The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-02-23

Capitalists, most of whom are from the
North, have, within the past twelve months,
purchased about 5000 acres of land in the
vicinity of Yorktown, at the mouth Of York
river, and Newport News, at the mouth Of
the James. These investments will doubt
less prove profitable. We have been Of the
opinion, for some years, that city was des-
tined to be built at one Of these points. The
necessities of commerce will demand the ex-
tension of the Chesapeake and Ohio road to
deep water. There isl sense, or policy, Or
sincerity in denying this fact. When this
great national thoroug hfare is completed to its
connections with the lines leading to the
Lakes and to the Pacific, it is nonsense to
| suppose that its eastern terminus will remain
at Richmond. The almost fabulous trade
and travel that must seek the ocean over this
great Virginia line, will require ships
of the largest capacity to accommodate
them Such cannot approach Richmond
Therefore the demands Of trade will force the
extension of the Ches and Ohio Railroad to
harb0r where carriers Of sufficient size can
be foated. 1t is flying in the face of destiny
to attempt to check the progress of an enter
prise, the comprchensiveness of which is
measured only by the vast limits of oul SIM
perial domain.
To suppose that mind like Mr.. Hunting
ton s, which had grasped and encompassed
such continental scheme as the Union Pa
ci6c Railroad, and had pushed it to success
full realization, could be satisfied with mere
local enterprise-had failed to see the still
greater Importance of the destined ends to
be accomplished by the completion of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Road, is to suppose an
absurdity.
Richmond is destined to become a great
manufacturing city. 1t is to this that the
energies and the capital of her people should
be directed. With advantages of climate
and water power unequalled in the United
States, the completion Of the various railroad
schemes now in progress and contemplated.
| by which the entire State is to receive an
impetus in material development, emigration
and capital will be attracted, and the sub
stanta foundation of wealth and population
be laid for that city.
The Mechanics Cotton Factory, near Pc
tersburg, Va, was destroyed by fire on the
night of the 18th. All the valuable machin-
Sf and
The property was insured in various com
panies to the amount of $4,000, which falls
far short of covering the loss. The factory
was almost exclusively owned by citizens Of
Petersburg, and was one Of the largest and
most complete Of its kind in the State. It
worked ia looms, gave employment to about
100 operators, and manufactured a large
quantity of material We are sorry to hear
of the crippling Of such enterprises They
must be, eventually, the life Of the State, if
she is ever to have any.
-
Congressman Knott, of Kentucky, having
immortalized himself and "Duluth'' in the
short space of one hour has now turned his
attention to Washington city. Iu recent
speech in Congress he said that he hoped,
after the government had paved all the
streets and avenues, given every man an Of
Gee and built him brown stone house, the
people of Washington would not come to
Congress for an appropriation for "cast iron
niggcrs" to put before their doors.
Hon f. 2. Blair, of Missouri, on the 18th,
denounced, in the United States Senate, all
the reconstruction measures, as unconstitu-
tional Mr.. Blair has uniformly held this
opinion, and in various speeches, during
the last Presidential campaign, gave emphat-
ic expression to It, He is true and bold
man, and is very apt to call "a spade spade"
He has not the gift of circumlocution.
ADJOURNMENT OF THE LEGISLATURE