The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-03-13

We publish To-Day an ai'i@'o
,he effort of the Baltimore and ONO na'i-
road COMPANY to supersede the Atlantic
M,so;ss,,n; and Ohio railroad; and, further
more TO the importance to Virginia OIL los
tcr;nr the commerce of Richmond. Ihis
communication is from one OF the Wisest
and most patriotic men in the State. tie
does not live in Richmond, and is controlled
by no sectional feeling aud by no private in
terest. He is true patriot-one Of those
men who will make any sacrifice for their
native State. To her he Is DEVOTED heart and
soul.
He sees the great danger Of further grants
to the Baltimore and Ohio railroad in the
Valley Of Virginia; and he sees, further that
Richmond is the hope of the State. She can,
in his estimation, put check TO the inroads
upon her from without only by building up
the city which more than all others has
power TO control and increase her commerce,
and save her from being what he fears she
NAV be: province land "a "trioutary" to
trading communities outside Of her border.
He appreciates the vast benefit derived by
the rural population Of State from great
city in Der midst: the near market-the de-
mand for great varieties of the products Of
farming-the prompt conversion of the pro-
duets of labor into cash-the increase Of the
resources Of taxation, and all the brilliant
benefits that such a city would confer upon
State and people. If Richmond bad popr-
la;ion of 100000 the public debt would not
be regarded as great burthen. The streams
of wealth flowing from it would irrigate
the whole Commonwealth.
But, neglccting Richmond, making it
way-statiop, and no other place being able
to rise from the thraidom Of great cities that
taboo them-the State must be retarded, and
continue weak, and finally will be unable to
avoid the partition Of oil her resources
amongst outsiders, while she remains poor
tributary.
We invite attention to this impressive
communication.
For the Dispatch.1
The Danger to Virginia.
Messrs. Editors: The fate of Richmond as
q leading city, of Virginia as leading State, |
hangs in the balance. Can its sons, can her |
sons, do nothing to save thcmS 1t was once
within their reach even TO save to their
strength and rightful consequence the vast
power that has gone from them forever with
West Virginia. The idea Of State is of a
body essentially homogeneous in interest
and of easy intereommunicatioD, and the
latter NAV secure the former. Sufficiently
access Of West Virginia to East
was practicable, and ought, at any expense,
10 have been furnished. 1t was left to Balti-
more to wean away at once her trade and her
affections blamelessly On its part, short
'ightedly on ours.
Baltimore, still without blame, now seeks
o suck in the trade Of Southwestern Viz
.inia, having already swallowed wholly that
If Northwestern. If she secure it Qor are
We not told that where our treasures are
here are our hearts p and when the tie be
mapped which yet binds, though imperfectly,
he Southwest with East Virginia-shall we
ONE day find the STATE or FRANKLIN, cut out
f our southwestern borders, no longer
Myth? But denying and defeating her over
ures and aims, still Virginia trade, and her
lst tributary trade.area, are not secured to
er chief city, or any city Of hers, or to the
tate.
The present system conveys to New York,
nd Baltimore, and Philadelphia, large
hare of produce that, with better arrange
nenss, would go, Should 60, to increase the
over, wealth, aud population Of both; no.
f them only, but, through and by means OF
heir then great market and Astounding trea-
urv, would secure increased profits to every
,rm of Virginia industry, decreased taxes,
nd increased population OF al her towns
nd all her territory.
What then: you will ask. Not you; for
GU, long years since, have scented the dam
er, and often urged the remedy. The trans
ortation system of Virginia must hare
richmond for its o6jectuc point, or there
an be no I" Rome" within her limits. Her
metropolis must not be side-station,
cached by branch-road. Nay, it is not now
ven that. 1t must be the terminus and con-
rolling head-the centre aud handspring Of
he system ; not for her good locally at the
expense of any, but her good for the main
,ood of all. She must be the root of the
fem to branch out bencficiaIly in all drec-
ions. The stem should be straight TO be
trong, and wide enough to bear the mighty
1lluX of foliage ana fruitage which her
,oots Of commerce and manufactures would
.nable and ent,le her 10 uphold, dispensing
and receiving at cnce) power, population,
ind opulence to all parts Of the State.
1t is no local question, no mere Richmond
question. Locally, Richmond must be con-
siderable town, aud her citizens enjoy fair
share Of prosperity. II the State don't see,
md can't see, that her power and opulence
and influence, to which unrivalled natural
advantages justly entitle her, are to be Sc
cured only by building ups great city; that
Richmond should be that city, and the means
indicated those only by which they can De
if the conviction and the move,
neut do not come or DC effectively seconded
rom without, Richmond herself Is, OF
course. impotent to effect the OBJECT, while |
she would. think, suffer less from the fail !
IRE of it than any portion OF the Common
wealth. \
At present the movement Of traffic and
produce to and from hcr principal trade-dis- |
trict, whether BY regular or express carriage,
Is costler in time, money, and trouble than
for eaual and greater distances on the line of
the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio railroad.
Well, it is said, this naturally results from
transit from Que road to another. Certainly,
aud legitimately, in the interest Of the road.
But the loss aud Injury to the State is, all The
same, most prejudiciai, perhaps fatal, to her
highest interests. and should in some way be
obyiated. If ONENESS of line is necessary,
and would suffice, then consolidate the AT
laDtc with the Danyile, or even the Peters
burg, or, il practicable, and soon as practical
bic, best OF all, with straight shoot be-
tween Richmond and Lynchburg; but see 10
that n some oaay he pIay Of trade het Waen