The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-02-06
aood ont of Eyil-City Grades.

1ooa ont Of Eyil-City Grades.
rho alleged Washington corfuptions are
u he investigated by congressional com.
r,;t.e. Various are the charges brought
a,.;rs, the washington government, which
.sn uar,d seems to think has been concen-
,r.,.d into the will Of one man--Governor
su,russp. These charges include nisrnan-
oc.rcnt Of ali sorts, extrayagant expcndl-
tire through corrupt contracts, erroneous
measurements, &c.
A 70 all these charges We know no1n'bs'
We suppose the congressional commute.
will, find the truth concerning them. nu'
x,,s ere desire to say is. that in the process
Of the large expenditure by the city govern
men, Washington has become the oes'
Graded city 10 the Union. The super'ntend.
ant If the schools Of this city, at formai
;,teryiew with Governor SHgruERD during
the period of the meeting of the National
Educational Committee in the city OF WASH
ineton, alluded in complimentary manner
to the admirable improvement OF grazing
the streets of that city. He said that no one
could appreciate the great beauty anu oen.'
6ts If the Improvement without see'hS IT,
NJ p,sroep. as a sensible observer, spoke
the truth. And whatever 10 the amount VI
tho corruption charged upon the CITY 60
rernment, we say that the people OF WASH
inpton have good in the grading OF thelr
,,reets which cannot be too highly Va'neo.
Some time since we said that We "o''d
that the citizens of Richmond could be taken
to Washington that they might see what haa
been dome there to facilitate intercourse ano
commerce end bring all parts OF the city
in easy communication with one another.
The simple looking upon the scene would
hc more effective lesson upon the subject
than any amount of argument and appeal
that might be addressed them in print.
We congratulate Washington upon the
smoothing and strengthening of her ways
Her citizens are freer and have wider scope
for health snd recreation. 1t is found that
the life and vigor Of cities are IN proportion
10 the facilities afforded the people for open
air loconotion and comfortable dwellings.
The s:reet-car and good grades are the great
est blessings yet afforded By kind Proyi-
deace to n city population. Washington has
these in q beautiful degree. She has now
direct communication with the West, and
is fine port and easy aud direct commu-
nication with the sea, and may become a
place of extensive commerce as well as the
eentre OF Government disbursements and all
the hundreds of occupations attending the
Government operations.
Good grades-not lepel, but Of lnclinations
that are easy for transportation-are indis.
pensabe not only to thrifty commerce
but to o free intercourse amongst the people
Of city. 1t is wonderful how great Is the
obstruction Of steep grades to commerce
and to the general welfare Of city. For
tae highest degree Of success in commerce
and manufacturing the Inhabitants OF city
must be united and harmonious; and that is
impossible where their intercourse aud their
FREQUENT conference on public as we'll as pri-
yate enterprises is obstructed by Topographic
eal difficulties. A city like Richmond must
be divided and subdivided into clans and
e'iques, just as she is into great and lesser
hills by ravines and precipices. So Rich
moud never can attain her due degree OF
" .alth and power until her ways are made
easy, and the clannishness and local preju-
dices of her population are subdued BY
Bringing them into easy and intimate inter-
e jurse.
One Of the very first necessities of city
is that its system of grades shall be well de-
tiaed, and just and proper, with view 70
the facilitation of commerce and the freedom
and comfort of its people. The point IRON
which grades should be made should De Be-
lecte5, and with all possible expedition Inc
grades should be made. No city can DC
great without respecting and conforming 10
this iudisputable principle. No city deserves
10 be great whose people are too dull to per-
eeive this necessity, or too apathetlc or penu'
rious to comply with it.
rn~ &n~,,,;ca WantaS