The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-06-11
ba True Virginia Policy

Of combating the outsluc scnensss hoA ~
diversion OF the trade Of Virginia TO c'tfes :
beyond her limits this universally appros Ie
strategy hiss been utterly disregardeo' So
man can deny that Richmond Is the stiUps
ex. c,tv in the State--a city whose iocaitey'
Iuhose geographical and geographical aa.
ventaces. are such as give the assurance Q!
permanent strength and growth Yet the
nollcy Of the State has placed it, as 1t were,
ont Of the field in the struggle which is lus'
now about reaching It's critical PERIOD
General PoIicY has failed to place ms
strongest division in a position where Il
mavrhe emp}oyed to the best advantage Ia
the decisive hour.
This is a great mistake, which the ruling
sp;rits Of these times must instantly correct,
or the battle is lost and won, and we are
defeated for long years, If not permanently.
Where il the hero to correct this blundef
in time to save US? If any man wants 10
huild monument to his fame that will en-
dure as long as the name oil Virginia Is
known let him do this.
We have not particle Of jealousy TO-
wards the towns Of Virginia. We love
them. Inall we have ties Of friendship, at
tachments, springing from the history OF our
beloved State, which nothingcan sever. Itis
G,r them ms well as ourselves that we would
inst now make use Of the most efficient COM
mercial power in the State to secure viz
cinia commerce to her own adyantase-to
tho building up of large cities within her
borders. so that her own wealth may be de-
welcomed, her resources may be muitpheo,
and her farmers may find markets at their
very doors. Make that commerce tributary
TO the wealth of outside cities, and the farm
er's market will be placed at a great as
lance from him. He cannot cultivate a va
riety of crops, and must risk his whole laoor
IN The fate of a season. The States re-
sources viii hardly increase ut all, or so
slowly as to be unobserved; and virginia
will finger on poor laborer for the people
Of other States.
Nobody wants to see this latter condition
fixed upon us. Then, why shall not all
concur in putting the risk upon the strong
est mower? That will be more certain to
win the victory. The victory won, all VIII
share in it.
Now, then, Richmond is left in cal de
sac by the railroads, except the Danvlile
railroad. She is out of the field, and must
be brought into it, and that soon, for the
safety of the State and all the cities thereof.
She is really the city of the State, and 1t Is
madness to hazard the battle for commerce
without her.
Does any man say that she cannot con-
duct large commerce. We refer him to |
London, to Liverpool, to Paris, to Glas-
gov. They are all interior cities on rivers. |
Glasgow in ITS had n population Of only
some thirty thousand, and depth OF
water of only five feet. Her enterpriSing peo-
pie deepened the river Clyde (which at the |
city of Glasgow is not more one-third the |
width Of James river until they had six
teen feet water to the firth Of Clyde. 1t is
one of the greatest manufacturing cities in |
the world, has population of some 500. 900,
and is rapidly increasing. Contrast this |
with Portsmouth or Queenstown, both
numbered amongst the deepest and most |
capacious harbors in the world, and what |
are We to infer? Portsmouth, 1900 years |
old, the principal naval arsenal of Great |
Britain, bears no comparison to Glasgow |
and has not fourth of its population.
Queenstown is an inconsiderable place,
yet having land-locked harbor Of i'm
mense capacity and entirely secure.
Whatever be the views of men concerning |
other places, it cannot be denied that Rich !
mond is now the most capable of all Virgil |
MIA cities in 4 struggle for commerce. 1t is |
therefore a matter of Importance to the |
State that she should be put in that position
in which her whole force may be brought
into play with greatest effect to prevent the
diversion of Virginia commerce from the
purposes of building up great cities-great
markets, with their immence resources for
revenue and wealth for the State-within her
own borders.
This is the true policy for statesmen and
railroad presidents. There can be no great
strength or prosperity amongst railroads in
Virginia as long as they look to the business
out of the State as their chief SUPPORTS
long as their rates of freight are dictated by
cities beyond our borders. They must
make great local commerce, and they
must make great cities here before they can
feel the full vigor of an independent life and
prosperity. Virginia roads should feel that
they cannot attain the highest prosperity
and power except through the greatness OF
the State which built them, and they should
know that they are best promoting theT
own interests when they are promoting
those of the State to which they are IN
debted for their very existence. Therefore
the unanimous sentiment of the people and
railroad companies in Virginia should be,
accursed be the railroad policy which dis
eliminates against the State and cripples
her resources.
To carry out these practical and patriotic
purposes Richmond must be brought into
the field by straight lines and rapid commu-
nication with the great West. Virginia
railroad presidents and people should with
one voice admit the necessity, and join
hands in accomplishing this great object.
The first works in the maintenance Of this
policy are straight road to Lynchburg
and the deepening of James river so that
we shall have eighteen feet Of water to the
sea.
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Death Of: Charles Dickens.
CHARLES DICKENS is dead. He was, per-