The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-08-15
Few Words about Richmond.

When these arc brought IN 10 pear upon
public measures they arc sure to misdirect
them to the public injury. Jealousy and
ayarice always decide wrong. They dwarf
public policy and construct public enterprise
to the detriment Of large communities that
the circumscribed schemes of a few may be
forwarded. .aa4s
We assume as a proposition tfat cannot
be denied that the improvements OF city
rebound to the advantage of real estate hold.
ers and of the owners of city stock. The
thrift that comes from an improvement on
one side of city benefits the property eve
rywhere. Prosperity is like the sap Of the
tree, and finds it's way over whole city as
the sup does through all the limbs, branches,
and leaves of the tree. So does prosperity
increase confidence in the credit OF q city
and enhance the value Of her stock in the
hands of every one who holds it.. = e
These propositions cannot be denied. Vet
have we not seen expenditure bitterly op.
posed because it might impair the value OF
the city stock, and improvements i'll one d.
rection opposed because they might impair
the value of somebody's real property else
where about to be brought into market, by
grading, curbing. and gutterinss II:
Lock at Manchester. Her citizens ask to be
permitted to come into Richmond. ltseens to
lis like dream now that an obdurate Coun-
ell rejected rudeIy and churishly their ap-
neal, How could it have been done /! In
| the name of common sense, what earthly
argument could have caused this act, SO i'm.
menseiy Injurious 70 The public Interests:
Since that most wonderful act Of impolicy
the property in Manchester has quadrupled
| in value mainly by the building of the free
bridge. Richmond rejected all that vas
| then, all that has since accrued, and all talt
| is vet to accumulate she rejected the entire
control of the water power OF James river,
and the easy settlement of all the riparian
rights of the river, which have. caused so
much trouble she rejected the command OF
both shores for the advantage OF her COM
mcrce and for the facilitation Of the best sys-
| tenn of wharfage and the accommodation OF
her commerce for the whole city. Flnaiiy,
she rejected. the opportunity to prevent Tor
ever all conflict of authority, all clannshness
and local jealousy between the shores, and
| TO secure union and harmony between them,
and power to devote the united resources CT
| them both to the general good OF both.
These were the things rejected. We say
since the foundation Of the city there never
was before so important proposition made
to the City Legislature, and therefore i'll re-
iectiug it that body did the most unWisc
thing of which it was eyer guilty.
! Coming more directly to the central III
| tcreSts Of the city itself, the city authorities
seem to be very chary Of entering into any
measure for u more proper grading OF our
PRINCIPAL streets. The notorious difficulties
| of communication between the different see
| tons of the city they seem not TO he pre-
| pared to attack in any form, and the means
of the city are appropriated to grading streets
| where little grading was needed, ana curb
| Ing and guttering suburban territory Wfere
houses and inhabitants are very much looked
| for by spectators. We do not olJect to
this but we do say that the comfortable ILL
tercourSc of the chief population of the city,
and the easy translation Of the city COM
mercc in the centre of its business, are mat
tiers more important, and that they should
not be made to give way to guttering and
curbing the suburbs.
The great object Of the city government
now should be to promote familiar and easy
intercourse between her principal sections.
That is necessary to the concentration of
public energy and the promotion Of public
prosperity.
The free bridge is grand Improvement
and promotes the general good. 1t is the best
work for the promotion of the public COM
fort yet done. Everybody enjoys it-every-
body appreciates it. 1t escaped narrowly
the death-clutches Of the men who are ever
afraid TO spend a little money for the public
good. Manchester has already derived in
increased resources. Of taxation enough to
pay the interest Oh her investment in the
bridge; and if Richmond will build the
bridge across the basin and facilitate access
to the free bridge on this side, she will soon
make fine profit on her investment IN tue
same bridge by the increased sources OF rev.
enue thereby.
We want the people and the public au- |
thorities to think of these matters most
Richmond is steadily advancing |
but she will be crippled unless her public |
keep up with the require |
ments of her growth. Let US ask capitalists |
and merchants, and citizens generally, |
would they not he glad to see Richmond In
debt six millions of dollars if the mourning |
Of that debt increased the public revenue
four hundred thousand? That is the idea
upon which we should proceed. We pro.
pose no such debt, but we do propose that
shall not hesitate to incur debt
for an improvement that will in all human
probability increase her revenue enough to
pay the interest upon the added debt, and
a sinking fund equal to its final eXtinguish.
lnent in reasonable time. This policy is
that of all great cities. 1t is the policy that
establishes credit aud makes the holders of
city bonds satisfied with them, and regret
always the arrival of the period for their re-
demption.
1t is your town without enterprise that is
the sport Of personal avarice and jealousies.
that fingers aud lays, and that has a poor
credit and finds it difficult to borrow money.
Let Us make Richmond something better
than that