibility of the site for the econom-
ical and solid construction of a bridge Is
admirable. One third of the piers will be
built upon the rocks that are exposed all
the time at the ordinary water-line of the
river. Only two piers will stand in water
from five and half to six feet, and the re-
mainder will be in water from only three
to four feet deep. Probably only two piers
will need coffer-dams in their construction.
Now, then, the City Council has shown a
disposition to subscribe $4,000 to free
bridge, and to loan 10000, to be reim~
bursed by the county Of Chesterfield. To
construct the enlarged bridge, at the high.
est estimate, the sum needed from Rich
mond will be less than the $50, 000-Man-
chester contributing her half toward it.
Thus we see that the proposed bridge will
not exceed the cost at first settled upon,
but reduces it by the sum of $4,000. When
we consider the advantages of the enlarge
ment, we can hardly suppose that it will be
opposed by single man.
The time Is propitious for this grand pro-
Ject. We are at q critical period of revolu.
ton in railroads, and upon the public spirit
- and the liberal and comprehensive views Of
our people, and upon the resolution and
yigor with which they execute liberal plans,
will depend the extent of the share they
will have In the results of this great revo.
luton. Now is the time to awake, to rouse
up from lethargy and Istlessness, and te
enter upon the plans for promoting public
accommodation, facilitating commerce, ant
fixing the attention of the world of com
~-merce and the rulers of railroad manage
ment upon Richmond. five stand still ant
resort to no new scheme-no new expedien
In keeping with the activity of this day, M
wny OF getting along consonant with thu
rapidity, expedition, and facility of move
ment and action in the commerce of thes,
times, why, we shall be understood as hav
Ing abandoned the field, and, like LAM
horse, paid forfeit and left the race t,
others. This would, indeed, be the mad
ness of dependency; or, what is worse
the dull, dead inaction of Incidence ant
stupidity.
We consider the free bridge, built in
style creditable to art, as one of the pro
jects that will prove that there are life, en-
ergy, and hope in the hearts of the peopl
of Richmond and Manchester. All com
munities possessed Of stout hearts, stron
arms, and an enlightened spirit Of enter
prise, prove the spirit that is in them b
adjoining the localities they inhabit wit
works of grandeur that arrest the attention
and excite the admiration Of the stranger
He judges the character Of the people b
their works. They tell the story, and
dumb though they be, their eulogy Of thei
builders is always eloquent and neye
tiresome. There could be few no
bier monuments of the spirit and So
!, gacity of people than grand bridg
Sacross the James river, so Astounding il
Ayely natural features. Imagine 1t as.
ssoe passing over the bright waters Of tn
,lk5s Ia view of its green iNlss, and fanne
Ras gentle airs of the summers Of thi
latitude-what delightful promenade
and at night lighted briiRarstly, the spark
l ling waters throwing back the rays OF th
lamps and the evening atmosphere 50 re
nlx 81 Of