The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-04-15
8nhumnd 1ispatcEl..
wrnrrsnAy APRIL Is, 1874
The Situation" Of Richmond.


The recent developments concerning rail-
roads and the rumors Of further comp'ica'
tions affecting the commerce Of Virgins,
and especially Of Richmond, should excte
amonss, our own people a very deep interest
In the game OF commercial strategy the
object of Richmond should be to secure 10
all arteries Of transportation and travel
coming and going to and from her po!ue.s,
the greatest possible facilities. Ev'r!'n'"s
that can be done with this view SN"'''u "'
done. The Chesapeake and ONO 'n'
vile rho Fredericksburg, the pctefspu's'
.na rho York River railroads, inc io"ei
J,mes river. and the canal, should all DC
hroupb, as actively into use for the penehl
If onr commerce SIS circumstances VIII per-
NIT. This being the grand object, 1t Is LOT
our people to study how ii is to be done.
The deepening Of the lower James Is a
grand point in our policy. That Will sol'e
a good part Of the difficulty ahead. But
that is not all. The lines passing through
the city need facilitation. Richmond Is oeh-
Gifted by the increase of busiLess on these
lines.
The Danyille railroad is threatened with
diversion of its business to the route c.d
Lyncnburg. What is the best protection
for Richm nd on that route: 10 tacilltale
the through transportation. That may be
done on three lines--viz., the James river,
the York river. and the Fredericksburg.
4 off, IL
bined would be invinclble.
II there is to be new point OF break oil
bulk upon the Danvile and Atlanta line
then it should be as far from Richmond as
possible, and there should be no break o.
bulk bet.cfen that ne1r place and R'chno7'd'
We wish to fix the attention Of our city dele
gates and OF our merchants upon that par
ticular point That secured, the amount OF
freight coming to this city will be IN pro-
portion 10 the facilities we offer here for dis
posing of it, either By sale or by expeditions
shipment to other ports. This Would give
us protection against adverse consequences
Of combination BY the LynchburS route.
This argument is equally applicable to the
Petersburg road That road wants an out
let for continuous transportation. What is
the reason that TO this late day Of railroadng
We have no facilitated perpendicular north
crn and southern line Of railway freight
transportation
All these matters should. for the sake OF
Richmond, be considered at this time.
When things 60 wrong the cause OF their
going wrong must be found oul. There can
bc no remedy until the cause of the disease !
is known. Let those who represent the pub
lie tiud out the disease and then apply the
remedy. We tell them that the present is a
critical period for the capital OF Virginia, and
through that for the interests of the State.
We repeat that we mus, secure two points
the best facilities for the transportation of
freight 10 Richmond. and the very best
means of giving such freight as Goes not
stop here expeditions transportation to other
places.
The perpendicular transportation, or that
northward and southwark, is endeavoring
to force i:sclf through Virginia, ard it must
70 through by one route or another. Why
AN IL pass through Richmond: That is a
matter 10 be looked into. All wise railroad
men seek to locate their roads through and
o the denscst populations. 4 road paSsisg
through Virginia would secure Il larger sup
)ort by passing through the city of Rich
n0nd than il would by going through sere-
RI Of the Leading towns Of the State. One
0i the wiscst railroad managers we ever
kne" said that in lncating 4 road it would
uc the best policy 10 run it through large
towns. They afforded great deal Of bust
ness. and should never be lett ollt III The cal
cuii;ion Of railroad business where it vas
possible, without too great sacrifice, to take
them in the line. According 10 this wise
policy Richmond should be il tue route of
Tie main northern and southern railroad pas
sengcr and freight line through Virginia.
" hat prevents TINS:
No community can fatally suffer which |
takes care Of its interests with activity and |
vigilance. We most urgently beg our pub
lie authorities 10 look into these matters, to
become we'll posted with regard to them, and
to Use their best eXcrtions TO protect their
city in the changes which are now very
clearly indicated. The people that help
Themselves are always sure that no great efii
will likely hefall them; and this is the time
which emincntly demands this vigorous eX.
crcise Of the noble virtue of self-dependence.