The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-03-02
The Street Railway.

announcements have been recently made
IN the iot,, reports Of the city papers o.
changes In the management and the plans o.
tho street Railway Company. Mr.. JoHN Is
CRrssu4w is now president Of the company
and with his administration the new plan:
are to be ir1augurated. The main feature i
the construction Of track along Main street
west Of Eighth as far westwardly as it ma!
be practicable to carry the road. This VII
give but one angle in the route to Hoily'
wood--a great improvement so far as 'ne
line of route is concerned; but some snati
grades viii be encountered. The old route
was abominablc for its numerous angles anu
loss Of distance by them. The track on lroao
street is TO be continued with the prcseh'
connections by Eighth and Ninth Streets we
suppose.
When VIC consider that the street railway
has become indispensable to large city popu'
,ations. we cannot but feel great desire FOL
the success Of the company which hss
established the system in this city. Yet We
cannot fail to observe the real and only difficult
ty In their way. G., the sharp grades OF the
streets of Richmond, which should long age
have been reduced, as they might. have beer
with far less cost and trouble than the reduc
ton can be made now or at any future time
Il is discreditable to Richmond that these
sharp grades have remained so long TO the
great Inconvenience Of the public and the
great injury of rcal-estatc owners on Inc
principal streets.
Were Main street graded from Fourth to
Eighth street, and were the Iavine upon II
lust east of the old fair grounds filled IN 10
a proper grade, the street cars wouid ScI
alonr with entire ease; and what IS more,
the street west of Eighth would be rapidly
improved with fine retail stores, and present
the apncarance Of great animation.
There is much other grading to be done
But lust that small amount would exert
greatly beneficial influence. The amount oil
travel upon the cars would be increased, ana
the settlement of the western border Of the
CITY would be rapidly promoted. If men
could Get in tue cars at the post-oftice, and
90 ut a pleasant gait, without turning ana
twisting about, direct to Sidney, they Woulo
seek no other mode Of transportation; ana
the disposition to have Il home OF some
what rural aspect, with a little breathing
room about it, would he greatly stimulated.
II is facilities such as this that build up cities.
1t is great mistake to suppose that the natu-
raj advantages of any locality, unaided by the
bold and liberal enterprise and saSacity OF
men, will build up large cities. We see no
great city anywhere whose people have not
encountered immense expenditures, and car
ried out gigantic enterprises for the promo
ton not only of the facilities of commerce,
but the comfort, convenience, and pleasure
of the people. After all, their enterprise,
spirit. and energy, are the life of cities, and
their hopes and activity rise in proportion TO
the favorable character of their social conTe.
nenccs and comforts.
Let us bear in mind that the street railway
is now an indispensable institution i'll great
city; withdraw it from any such city, and the
city may almost be said to be dead. Then, LET
lis consider that the street railway enterprise
cannot he in the highest degree successful
and beneficial to the community unless oul
streets are well graded. Yet this is only al
added, though important reason, for SlSidin:
the streets. That work is demanded for th(
convenience of commerce, the comfort OF tho
people, and the elevation of real property tt
its full value and usefulness.