The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-05-12
What Richmond Can Do.

II is Of some service in STRENGTHENING the
filth Of olr own people, as well as III ele'
waiting the responsibility of our city abroad
for its enterprise and force at this time, now
and then to state facts. We walk IN the
midst of the energies already in existence
here, and are not Impressed with them
very many are profoundly ignorant Of them.
The flour manufacturing mills Of Rich
tnond have at this time a capacity Of four
thousand barrels of flour per day. They
can consume each Gay sixty carloads Of
wheat They can thus manufacture the
wheat produced upon an immense area.
Heretofore the mills have been in operation
but n part Of each year, not exceeding,
probably, six months. When the supply
Of wheat is increased by the introduction
Of The western whea, they will grindnearly
tie whole year, and there will be an in
crease in milling power equal to the de-
maud occasioned by the increased supply.
AT present our mils can load ship every
day if they have the wheat.
This is an interesting fact-as interesting
20 the railroad corporations which are
planning their future operations as it is to
ourselves.
Then look at the article of tobacco. For
many reasons Richmond is the tobacco
market for this continent. 1t enjoys just
that magic medium of temperature that Is
best adapted to the exposition and sale OF
tobacco, and to its handling and manutac.
ture. 1t is in this respect incomparably
superior to any other place which has es-
sayed to get control of the tobacco trade.
Tobacco can be better worked here, ana
for much longer period of the year, th'lh
anywhere else i'll the Union, for it IS longer
in order, and in that exact condition tna'
facilitates the process Of manufacture 'na.'
il is in any other place where the eAp 70
ment has been made. We mean any othei
place which has aspired to become d iea''
ing tobacco market. 49,
Besides, Virginia tobacco has taken Tue
lead IN the markets Of the Worid-saVe
during the temporary interruption 'll''
was caused by the war-ahu sn,puieh''
from " James river" have c'hsiuera'ioi
abroad that is not enjoyed by those IRON
other points of expectation.
Therefore. we may justly conclude thai
,,o ostot,l; .bment of direct communication
between Richmond and the West Will turI
tho tide Of the western tobacco trade t(
this city and there will be an immense adj
d;t,on to the business transacted here Ii
this great stapie'
alton. There are many others.
Tot lis consider the scene of the delivery
os these. Tracks will have to be laid tc
warehouses; and mills, and the trains Of cars
oc;lI have to be drawn to them. It will
never do to think Of wagons ard drays, an(
double handling Of this immense amount o
produce. 1t would be a serious drawback
upon The commerce of the city, and coult
not be borne. So we can see at, once tina
in the matter of depot arrangements ant
tracks there is to be great revolution
Streets will have to be opened, grades al
tered, together with other changes and new
agencies, which will make great alteration
in Richmond and in the manner of busi
ness here. These are the themes that SHOULD
engage the attention Of leading men Il
Richmond. They will have the op
portunity of making o big city here
and they must begin IN time to lit
no their minds to the height Of tn
exigency soon to Come upon them.
1t Is due to them to say that upon on
great point our city government has fullyse
allied the approaching necessity, and tiia
- the deepening Of the channel Of jane