The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-07-05
a New Year Begun.

The City Council lately ciectct--a'u III
great part reGccted-llas been organized
and has set forth upon the work of the year,
we trust. with bright hopes, strong resoi''-
ton, and liberal ideas. The Council have ave-. a
city richly endowed by nature, win the
brightest prospects before it, which they may
realize in greater or less degree in proper
ton to their enterprise and good Judgment.
We trust there may be that sort of work
inr over of the old and the-new material
Which compose the body that will in the best
manner insure its strength and consistency.
Experience of the past mixed well with new
ideas and stimulated by the forward move
mcnt of the city may give great energy ana
practical wisdom to the acts of the Council.
at no former time did Richmond so much
need the best judgment and the most vlSor-
Gus measures Of Der legislature.
The matter of grading the streets oil the
most business parts of the city should en-
gaze the immediate attention of the body.
This work should be done Systematically, ac-
cording to the surveys and plans ofcompctent
engineers. There should be a point selected
from which the grades in all directions
should proceed They ought to be easy and
entirely satisfactory to commerce. Inc easy
inclinations of the streets are achief feature
of beauty of city and chief cause OF pub
lie prosperity. 4 city of the dignity OF
Richmond should not be without regular
system of graded streets, making conmunl-
cation with at least all its principal parts, anu
they with one another. such as to facihtatc
intercourse, harmonizc the sections, compact
the interests, concentrate the means, ana
rive the greatest force which that sort of lnl-
proycmcnt can secure to the general activity
and prosperity of the city.
The very best advertisement Richmond can
at this time put forth would he the AUTHORIZE
ton of Il liberal loan to put her streets in
order Immediately.
II is observable that the late Council had
taken quite start in the matter of improv-
ing the streets; but then the start was made
without the pia,. of grading the whole city,
which should he al Indispensable precedent
to breaking ground on any street. Then,
too, attention has been paid chiefly to the
parts appropriated to residences, while the
main work needed now is in the centre OF
business. The error has been one not un-
common in Virginia in days past. Gentle
men concentrated their means upon fine
dwellings, and got along with dilapidatcd
barns. The Thrifty Dutchman gives the advan-
tagc of taste and strength to the barn rather
| to his dwelling. But there need be no error
on either side. Both those streets OH which
the great business that supports the city is
chiefly transacted and those where the pco-
pie reside should be put in order. Neither
quarter of the city should be neglected. But
clearly if one must be, beyond question the
streets devoted to trade should never be the
| sufferers.
Our main streets arc too steep for COM
| mercc. The stranger perccivcs it at once, and
| much injury to the city is the consequence.
Then we are maG.damizing streets that
must be regarded according to any sensible
plan that may be adopted. Why is this
Why subject the city to this waste Of mcansi
We earnestly urge the Council to look into
this important question at once. Richmond
suffers inconceirably from the bad grades OF
her streets. She is a city of claus. Every
hill is elan, and her policy is ever compli.
Gated by fancifill rivaIries which result from
her Typographical divisions. Let us unite
the city in interest and in business and social
commerce. The effect would be rapid adj
ing the expectations Of the most sanguinc of
her citizens.