The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-04-24
The Two important Things:

such MS the granite WoIhs Wy
an rho ,nnueI, the free bridge CIV"
f,.so, t,t j, is not able to see $" 'ar ".'e'u -
~. D,smni,h. and that il does not tmhk ti'e
.,..,;op Of Manchester SINE qua 'ion'
nav the lev ling o! "all our hills co'iu''ion
r,,..caeut." to the prosperity of Richmond
This is due to the "rarrow gauge OF t',e
5,,nyrr,,s spectaclcs. or to the bslle-oott'e
Nv, old fogy, having shut ont part OF 'he
,r;e,. through them by calmly settling down
upon the lens.
E;rSt-The Eaoyiyer names the "irce
bridge" from Richmond t" Manchester as
among the Signs Of The prosperity oil hich-
mo,d Isuot the annexation Of Manchester
coro,lsry of the free bridge? If not, how
can VIC suppose that the free bridge will be
means of prosperity to Richmond! VIII
il prosper Richmond by opening the way to
rcopse to live in Manchester, do business in
Richmond, and escape the tax levied by
Richmond? Would it help Richmond thus
TO build bridge to rob her own treasury
These are questions that not only the En-
ouirer but every citizen should consider.
Second-As the Dispatch never proposed
to "level all our hills the Enquirer is dis
senting from proposition never made by
the Dispdtch. But we understand what the
ENQUIRER means. 1t is essaying to make alb
surd the suggestions Of the Dispatch con-
cerning the grading of Main and Broad
streets. These two works are not great un-
dertakingS, and we believe they arc indi-
spcnsable to the commerce and prosperity OF
this city. The grades Of both those streets
nre incompatible with commerce, and great
barrier TO the enhancement of the value of
property.
Take Main street. Naturally business
should have travelled along that street west
ward. But it stopped when it came to the
grade that was incompatible With commerce.
There is some grade between 4 level and Il
perpendicular that must he an insuperable
barrier to commerce, and in or opinion the
grade between Eighth and Fifth is just that
obstructive incline, and the fact sustainS us.
Now, it will cost but little to reduce that
grade to the requirements of business. while
such reduction would enhance the value of
property, increase business. aud thus swell
the receipts Of the city treasury. We ask, Is
il not a shame and disgrace to Il city like
Richmond, with a population of $4,000 in
habitaats, that its principal street should be
obstructcd by grades that arc bar to COM
merce? when, too, the Objectionable grades
could be properly altered at an expenditure.
IL, n
unnecessary alterations of tie pavement of
Grace and connecting streets. The work is
positively contemplate compared with the
immense labor and cost Of dwelling hills in
numerous cities of magnitude little in adj
vance of Richmond, and in comparison with
the great work of elevaling the whole of
Chicago eight feet.
Then consider the proposed Broad-strect
work TO connect Church and Shockoe Hills.
Those hills contain the great mass of the city
population, and there is no communication
between them. Is that tolclable: Can the
enterprises of this city be advanced by the
vigorous support Of Il harmonious effort and
an intelligent direction of means rs long as
so many of her people arc separated by gull
that is impossible?
Tho ,rosert ,o,a ,crosr .d,m,,s v,ue,
was rartlv the work of an individual and
nartlv If the city. Dr r r. C,sr,1 the
elder, to bring Council Chamber Hill into
use. mid soven co,ts nor ,,,l,;c r,r1 for tbo
ror,o,,1 os tho lin ,,o,., - ,,os'.,IIo ,.,.,do
and tho >.;t,. ,,ara tho nont,,itor -, 800 n
,,rd Cav d,,,sy;,,,, ,ho oort,, t,o,,oo ro,ro,.od
ON Rro,d streat IN tho yo,,ov T., th;s WOW.
roadway was made Int one which ren,ires
that borsas sh.u have clavs r. oseond ;ts
stcen orod, Rut tho work was moro than
half acc6,nnl;sned This was donc near FORTY
wears since and vet We have not advanced an I
inch further excent to nave the stean surface |
rather to keen il from ,,osb;uo a,ra,, t,,an 70
make tbc street hotter
~, ~ ,,o. ,.,oo4 .a
- hu;!,. $3.50, -. oa,.sa u;,1s =, 49,;
,..o.a 800 .Nu , .,su,. 80 ,,;.., -,
ina.s o In 10 ,,,;th
t0."'h'e NV" Nv .lI -
h t"e Guy WHICH "ouiu Wv ~ M nono
-. 'ot 'n. gym 'i''' ~ "u"o ,,5;t,,ro oo,,-
III "ou'o NC ''hii'etise-'h e'> ~
l@ratlVe'! contemplate.
We hesitate not to say-and we oo no'
speak impulsively or lightly about such iiia'-
ters-that the grading we have pointed out
would enhance the value of property in Rich
mond at least million of dollars. THIS
would pay back the city many fold for its
(iblrch Uol1l1 nj