The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-04-13
Personal jealousy.


There is sort of jealousy not peculiar to
this city, but which we sometimes think Is
INDUCED with more earrlestneSS and activity
in this city than in any other we know OF,
and that jealousy is the apprehension that
some one or more individuals may make more
money than other people out of public I'M
rrovcncnt or a measure projected for the
public good. This jealousy is neither wise
nor practical. Gentlemen who are con-
sidering the merits of scheme for the
public benefit should not allow their
judgments to be at all affected by any
incidental benefits that may grow out of
it to individuals. To do so would be to give
up the true ground of public Judgment
and would lead to the rejection of a public
oood because it conferred personal benefit
the very thing, indeed, that it should do
That mode of deciding question of public
Improvement would be fatal TO all improve
ments, because some individuals must be
benefited more than Others by every public
work. Accident gives personal advantages
which are unavoidable; but no liberal and
comprehensive friend of the public interests
would deprive the commllsaty of a great good
because of such accidental good Fortune of II
few. Nay, we should be inclined to glatiti-
cation at the good fortune which comes to
feIlow-citizenS in such away.
In most cities we know that it is very COM
mon for people to boast of their rapid growth,
and the gain of individuals by the enhance
ment of choice lots, as the incidents of public
Improvement and expansion is one OF the
most pointed evidences of that growth. 1t
is matter of pride to cite these proofs, and
nobody deplores them.
The greater the city the more remarkable
will be the Instances Of great fortunes ac-
qlireGf by the simple endorsement of real
estate by improvement and expansion. Look
ut New York. Would Anybody in that city
be willing to see it "set back" and dwariad
to cancel the gains of millions by AsTok and
STEWART and others from the enhancement
in value Of real property? 1t would be just
us wise to favor the decline of a city, to take
from men who had accidentally profted by
it's growth, as it would be to oppose inca
sure for the public benefit because it might
incidentally bestow II peculiar advantage upon
few individuals. Well, such an idea never
entered file heads OF New Workers, we sup
pose.
The prejudice against d riesssre tlmt so
benefits few more than it is possible to ben-
eft the whole people, suggests another ;tsca
which is erroneous and impracticable. 1t is
that everybody who is conspicuous in sup
port of a public measure must have some
direct interest to be promoted by it. This,
too, diyerts investigation from the merits of
the measure to an inquiry into the disinte-
RESIDENCES of the individuals who favor it.
This mode Of treating projects for the gene
raj good, if acquiesced in by the community,
would necessarily defeat them all; for no
scheme was ever proposed which it was not
the peculiar personal interest of some men
to support. Fortunate 1t is that every great
project has so powerful motive as self:
interest to sustain it. Few would succeed
without it. 1t is the best guarantee of good
fifth in All enterprise; and by all odds the
best motive power to activity and yigor il
the building of any great work.
1t would be well for Richmond were there
less of this prejudice in the public mind. She
is beginning to expand, and the day is near
when more money will be made by the en-.
hancement of the value of lands through
judicious public measures than at any former
day. We want to see just such proofs Of
public and general prosperity. Nothing
should be more accountable To- orr DeorIe,