The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-07-08
RICHMOND AS A RAILROAD CENTRE.

It is lust as well to sometimes indulge in
a pleasant reverie of our present, and
cheerful forecasting of coming events. AT
ter tomorrow, when the Presidential as
pirants shall be fairly on the great
American course which leads to the White
House, our thoughts and pen may be some
what diverted from Virginia to discussion
of this national topic, and we take advan-
taee of the calm which piecedes this little
pending political storm to point the practl-
cal mind to some pleasant views OF our
surroundings.
Of late we have been so given, on this
side of the Potomac, to view despondently
our affairs that we have learned to under
estimate the values we possess, the advan-
tages we gradually gain, and the advance
we are making to a state of prosperity.
This is not strange, for only a few years
ago we were a sadly crippled people. But
what was true in 1S65-6-7 is not true in
1872. The observant traveller in the states
is agreeably surprised when he crosses
Virginia to-day, and we, the business CEN
tire of the state, her railroad centre and
shipping metropolis, may well look about
us and feel buoyant in the present and glad
" hopeful Of the future. With. good natural
surroundings and resources, in ibis age, it
is steam, railroads, rivers, and ocean COM
merce that makes states great and wealthy.
In these are we eXcelled by any of our
neighbors? AS q great centre, Richmond
claims first, her outlet to the sea by the
navigable and deepening James. This is
our great highway to the ports of the north
and south, from New York to Galveston.
and now to Liverpool by the established
and fixed line of Allan steamers from oul
seaport, Norfolk. Our grand inland feeder
to this is the nearly completed
line Of rail to the great central West, thu
Chesapeake and Ohio railroad, which mus
not alone convey to our seaboard the grain
stores of Cincinnati and Louisville, Blu
will move to our factories and outgoing
ships the iron tonnage of our Alleghanie
and the Goals Of our great Kanawah field
Another year will present scenes of %activit,
on the wharves at the east end of tn
Church Hill tunnel strangely different iron
the present quiet there.
We leave this part of our article wit
regret ; we will return to it another time
The food of 1870 crushed the hope on
of our people. 1t cost millions of dollar
to the State. The kilograms sent to New
York said five years would not rebuild The
James River and Kanawha canal. Wit
heavy hearts but strong resolve that grea
water line was open in six months, carryin
the products from millions of acres of tn
upper valley Of the James and its branches
The long ardently desired " all rail" :
the National Capital is completed, and wit
new combinations from Washington to New
York, that wonderful diplomat and king G
transportation, Tom Scott, will not muc
longer leave us the victims of monopoly, wit
a four hours ferry between us and Wash
ington. In the South the Danville road has it
through lines to Salisbury, Charlotte, AM
the cotton fields of Georgia. The rich val
leys of the Dan, the beautiful Catawba
and the French Broad must send thei
wheat and other values to us. We are d
rectly in their line of shipment, and we ca
compete with any and all other markets.
Mahone's great Atlantic, Ohio and Miss
issippi trunk line of roads, while destined t
carry a wealth of trade to our sister city
Norfolk, will send US annually some thou
sands of tons OF wheat, iron, and live stock
The long pine lumber of Carolina come!
by the Weldon and Petersburg line
and aids our builders and supplies materia
to the car building that is becoming