The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-03-10
Richmond and Manufac turing.

Richmond presents to the fraternity OF
manufacturers attractions that cannot be eX-
celled on this continent. An interesting an
ecdote Cd anteIRevolutioBary date may be
repeated here as bearing directly upon this
subject. The stsid and practical spouse of
Quaker named ,sH1pLEY, living in the State of
Delaware near the present locality OF Will
mington, had O dream. Naturally it was q
dream OF q practical turn. Mrs. SHPLEY
dreamed that she saw finely-wooded coun.
try, with fine streams of water in the midst
that were capable Of being employed to the
purposes OF utility;as we'll as pleasure, and
Sc much was she charmed with her
vision that she narrated it to her lord Of
face that was '"chfd.like and bland "
with unusual animation. Dreams are
nst the most reliable means Of intelli-
gerce to Quakess, and:the circumspect SHIP
LEY, who was miller, allowed the descrip-
ton to enter ORE ear and pass out ut the
other. A short time afterwards the twain
were making an excursion in the region
aboutrsheir home ~hentbcy CHANGED to come
SHIPLEY at once uttered hor joy at bebolding,
she said, the very country she bad dreamed
of. SHRLEY confessed thet it pleased him,
aDd suspended his jGelrney for time to ex-
anime it q little carefully. lie looked upon
the Brandywine with a kindly feeling, and
rejected upon It in practical manner. He
finally made Up bis mind, and expressed it
frankly to bis faithful spouse He said !:
" This is, indeed, goodly country, and hap
PLY tEeamt of ty thee. HeHe is goodly
land AID forest, aad here is stream with its
fall that ends in tide-water that ebos and
fows with the sea. Here is Sosdly place
for the uAl, and gaodly place sor the ship.
Here, indeed, can gGlnd with ore hand and
ship with the other"
This settled the question. SHIpLEr Become
the owner OF the goOdls location for enter
prise aud Thrift, and he founded Wila,iDg-
ton-first called Willngten." His success
proved his sasacity, and Wilmington, osiug
10 the very Datural advantages SO readily
perceived by SMILEY the Quaker, has become
noted as manufacturing town, aud especially
for building steamboats, and railroad cars.
Now, the description would apply mere en-
phaticilly to Richmond, yet the founders of
Richmond were different style of men from
SHIrLEY. They bad not at all his practical and
provident intellect. The "grinding with
one hand and shipping with the other" never
entered their minds. Yet we may at our
grand mills, turned by the water of the James
River falls, in one single day load ship that
lies in sight of them!
We say this is a prsvdential advantage
rare and inestimable. James river as COM
pared with the Brandywine Is as a giant to
dwarf, and is fully equal to the Delaware
itself as an artery of communication with the
sea. This august aud benefcent stream has
never been duly appreciated by the people
who live upon its shores. 1t will be good
for them if the stranger shall find in it those :
merits which they have not rightly under
stood. We say, and We say with calmness
md earnestness, and according to the judy ,
neut 0! asomewbat practical mind, that at
bis locality. marked by Richmond on one
lde and Manchester on the other, there is =
leatre for enterprise and fortune the like of
'hich is not to be found in the United States.
The reader cannot shut his eyes to the r
onderful blessing Of the very large water e
over we have, being so very near the tide Il
at unites it TO The ocean. Then, We have u
nal and railways that conuset us with the +
ineral and agricultural wealth of the inte- it
" ara lag West, aud also with tie une>!