The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-02-04
Gvenii,s State 9uurnaI
" FlaG-stations.v -

Central road will dwarf Richmond and our
other cities to mere hsg-stations. Then
why has that roadInot dwsrfed the cities and
towns of Pennsylvania through which 1t
passes =? How comes 1t that Harrisburg
has nearly doubled its population and
increased its wealth ten-fold in ten years :
Pittsburg, too, which had only a population
of 1927 in 1850, now boasts 1926
inhabitants, while its vis-a-cis ever the
river, Allegheny City, has increased 10
population in the same period from 28,702
to 5s,1S1,-and together they form the
most prosperous manufacturing commun-
ity West of the Allegheny mountains.
Now, why may not Richmond, from the
same source, derive like prosperity She
is as munifcently endowed, by nature, has
far greater geographical advantages, and all
she needs is capital and enterprise to de-
velop her latent wealth.
In looking over the last census we find
that all the towns snd cities on the lines
of the great through roads RUNNING East
and West, have prospered, land is not
the conclusion irresistible, that If through
roads are source Of profit and prosperity
to them, that they will also be beneficial
to cities in any State through which they
may pass 2 IF Harrisburg, Pittsburg,
Reading, Altoona, and Allegheny city,
Pennsylvania and Columbus, Crcstine,
Masllon, and hundred other places
in Ohio; Indianapolis, and Peoria, &c,
in the States further west have had their
population doubled in ten years, and st.
Louis has grown to be the fourth city in
the Union by means of these through
roads, while deprived of them, the cities
In Virginia have remained almost station
ary, so far as desirable population is oon-
cerned, the question arises, will not a
similar system produce the same happy
results for Richmond and our other cities
and towns? Look where we may, we find
that railroads build up towns, and increase
their wealth, population and Importance.
With roads running directly North and
South, as nearly on an airline as possible,
and reaching out their Briarean arms in all
directions, through every county, taking
Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Richmond,
Petersburg and Danvile in their way,
what is to prevent this State from becoming
as prosperous as Pennsylvania, Ohio and
Illinois! Richmond will be on the great
highway of traffic between the North and
the South, the halfway stopping place
for both sections--a sort of central depot
for e1change-and will at once assume
position of commercial and manufacturing
Importance, that will place her in the
front rank of growing cities.
Our Legislature cannot possibly commit
greater act of fully than in neglecting
the opportunity now offered of building
up this city by means of through roads
North and South, which shall change the
tide of emigration from the West, and turn
the channels of trade and travel in this
direction. Hundreds of people travel North
and South now every year for health or
business, who would prefer this route, and
If we make the rates cheaper and the
distance shorter, these hundreds will be in
creased to thousands, and 1t will be strange
indeed, if Virginia cannot offer induce
ments enough for some Of them to stop,
op1 ,,arLo nc ,attIa bo~a
The arguments are so many and so SELF
evident, and crowd upon US SO thick and
fast, and are so simple withal, that we are
confused in on effort to select the most for
ciblo and convincing. Indeed, all are
equally in favor; aud there is no man who
has the welfare of the State at heart, and
prefers it to his own sordid desires for gain,
but will admit that the happiest event
which could happen for Virginia would be
the completion of railroad from Wash.
ington to Richmond, connecting with
direct lines, whereby continuous thorough
fare for travel and traffic between the
North and South, by the way of Rich
mond, would be forever secured.