The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-01-22

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ordinance authorizing the loan OF sloo,ooO
for improving streets. This ordinance had
passed The Beard Of Aldermen, and there
were hopes entertained by its advocates thai
the Council would also pass it. Its aefeal
illustrates somewhat comprehensive plan
OF Improvement, and now propositions VII
| take more disconnected form. But we have
no idea that the work of improvement Is to
be given over. The wants Of growing city
| will no. permit the grass to choke the streets
nor will The people rest while obstacles lie in
the way OF intercourse and form the nuclei
around which decay and increasing causes
| of Inconvenience must ever collect.
The new plan for making an easy way
| from Slain street to the summit of Church
Hill Is one that merits the universal appro'
val. UEquestionablv that is one of the very
best improvements that facilitates intercourse
| between the business part of the city and
the territory suited for residences, and for
| sill the social comforts which are indispepsa
| bic to the important class of people who
|
State and city owe so much for the wealih
ard enterprise accumulated at this locality.
How negligent we are often about this
mutter! We should remember that amongst
the most exhausting actions Of life are those
incidental to spirited and adventurous com
n rec. The perseverance and exceeding en-
e!gy which they require demand tae ud-
yautaees Of res. and comfort for those VINO
folio " .hem. Without hours Of retirement
and that recruitment which comes from Salu-
tayy social conditions commerce cannot pre-
coed nilh proper spirit and proper force.
The commercial community must nave lis
social restoratives, else there will be want
OF The auxiliary dispositions Indispensable
to . really sctivc, thrifty, and bright COM
.oeyce. We must improve the regions OF
reside, css and where the sort Of life that
clothes it with manhood, pride, and virtue
n,y be cultivated with the best advantages
OF civilization.
/, i in this view Of city life that we dis
ccrn tLc importance Of improvements, and
the increase Of the space, and the comforts
ard pleasures Of life in its private and
chiefly social relations. One OF the most
yaiusbIe agents in this respect ever dis.
covered is The street railway. That gives
expansion to city life by giving rapid and
certain transit from the region of dwellings
10 he centres Of business. The families are
e1a b!el 20 enjoy ample space, abundance Of
F.ur nv
else and security out Of the way of crowded
streets and ponderous transportation. The
blessings that society derives from the sys-
ten of street cars, with their steady and
rapid move ents-the degree to which in
tercourse is facilitated by this means-its
cneapucss aud its regularity, are ines .imaby
great. No man can think of them without
being filed with admiration.
But . city that has street grades which in
many Important points are obstructive can
not derive The full advantages of this great
.iYsti ution." It must feel that il cannot make
them properly available. And this truth Will
be found: tbat just as the grades are made
easy will those advantages become more and
moie ayailable, and In that degree will the
enterprise and energies Of city be brought
N o.e and more into competition with rival
communities.
The man talks without wisdom who as
81 mcs that to promote comfort and elegance
Of grounds, and to facilitate local intercourse,
does not add to population and wealth. There
could be no greater error. People will not stay
where they are not comfortable, and where
they cannot pursue the walks of life with con.
ven fence and promptitude; and furthermore,
where conditions arc rot favorable to health
through proper improvements, order, and
cleanliness. IN this enlightened age improve
ments and intelligent regulations are steadily
on the increase. Men are not tied down to
any place, and in selecting homes they choose
those they like best for all their advantages.
Therefore it is TO proper improvements,
proper fAciluution Of intercourse, and proper
arrangement of grounds with reference to
appearances and to solid comfort that we
must look for absolute increase in population
and waaltr.
Entertaining these sentiments, knowing
the importance Of facilitating intercourse be-
tween lie business and the other parts Of the
city, we repeat our qualification at the pro-
lection of the easy route from Main street at
Twenty. first TO Twenty. fifth and N streets.
That will, as it were, newly open an eligible
part of The city to residenccs-a part OF the
city that will be happily disposed for health
and delightful views. We believe that this
will indeed form an important addition to the
means of agreeable and grateful life every
way advantageous to the city in lis CONNER.
cal character.
Now, then, as there vas no inseparable
relation between this projected improvement
aud the 100000 appropriation, let us hope
that it will receive immediate attention. 1t
will not cost much. The work may be done
in q short time with small outlay, and it
will do more public good than BIAS any street
Improvement in this city for long time.
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TOWNSEND Us. TUCKEK.-In the course Of
bis speech on Thursday, Mr.. Townsend, of
New York, proceeded to criticise 10 jocu.