The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-06-02
MONDAY EVEN'G. JUNE 9, 1873.


Virginia, Her Internal Resources and
Developments.
There are times when it becomes a great
people, and especially renowned COM
monwealth, to look to the future as well
as the past. Such period unquestiona-
bly, presents itself to the people and state
of Virginia to-day. We live in an age of
material as well as educational and indus
trial progress. Activity and energy are as
essential to us as capital and labor. Events
shape the destiny of nations. and cannot
fail to shape that Of Virginia. Prudence,
sagacity, and well-tmed combinations Sc
cure the chief results of accumulated in
dustry; and especially does individual en-
terprise contribute to the general wealth
and prosperity.
Virginia occupies, geographically, the
vantage ground as compared with any
other state on the American continent;
and Richmond lies in the exact line of
those grand developments of trade, COM
merce, manufactures, wealth and indivd-
ual prosperity which are inevitable in the
future, if we are but true to our own
interests. Are we so true? Have we
been observant, sagacious, far-reaching
As in the case of individual enterprise
whether our plans be selfish, isolated and
narrow, or broad, liberal and c0mprehen-
sive-so it is with cities, states, nations.
Commerce cuts out her own channels as
the necessities of trade demand them.
Where rapid, cheap, and secure tranporta-
ton can be secured by deserving old and
creating new means, or by adhering to or
abandoning old or new plans, the true
means are certain to be seized upon and
utilized, and the true plans made available,
in the end.
The Chesapeake and Ohio rallroa is an
instance exemplifying this fact, as is the cor
templated completion of the James River
and Ohio canal. Argument, one way or
the other. is of no avail when commerce
demands new diversion of trade. Capital
will always be found to create the ncces-
sary means Of traffic when new lines
of transportation come to be regarded
an imperative requirement by the peo-
pie. When these two paramount lines
of rail and water communication with the
Valley Of the Mississippi and the Western
and Northwestern states are fully com
pleted, with their natural connections, the
soil of Virginia will bear across its entire
20, p,,I,r h, nF {hn
states in that region, but the great bulk
of the trans-continental trade with Europe.
Let the provdent men of Virginia revolve
these facts in their minds, and act accord
ingly.
We have been led to these reflections in
part from the fact recently published, that
the president of the Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad had stated, or was reported as
stating, that for the present the terminus
of that road would be at Yorktown. 1t is
said that the most feasible route for ship
canal from the York to the James riveris just
at this point, and that this same company
purchased years ago very considerable belt
of land between Yorktown and James
river, on this line. The recent final tefm-
nation, as to title, of the famous Anderson
SUIT, ends all previous impedments to this
grand scheme, by which the canal boats
and batteaux from the Ohio river can at all
times be towed in safety to deep-water
shipping. The erection of the railroad de-
pot on the land recently purchased
by the company Of the Anderson
devisees would seem to indicate the
construction at no very distant day Of the
ship canal in question. We do not profess
to be in the secret of any contemplated
movements by this company, under its
present energetic management, but know
ing the difficulties in the way of the seyera
proposed schemes by which to reach a
deep-waler terminus for that road, we are
at liberty to make shrewd guess.
Here, then, we have the sure prospect of
the speedy completion Of a continuous line
of railroad from Yorktown to the Valley
Of the Mississippi, and continuous water
line from the Ohio river to York town.
These completed, trade will come to us
from beyond the Great Father of Waters,
with all its tributary channels of com
mercc, stopping at Richmond for the coast
trade of the Atlantic, and pursuing its
way to Yorktown for shipment to foreign
countries.
Nor should we seek to impede the
completion Of this particular scheme, if
it be the best and most practicable one
that offers. Its completion will be Vir-
gina's promotion; and her promotion the
assured guarantee Of success and rapid
advancement to every interest in the
State. Richmond has grander future in
store for her than that which can come
from throwing impediments in the way
of others. She has a water power
that can be made worth millions to her
annually water power, in fact, un-
equalled by any other locality in the
world-and water line that can never be
diverted from her, on which all the COM
merce that goes from the West to the sea
must be borne. Accumulated capital here
will diffuse its benefcent effects all over
the state, to be returned in greater meas
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