Wilmington journal., 1874-01-09
A LESSON.

The Richmond Dispatch in refer
ring to the muni6csnt bequests OF the
late JOINS HOPKINS to the city OF
Baltimore draws the following very
sensible conclusions:
ga Lesson to be learned from tfe
donations of the wealthy Baltinorean
is the great benefits to State OF haV-
ing within its boundaries prosperous
and growing city.
"And why has not Virginia such q
CITY as Baltimore and such men as the
late Mr.. HopKIxs to gratefully return
to the State the fortunes they might
acquire through her rich commerce?
! Had Virginia acted with wisdom, anu
| had she concentrated all her energies
upon the building Of ono great city,
instead OF squandering her means IN
the fruitless attempts to build up
half-dozen, she would have had such
city. and she would have had her mil
lionaires, and such a city would have
secured to those other cities which
the State idly attempted to make pros
porous degree of wealth and popu-
lousness which long, long years will
not confer upon them.
"Thus Virginia has crippled her
own commerce, whilst her resources
have enriched cities and people of
other States. So, too, her children
10 Of Io,l a
want Of occupation at home, and have
devoted their talents and energies to
tho honor and prosperity Of far
dist mt States. 1t is true she has
honor-a blessing to be highly priced;
but that she might have retained even
uad she not failed to take care OF
herself. And it cannot therefore be
looked upon as a consolation for lost
opportunities.
This i a lesson which We OF North
Carolina could study with rs much
benefit as the people OF Virginia. In
deed II We would substitute North Car
olina for Virginia in the above extract,
our readers could not detect the alter
alton. No State has crippled its Own
Commerce more than North Carolina,
whilst her resources have enriched
cites and people Of other States. The
railroad system OF the State at present
leads into Virginia by way OF Greens
boro and Raleigh, OF into South Caro-
lima iY way OF Charlotte. An effort
to consolidate our railroads, apparent
ly to build up Morehead City, will
more completely connect our lines with
those of Virginia, and the little which
escapes at Greensboro, will be ,iissi-
pated at Raleigh and Goldsboro, most
IL to Petersburg and Norfolk.
We hear Of great State roads to build
up Noreheal, to l7cnefit Raleigh, and
Greensboro and Charlotte aud Ashe
Vile. bat none 10 concentrate North
Ca,oiina trade at her chief city VIII
mineton now enjoys an export trade OF
eight millions Of dollars, and yet there
IS 10 effort or even disposition on tie
rort Of other portions OF the State TO
buiId Ter Up. Ii our population aud
business va5 triplcd or Guadrupled,
there il no portion of North Carolina
which c:c;i.d not have shared IL its
prosperitE. In the language Of tic
D;Sp9tch we confidently say: Had
North Carolina acted with wisdom.
and llad She c0ncentratc1 her energies
apon tlic building Of one great city,
instead C squafl,;erins hex ln..-s'1s n
-7oe :sui72ess attempt &c build NJ i.aLt
dozen, sltc could llaE-o had such Il city
as Baltimore. anl such q city von!d
have sccu.ci 10 those other cities
which The State idly attempted Il make
prosperous, 7ogree of wealth and
populolsnesa, which long, long YEAR.
viii not confer npon them.