The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-04-27
s,a-sn,sH assou-Lettcr from Dassan'
gaished vtrginfan.
No the Editors Of the Dispatch:

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eaished virginian.
10 the Editors Of the Dispatch:
Amid the din of this fierce warfare be-
tween the Orange and Norfolk parties. tne
claims Of Richmond seem almost smotneI"
ed. They seem 10 me altogether preem;'
nent. Indeed, think there Is no Ssase p On
icy but to build up Richmond. Ihere Is no
other point within her borders TO make q
great city Of, at least till we have become one
When she shall have grown rich and poopu'
lous, and, indeed, In some degree co-lncf
IDENTIFY with her growth, Norfolk will be
also never before. No town In Virgins
but her has all the capacities and fulfils al
the conditions Of great commercial me-
tropolis. All have some Of them, none ou'
her ali.
she is where the water-power of sea-goine
shjps. /. e. commerce, meets the WATERPROOF
er Of Horticulture, and, by a happy and al
most uncxampled fortune, the water-poWel
az manufactures, Also, where Is found sc
fortunate and potential conjunction fol
trader
She is where the locomotive starts daily
south, east, north, northwest, west, and
southwest.
Where is another 80 felicitous conjunc.
ton Of facilities for travel?
and warmer soils, best suited for the smaller
fruits, flowers, and early vegetables, and the
heavier and cooler ones, best adapted to the
cereals, tobacco, and the apple.
What point rivals her in this respect?
At the same point meet the food-treasures
and delicacies Of the rivers and bays, and Of
the fields and forests.
At what other point so commodiously
She Is where the winters cold and the
summers heat are so admirably tempered,
and so wholesomely blended, as to tit her
mans hsbitation all the gear round.
What city can compete with her In this
respect2
She has an adequate lower level for COM
mercial trade, and reached by gentle grades
boundless upper one for internal traffic
advantages for those objects not surpassed
By any towu-site in the State. And then
she has sites innumerable for residences,
and unsurpassed for health and convenience
for residences for the many, and choicer ones
where riches and taste might indulge them
selves in buildings and embellishments that
seen from without might vie in effect with
those of her tasteful Ilame-sake on the
Thames, a{M from within would look out
on yet Superior landscape.
She has what no other of our towns has;
canal (which against modern sneerers shall
yet, one day, fully yi9dlcate the forecast ana
fulfil the hopes of Washington and Mar
shalD which empties its freights directly into
her streets or her docks, and she has the no.
blest of all our rivers flowing by her.
For these reasons there is, in my judg-
ment, no great city so available Gf possible)
for Virginia at first as Richmond, and pow
er, opulence, influence, and consideration,
are impossible for State except she have
great city.
GAN roads lead to Rome,'' and there
could have been no Rome if they had not no
Paris-no London or New York but on
these terms. And If Virginia wants Rome
of her own she must open all roads to it, ana
she will have it in Richmond, because Rich
mond meets all the conditions OF success
or she may turn them upon any other place
and fail, because no other does. Or, II the
Legislature shall prefer to localize, log-roll,
and share out its great economic powers,
and pursue a petty, mince-meat, county
policy, instead of a broad, harmonlzlng,
State one, they may multiply towns indeed,
but have never grand trade emporium re-
ceiying and giving strength and wealth from
all and to alt. It would be system with
out sun.
Hence, in my view, the first and great
point is to straighten and complete. as fast
and as far as she can, and as Typographical
impediments may permit, the connections
of Richmond with the Mississippi and the
Ohio, and cherish the canal. Save this
alone there is nothing for Virginia as
State. All else is mere alternative be- |
tween provincial relations Of trade with
New York or Baltimore.
Consolidate from Bristol to Nortolk-therc
are driblets for Lynchburg, Petersburg. |
Richmond, indeed all our railroad towns, |
and larger benefit for Norfolk in wharves,
warehouses, and all the appliances Of in |
creased shipping, (there to stop but the
lions share is New York's.
Consolidate from Bristol to Alexandria,
there are yet driblets for all, perhaps a
larger and growing one for Richmond than
in the others case, but the lions share is |
Baltimore's.
If consolidation were judicious at all, it
should, in my opinion, be consolidation from
Richmond to Bristol, and from Richmond
to the Ohio. But there need be none. Not
that any one doubts that the one-man man
agement in transportation, as in govern
ment, is more efficient, and might lie more
beneficial, than that of several. 1t has been
said, indeed, Nunquans Ltoertqs gramonr
eztat, guam sub Rege pio," but the pro
has been always the difficulty, and hence the
less efficient, but on the whole SAFER anu
fairer rule of the many has been preferred
by us in America, to the more emcienI OF
the one. who has been generaily !ousu 10
use his powers mainly for the benehs OF aaa'
one and his ring. Hence / prefer coniede,
ration to consolidation both III pontics ana
trade. ~
Give, then, fair and equal chances to all,
at the distributing point OF Lynchburg, as
Norfolk. Richmond, Baltimore, and New
York. and only equal and the same, and l
shall not fear but that Richmond shall sure
" and rapidiy, after her connections COM
smnnose Go conseauentially, and less early, } at
finally d onent pt ens E5est
I hone there is no treason or felony in
these Views. Entertained long before the
present railroad controversy begun, they
snring out Of no favor or prejudice towards
efther Of the parties, or sympathy with the
sneciai objects of either, and having, as you
know. no pecuniary interest to promote by
them. while they may be wrong, they at
least are not yenal, while think the policy
thew recommend vital to the best interests
Of Virginia.
am, yours truly,