The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-01-11
evening State So,trnat.
SPIRIT OF THE MORNING. PRESS.

contemporaries uO-uay are qulue lespect
BILE in interest. The Dispatch first taxi
up and discusses in hopeful vein IL
coming union of the West and Virgini
through the instrumentalty of our severe
railroads. The hope deferred, which ha
almost sckened our hearts, is about to b
realized in full fruition by the accomplish
meut of the fact. 1t says:
But, long deferred as it has been, it is nea
at hand. We are to be in communication will
the upper and the lower Mississippi and will
the Gulf States also by railways of the frs
dignity, and that in short time. Already
Gen. Mahone's line reaches, with some inter
veniDg twists, the Mississippi. Time will
straighten these. The Danville road open.
the way to the Gulf with twist in South
Carolina and Georgia, which is soon to be
Strengthened at a saving of $50 miles In dis
lance. With these lines of communication
with the Southern and Western interior, what
have we to fear2 Can we not build up here a
very great city? Can we not at least equal
the river towns of the West which have run
up to their 100000 and 100000 population I?
Undoubtedly and we ought so to know, and
we ought to be looking about us, and pre-
pairing for the new dispensation commercial so
near at hand.
This is, indeed, pleasing prospect our
neighbours telescope draws so nigh; and
we see no reason to fear that the prophecy
will not be fulfilled, and the vision made
reality. Richmond stands at the head
of steam navigation, and it is there, In
these times, that cities are built up. In
other days, when the foundations of our
cities were laid, our commerce was carried
on in sail vessels which could not navigate
the narrow channels of our rivers and
penetrate far into the interior but were
compelled to discharge their rich freights
on the shores of the sea and at the best
points Of discharge, and safest harbors,
comnaScial cities sprung up, both in the
old nd new world; bat Watt and
Fulton changed all this. The discove-
ry and adaptation Of steam as motive
power, released us from this sea-
coast tribute, and the head of steam |
navigation, on the rivers penetrating |
far into the interior, at once became |
the objective point of commerce, while
the cities on the coast, not already grown
to Importance, were passed by, or held
merely as stopping places for the transfer
OF goods to the steamer or the train.
Richmond stands - the head of naviga-
ton on the James. She has a river capa-
bic, with little improvement, Of bearing
on its bosom the largest ships that are
used In the general commerce of the world,
and which can be propelled or towed to
her very doors,-while her railroads,
reaching out in every direction, will bring
their return cargoes. This should make
her very soon the grand distributing depot
for the West, the Northwest, and the
Southwest; and if we have but faith,
even as grain of mustard seed,
this mountain of prosperity will be
moved at our bidding When Richmond
was selected as the capital of he State, it
was with view to strategic and not COM
mercial purposes. At that time Norfolk
bid fair to be the metropolis of this nation.
Then the age of steam had not been
thought Of But now we can almost feel
that its selection and gradual growth were
for there is no other point
in the State SO well adapted for COM
mercial and manufacturing purposes. In
referring to the speedy completion of the !
Chesapeake and Ohio road, in the same
article, the Dispatch continues:
Those Northwestern and W estern Stat es are
Ioon to have an outlet for their trade through
Virginia. The ships from the Virginia shores
will bear abroad their products and bring back !
The foreign goods for their consumption. Rich
nond will be main point of transhipment for
hem, since the sea-going ships bring in their
reights as far as is consistent with ease and
safety of navigation, and the land transporta-
ion is cut short at the nearest point to produa- t
ion, water transportation being cheaper by q
Ill odds than land. So we shall see here '
/ great change. Not that the mere matter
If the shipment or the delivery of goods
)orne upon the water ever builds up
,ity, but the process of the business is enliven-
ng and stimulating to the public energies of a
own where it is going on. Richmond's great :
must be its manufacturing. Com
nerce will come along with that; but the :
business OF shipping away staples and selling
imported goods alone never made great city.
And nobody need to hope that that will ever
make big city in Virginia.
Now, then, bright day is coming for this
,ity. Notwithstanding the enthusiastic salt
cater men, not on the north side of Jamesriver !
lor on the south side thereof; not on the sea-
,oard, nor bayou, nor bluff, nor sand-bank, is
here to be greater city than Richmond any
where east of her in Virginia. Powhatan
etted the question. Here is to be the city of !
Virginia.
We do not think our neighbor o'er-steps
he modesty of reason in his faith and hope.
We believe that all these things will right
peedily come to pass,-and Richmond
hould prepare for them. She should set
Ter house in order for the increased and
business that will be forced
lpon her even ID spite of herself.
In its second article, the Dispatch stirs
Up the matter of social equality with the ,
olored race, so far as riding in cars and
ther public conveyances is concerned
Ne cannot see that any good will come at
present from the agitation of this question.
let it alone, and it will work out its own
olution. Time, which changes and tenn A
'ers all things, will settle the status of the 1
olored man in the society of the world, (
nd give him the place which be is to &C. g
his recognition can neither be ! !
fastened nor retarded. a
The Wing, under the head of ga Great u
'olicy Secured by the Right Means" has a
n article in which it rejoces in the COM g
'lete success of the Southside consolidation v
nder the mastery generaship of Presi- k
ent Malone. In the course of this arti- n
lie it takes up the abstract question of il
of railroads and the power it y
Ives to such monopolies, and treats it as =
ollows:
Objection is made to the power which con-
olidation gives to great corporations; and to 4