The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-07-26
wAzHs ABOUT REcHssorD.

wALHs ABOUT RECEsxogD.
A TYPE OF The NEW seUTH-WoNDER.i
ggL PRoGREss-IHE PRESS AS AN IN
DEx Of pRosPERITY-TAE DIsFaTcn's
ssARE1N THE WORK,
Letter from Frank H .Alfriend. Eaq,5 - Whining
toatS. o. ssar.3 ssi3
10 the Richmond ofto-day growing, pro-
ereysiye, alert, and enterprt$ing TO degree
no: surpassed in any American city. one
NAV readily fancy that he sees atype OF that
revived and rchabilitated South which,
brighter from obscurity." stronger nom
the bitterness and cruelty Of its chastiSe-
ment, shall have conspicuous part IN the
imperial destiny of this country, anu sna'i
exert an influence worthy Of the character
and history Of its people.
An absence Of ten months has been sut-
6 lent to impress ME, on my return, WIN
the remarkable progress which Ricblnond
IL making 10 all the features aud attributes
of a great city. Numerous as are the build
ipgS adapted to all the varied wants of men,
winch arc in process OF construction, or have
been rcceutly.Gnished. one Is even more I'm.
pressed with the character and capacity OF
these handsome structures than Wild tneir
number. The title "Big Richmond has
become something more than stale loke
spd feeble sarcasm of the press OF Norfolk
and Petersburg. A ride from the :. East
End" 10 the "Wcst End gives the visitor
no. only an accurate notion of the immense
SPACE which Richmond now covers, but IN
ample feast Of that rarely exquisite pleasure
which comes from the contemplation OF
substantial and graceful architecture. Inc
nsly hiatus which the great fire OF April,
'G5, occasioned on Main street has been com.
plcte!y filled with blocks Of elegant aud
stately houses, which makes that busy thor
oughtare ipcomparably more beautltui IMAM
in teiluns or Gntc.bci'nnl days.
Al interesting evidence Of the growth or
Richmond in metropolitan features anu char-
acteri>;ics is the presence CT numerous hand
somc ant: convenient business structures
upoa the cross streets which intersect Nam
and other leading thoroughiares. Merchants
No longer vie with each other to secure MAID
stree; sites, but are more than content 10 Sc
cure the eligible warehouses which enter
prisny and sa.acious capitalists proviae
upon streets which few years ago were un-
vexec WIKI the tread Of the busting muIsl-
tude. o,
Recurring to The gloomy seasons or iooo
and 1867, aid to the subsequent perloo ~
reconstruction, when the paralysis OF mill
tary occupation was upon the city, when
Wells sat in the gubernatoral mansion,
backed by the bayonet5 Of Schoteld aud
Candy; when the negro rioted in the wicked
license given him by the earpet-bagger. and
made the Capitol Square u forbidden pace
10 the ladies and children Of the city, 1t
seetns almost impossible that four years nave
f1,.ar cfp linn
change in the condition of Richmond which
has occurred since 1859. Then tue most
prudent and the ablest merchants OF the city
suceumbed to overwhelming difficulties,
Witch seemed rather to multiply than di-
iEiuish as the war receded from view; then
the extension 0; the Chesapeake and Ohio
road was deemed probable event only by
the senior editor Of the Dispatch, and indeed
no single vital interest OF Richmond could
be said to have future promise. But these
people never lost heart. They continued to
hope almost against hope. They worked
their own delverance, and they now enjoy
present security and prosperity, and have
before them future Of brilliant probaOill.
ties.
The Dispatch has an excellent habit of pre-
genling ia its New Years issue an exhibit OF
the progress Of Richmond during the pre-.
cvling twelve months, and its record for
1872 makes q handsome showing for that
wear. Present estimates claim large i'll
rrease IN production Of all kinds over tue
fgu-as Of 1872, which Was year Of marked
ACTIVITY a9G prosperity. In the accurate and
det4iicd record given by the Dispotcha hope.
fu Ugh for the future OF Richmond is the
steady advance Of manufacturing interests Of
all kinds. Within two years large additions
81 skilled workmen have been added to the
laboring population, and the foundries and
factories Of the city now have greatly ell
!argfd facilities. III another letter 1 shall
give you sonle information regarding the
varied aud important manufactures of Rich
mond. .. ..@
Years ago an able aud experienced editor
indicated 20 me his belief in the infalliblc
accuracy of newspapers rs barometers Of the
financial condition of the community in
which they were published, adding that they
also measured accurately the Intelligence aud
. enterprise Of their patrons. This idea,
which few years ago was doctrine merely,
is now generally accepted as fact. If true,
how important should be the question to the
business man where he shalt bestUw bis
patronage, With him Cakes Amcs's injunc-
lion, "Put it where 1t will do the most
good" should be the rule Of action. Senti-
mental attachment fur poor newspaper Is |
The most nlawkish ofall uonsenSc. a business |
man who gives his patronage to newspapers |
deficient in all the attributes of advanced |
journalism and fails to discern the difference |
between an euterprising. clever Journal and |
Is opposite, vii! inevitably suffer 10 the Sc
quel. | am glad TO see the greatly improved |
condition Of The press here, and accepting
the test indicated above, we have still ano-
tber evidence Of the healthful condition Of
'talr5 II Redmond. Not since the war has
tie press o. the city been in SO good condi-
lion as 4: present. Each paper seems to
meet s9.ac peculiar need of the public, and
each unquestionahly reflects conc pro-
rounced phase of public sentiment.
infer that neither of the three morning
tia!iies, Dispatch, Eaqttsrer, or Wing, is now
upon "short commous." The Dispatch is
uaguesticnab!y very prosperous paper, aud |
il has literally been the architect OF its own
fortunes. It's wondrously successful career
before the war will be more than matched |
by its prosperity under its present able and
inaomitable management.
INGENUITY OF An INSANE MAs.-The Ian: |
caster {fa.l Express relates the following III
Is nf ktpfy,t ,i1iI