The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-07-19
lFrom TIE Roanoke Valley.l
Richmond and IFS Future.

y
property of Richmond is to be sold, which.
we believe, has water power on it second
to very few in the United States. We speak
knowingly in this matter, as we (the senior)
were in charge of the armory on the prop
ertv during the war, and know its capacity.
The Armory property is entitled to GER
| tain number Of inches Of water from the
canal, and it can be easily demonstrated
| that that quantity of water will drive much
more machinery than can possibly be loca-
| ted on the premises.
The fall between the canal and the river
| is over fifty feet. There is race-way on
each side of the lot, which fronts little
over 600 feet on the canal. For driving the
machinery Of the Armory there were on
the east side three wheels, all run by the
same water: First, thirty -siX-inch turbine,
which run all the machinery for finishing
and rifling gun barrels and for making the
different parts Of the stock, consisting of
more than hundred machines. Below
that. using the same water, was another
wheel, running the grindstones. polishing
wheels, the machines for first and second
boring and turning gun barrels, part Of the
| tilt hammers, and the blast fans for the
| blacksmith shop. Some distance below
| that another wheel drove the barreI-rolling
! machinery, the blast for two or three FORCES,
and the rest of the tilt hammers.
We cannot remember the exact amount
of water used, but know that it was not
one-third of that to which the property
was entitled, aud we claimed a deduction
on the water rent when settling with the
canal company. But the mere statement
of fifteen inches water, four feet wide,
| with fall of fifty feet, will give to any
practical man an idea Of the immense
| amount of power that can be developed.
This, however, is not the only such pow
er in Richmond. On the contrary, such
or superior powers can be produced for
neatly half a mile along the river front,
between the canal and the river.
| With such water. power as this, why
| should Richmond trouble herself about be-
| ing a seaport, &c. That certainly is not
necessary to her prosperity. Here is
| Norfolk, a great Virginia seaport, bearing
about the same relation, geographically, to
Richmond as New York does to Philadel-
pha, with better connections; what more
| is required: Let Richmond take such a
position as Philadelphia in manufacturing {;
| it is really a more prosperous one f.; New
| York has more business ana more In,
habitants. but Philadelphia has more real
wealth. more houses, and more comfort.
While the citizens of New York are hud-
| died together in tenement houses, Phlla-
| delphians of the same class live in comfort
able houses, having convenlences and COM
forts which New Workers never know,
| But Richmond, as far as manufactures
are concerned, has many advantages over
| Philadelphia. Richmond has this immense
| water. power sufficient to drive all the ma
chinery that is now in operation In Phlla-
delphia, the largest manufacturing city in
/ the Union, and as much more added to IL,
i which in Philadelphia is all operated by
steam. Richmond is in close proximity to
l 81, oh for. lad
transported from 80 to 100 miles. There are
also in this State vast bodies OF fine timber
lands, which can be utilized in manutac-
lures. Richmond has railroad connections,
which are continually being increased to all
parts of the State and OF the South, and
also canal transportation for the heavy
staples of iron from the interior, grain from
the Southwest, &C., DC.
| From these and other indications we feel
certain that Richmond is destined to be-
come the metropolis OF Virginia, asst is the
capital.
But the citizens, the merchants, and
manufacturers must seek extensions OF
their trade; they must preserve and fos-
ter tho spirit Of enterprise which has marx
cd the progress OF the city since the war.
! They should also make further efforts to
induce capital into their midst that Is the
great lever that moves the world.
They should also give aid to every enter
prise by which their railroad facilities may
lie increased--tor instance, the Roam oke
Valley road, which connects by the Dan
vile railroad with the extensive range OF
counties lying on the border Of North Caro-.
lima, east OF Danville, much Of the trade OF
which has been going to Petersburg and
| Norfolk. -,
Some parties have undertaken to build
that road. and ask for aid in the way OF q
bonus. Richmond could well afford to give
all they ask tor-$90, 000-but she is not re.
Quired to do this. The great bulk OF the
bonus will be raised in this county, but
| Richmond will be asked to give portion
The completion of the Roanoke valley
road to the North Carolina line Will give To
| Rich mond the trade Of large scope Of
country which now takes the direction Of
the Raleigh and CASTOR road and us con-
nections.
Richmond merchants and manufacturers
should also patronise the local papers, aus
yertising their business literally,
There was a tobacco fair in Petersburg q
few weeks ago, which was not advertised
In the country papers, and the conse.
quence was that our farmers knew nothing
about it. Last year there was fair in ST.
Louis which acas advertised, at which some
of our county tobacco took premiums. This
presents fair contrast between advance
Viraniaps feel proud Of Richmond. She
need not be afraid of being oyertopped by
any other Virginia city. Let the Ghesa'
peake and Ohio railroad 60 to West FONT.
lcan make only an sntrepoe for goods
Richmond WILDE the business mart, ana %
that point will tho balance OF TRACE aetes'
mine.