The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-06-17

%~~xsSss VIZ We SSysa VE<ssft 81
==s7sss .''-s''.'
ruEshAY.:::.......s.. ..JuSE 81, 1879
- s-=:.:.s==--t1ss::
go, The Free Bridge. S &c 49,. 49,
Though Il Is NOT yet compsesc, people ru lo
- nu!tdsndes uponthei free bridge ses, peo-
~ple Of Richmond, how q real panlhsc s.u
ysotence Is hailed. For,thirty-ssx years tne
nand that writes this has ytruggfed for i re-
bridge. we scarcely know whether 2 90
ashamed or not to make the ssasesnens' ~,
ra.her the con fsssoa. Have we addressed
a REGULARLY slow and cautions people, or.
have we besa weak and aninprcs IN our
appeals to them? We'll Il matters not whit
ia the tr,,e answer. Thank Gep we have the
free bridge, and people dad TIA public bless-
tpe. Last sunday at least three thou,
sand people crossed the bridge notWiths
Standing that 1t isyet Incomplete, and that It
has no proper approach nd bridge across
the basin, which II must have.
In Passing. as It has Its bearing upon other.
croposision$, let us say that IN opposition
70 this bridge was not only arrayed mere
old foyyisn,, but personal interests and real
estate rings that feared that somebody might
i've N Manchester and do business in Rich,
raond, to their injury--to the depression OF,
the value of their 'thimbfefuls of earth, du-1
rug their brief existence in this world.
These hostile forces have done their. part to-
wards the delaying Of the construction Of
the free bridge that has been 50 long de-
handed BY the public convenience. Letthe
people .ook to these combinations that are
ever defeating and delaying plans that 50
greatly involve their welfare and happiness. !;
and let the people determine to free them
selves from the .oppressiops and, delays
which SO seriously ar.the schemes for the
growth, and beauty, end real comfort of
;Asir city. ess. al azes,s~r sQs = ar.,s :
Wen said that we wanted no free bridge
:has 1t cost only one cent % so across the old
bridge anaoue cent to come back. Well, no
body crossed iteXcept those who were obliged
70 do 60. And why Because there was
latent and subdued feeling OF indignation
that cry tar .,vas put upon crossing James
T;ver. Men did not value the cent; but In.
e.incayely they abhorred the idea Of paying
for going across river so narrow that the
streets of Richmond should be. extended
from one side teathe other of it. This was
the voluntary sentiment-the just opinion
springing from the innate sense Of justice
that is natural to mems minds. They would
not pay the tax. and they didn't use the
bridge. But when free way--a continued
street across our beautiful rtvsr--is Just com
p!e.e enough to allow the people to cross it.
they throng itall day, freely going and COM
ing, and contemplating the beauties Of one Of
the loyeliest rivers in the world. The people
ind in It new enjoyment, now source OF
pleasure, and it is their own, md they rejoice
as they should. = .9l.-..:a .-.~ .s-, 9
Now what does this teachp That river
running through city Is aglory-a brilliant
feature-and one that is as full Of utility as
s. Is of loyeliness. All populations dwelling
upon q river are ever looking towards the
river. They instinotiyely desire to cross it.
Mourtains are barriers to the intercourse of
people on its opposite sides. Rivers facili-
tate the commerce of the people who dwell
on its opposite shores. Rivers are the means
OF pleasure, whether we contemplate their
graces, bathe in their waters, or ride upon
Their waves. To make them impossible bar
rieys between those living on their shores,
or to diminish their commerce by taxing
their intercourse, IS to rob both sides Of the
greatest pleasures aud the greatest solid
benefits. ..... w. ..,.. .--..
Thank God. we have broken III upon old
<ogyism and private interests. The free
bridge opens the way completely, ard there
are consequences to follow the magnitude Of
which il poorly appreciated at present. The
cid fegy will be taught that he has been oil
the time wrong in his idea Of public econo-
my; the jealous landowner will be taught
that he, too, has been blind, and that 1t is bis
clear and positive interest to 60 with his
se.low-citizens in the accomplishment of
chose plans which will make the city grow
and flourish; that prosperity is like the sap
oil the tree, and must be diffused through
every part of a'city as the sap reaches every
limb, and twig, and leaf Of the tree. He
learns this, and he learns that it Is not wise
and clearly is not right that he should object
20 every improvement that is not exclusive
y beneficial to himself during his epheme-
raj existence; and finally he may, from the
lesson before him, discover that he is some
t1ing more than the beetle balLroller that
can only count his advantage in balls rolled
into his hole-in-the-ground."- ==------------
What pride is taken by those happy cities
that have iafr rivers running through their
centres! What could induce them to give
up those rivers, their charms, and the classic
"reminiscences which cluster about them?
Look at London with its Thames, crossed
by so many bridges and by a grand tunnel,
and with so many citizens floarishing on
both sides of 1t. Look at Paris with its
river Seine, at Dresden with its river Elbe,
at Berlin on its Spree, at Prague on the Mol.
dau, At Verona on the Adige. All Of these
span their rivers. and cross them with grgnd
bridges. At Berlin IS one of the mostlsuperb
bridges, adorned with sstatuary, and; 30 re-
narkable in many ways as to be one of the
wonders of the traveller Every one Of