The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-07-17
The Harmonious Platform.

| What we have complained OF was the
folly of the government of Virginia in ig-
norine the only place in the State worthy
OF the name city, by pretermitLlng 1t IN con-
structing the first line that was built from
the West to tdc-water Virginia. 1t retard-
ed the commercial prosperity of the State,
and inflicted serious injury by restraining
| the MULTIPLICATION oil the sources OF reVe'
| nne. -
That error is attributable to the fact that
Richmond stands upon the border alike OF
the tide-water and the middle districts OF
the State. In the sectional scufile over the
division of funds appropriated out OF the
treasury Of the State to works of Internal
Improvement, Richmond could bring no
strong party into the field, the sections de-
voting themselves to their towns and local
interests, as thcy understood them. H.
deed, Richmond excited, because of Der su-
perior!ty,a feeling of opposition which led TO
combinations against her, notwithstanding
that she was always liberal and that She
paid so large part of the money that was
appropriated 20 public works. When she
complained, us she seldom did, and never
in bitter spirit, she was tainted with lie
caual ! Il sort of Ingenuity Of mackSly thtt
showed the whettcd hostility which suc
scsted it.
How long this injustice and impolicy
would have lasted we cannot conjecture.
But the means Of pursuing it are no longer
at command. The State no longer appro-
PIRATES money to public works; and COM
oinations cannot find occupation i'll vast
ing her means in the quicksands Of vision.
AIRY schemes to the neglect and defeat of the
really great projects calculated to make the
STATE powerful and prosperous.
This withdrawal Of the State from the
field Of public improvements il, in our
opinion, q fortunate event. Jealous Sec
tiona lariisans are not the best judges of
the direction railroads should take for the
promotion Of tho welfare aud power Of the
State and since they had only to vote the
money of the State to their schemes, they
were not very scrupulous in their examina-
ton of the feasibility and the promise Of
profit Of those schemes. Thus the poor
its means thrown away in projects from
which nothing could be expected in the
way Of dividends and little in the way Of
improvement and enriching the country.
What has been misdirected may be, in a
great degree, righted. Two or three very
short lines which will be built, will do JUS
tice to all the Virginia commercial commu-
mites. This city wants the full benefit OF
the shortest line to the 'strade felds' OF
the West and South, and as the first city IN
the State, to these she is peculiarly entitled.
These completed, all will be right. There
will be no reason for jealousy and hostility
among the towns, and they may heartily
combine, not in measures adverse to one
another, but in efforts to promote the COM
merce, the industry, and prosperity of the
State, This is the true ground of compro-
mise. IS
terests of the towns may be gathered to-
petber In harmony. Once established, it is
not likely to be interrupted. Railroads are
NOT built by private means where they are
not wanted and where they are not likely
TO be profitable, aud therefore of public
advantage. Improvements-the straight
ening OF lines and the building of new
ones-upon this principle will he sure to
strengthen the trade and industry of the
State, and promote the harmony and in
teerity of its commercial interests.