The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-06-18
The Grades.


Tho. E,,n.,e,. is entirely sensible ana WISE
!, ho snh;cct Of the grades OF Rlcli ii i1.:
1,h.t hmm whose apex is the intersection Oh
r, -" and Fifth streets is destructive
80, " 80 tho grace and convenience of the city,
III o,,p ht to be reduced. ]. It ought to ne re-
,,uced n once. There is no time Tor delay
3 the Enquirer says, and as we have s''d'
This INDISPENSABLE work can never be done as
chcaply rs now. Nor should we postpone
It to be done mt greater cost, While VIC ae.
nr;ve ourselves of the advantage it would
give ,,s if done at once.
There is no wisdom, therefore. in postpone
mcnt; but only folly and selt-deprIvation.
We must get our minds upto the practica'
higll-water mark of these days. The Won
derrully improved ways Of communication
bringing communities distant from one su'
other into closer intimacy by the cheaphess
and rapility of locomotion-ha'e s''o'ccteo
cities and commercial communities to the
sevcrcst test of comparison. Cheapness ana
facility in the movement of freights ana pas
sengers settle the question; nor Is IL only
the movement of these things on roioS NC
tween cities but.their movement within the
cities themselves, that has vast dcsii 10 u"
with their prosperity. The cost OF ii'l's'
tho cbcappess of transportation for the Dtlsl-
,,ess man and the workman from their dwell
inrs to their places of occupation. Ill part
constitu,c the elements Of the cost Of labor
and of business. The same inside trans
po.tation is part of the cost OF goods. IN
nil these matters there is close cutting, and
that city which treats them with indifference
is not sensible of the nature of the struggle
for trade now going on in this country. Nor
is tbe simple cost of transportation the only
thingto hc desired but the ease and rapldlty
of personal intercourse within the city Is a
vital matter. Besides the money charge, II
involves largely the spirit of enterprise,
cbcerfulness, and activity, with which busi-
ness il conducted. Time is money: quick
movements are the life and energy OF trade.
Every step taken by the city to expedite
BUSINESS, W CllcdpCii Iiaih7poi es''iO"3 ~ r.
mote the ease and comfort OF locomotlon and
living, adds intellectually to her strength and
increases the speed of her advancement to
greatness. ......-
We are about taking turn in the high
way of the city which opens to her the
brightest fields and the richest and most in
viting prospects. We ought to put the town
in order. We should stop the costly paving
of streets that must be involved in proper
system of grading, and the work of grading
should be begun at once.
II will be the best investment the city can
make. 1t will benefit the owners of pro-
pcrty on the streets and the public at large.
There should be no objection to it. A loan
should be made and the work done. We
may thus enjoy the benefits of the improve
ment, and leaving that and the debt it i'll,
CURED, together with the increase of revenue
it will cause, to postcrity, VIC shall be Just TO
ourselves and beneticent to them.
We cannot too strongly urge these matters
upon the consideration Of the City Council,
and we implore them to discontinue the
costly paving Of streets which must be
graded.