The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-03
Richmond and the Canal.


Of Virginia and Richmond thsn we have will
regard 10 almost any other matter OF public
concern. We have been so long familial
with the Improvement, and learned, ir
younger days, to place so much faith in it
We were familiar with the beginning OF it
and we had cherished the idea that we might
live 30 see it finished. But the improve
ment has had such succession OF misfor
tunes, and, in its lingering condition, has
been so utterly defencelcss and helpless, thai
VIC have been driven from one position tc
another until we almost despair OF it. and
see that 1t has drawn down disasters upon
Richmond and threatens her with contin.
ucd adversely TO such degree that the pco-
pic Of this city arc compelled most seri.
ously to consider the situation. We are
clearly convinced that the issuc has been
made up, and that canal or railroad is the
question.
We remember as il il were yesterday the
animated crusade in behalf Of the canal,
the then famed bunting Of GEORGE WASH.
lSGToS. JOSEPH c. CApELL became another
PETER the Hermit, and travelled up and
down the James-Riyer valley arousiDg the
people to the grand necessity Of the canal.
whose blessings he ioretoid IN language OF
husiasm, and that is saying Il great deal
for Mr.. CABELL, who was generally an au-
slcrc and rigid iogician. Upon the canal
he became an "cXhorter,' and even tole-
rated a band OF music as an adjunct to bis
efforts 20 stir the people to The point OF sub
M iy,,,
1t has, as may he supposed, cost lis sleep
less nights and anxious days as time re-
vealed the rcvcrscS and the inability Of the
water-iEe" TO maintain the ascendancy
OF Richmond over 4 trade that Was hers by
geographical and social claims. We have.
however. gone through, and eau now look
a. facts Sqaarely. whether they favor or dis
psrage our early pet.
Years ago VIC thought the Jamcs-Eiyer
valley should have both canal and railroad,
and that brought upon us the first shower
bath that came upon Is from the extreme
advocates OF the canal. They secuted the
idea Extensively. On one hand we had the |
rude iealousy OF canal-men against every |
suggestion OF railway along the upper
james, while the eEcmies OF Richmond |
Knocked US on the other by opposing every
proposition concerning a railway that looked
towards Richmond by saying 10 Us.
''Haycn't You got a canal? You are
greedy" The canal party in the Legsla-
ture were no help for Us, but rather dis
advantage. and our deprivation OF railroad
support in our western commerce may be
charged to too much canal-too much water.
For this privation little has enured to
Richmond. The canal has fingered, and, :
without the vieor it would acquire by a ter !;
minus at 4 place where ireights accumulate, ,
ii mas fallen martyr to the railways. 1t ,
has encountered enemies while having nei-
ther arms nor eyes with which TO defend
itself. In its incomplete condition it has Q
been amongst railroads as a lamb amongst t
wolves. Were it escorted by railroad it +
would be completely defended; or had I
Richmond railway to consider her friend, +
running along the valley of James river, II
she could be defended as with an iron-clad. "
Such 4 railway would be like lion among o
the iackals. 1t would reestablish the in
teSrity Of Richmond and restore her true
relation to the State, commercially as wen
as politically.
But, fellow citizens, these are things for
and not for immediate action.
That we must have railway up the valley
OF the James we are convinced. Take one
single view Of it. You cannot, upon any .
railway leading from Richmond, find n >
country OF fertility and beauty that would q
be desirable as place 70 live wlshM less
than seventy or eighty miles. But go up q
the river, and you have continuous line OF /
fine land, fine situations. fine landscapes.
and the eliminating feature OF lovely
river, with its beauties, for near three hap-
dred miles.
But it must be remembered that the
chance OF rescuins Richmond from her sit
,,ation and setting her before the eountf'
yindicated and full OF lie aaa prosperr e is
NOT nossibie Immediately. 1t may e that
he easiest plan is to restore tAs canal as
economically as we ean> Certainly it
is wanted for present commerce, and
Richmond loses iT ,mcnscv all the
time that navigate may be suspended
upon it. EVep though it were deter
mined now 70 build railroad upon its
banks the restoration OF those banks may
be necessary for the railway bed, and the
transportation upon the canal will be avalu-
able auxiliary to the construction OF the
railway.
We must for the present make the best OF
the situation. Certainly the canal Is OF
value to us for the trade it brings us ana
the great accommodation 1t affords 10 Tue
large population that have no other oatle'
to market. Therefore, the tow-path OF inc
canal should be repaired sufficiently TO re-
store navigation, unless, indeed, the lhlu-
nv Gone by the flood is SO great that the ex-
pensc involved in the repair is greater than
Is. in the opinion OF those concerned, JUS
tifsble, in view OF the value Of the canal,
estimating that vace by its advantages ana
the draw backs OF its liability to injury and
the expense OF repairing its ever.recurring
damages.
The question is one OF very practical
character, and it ought to be settled I'D a
very business-llke manner. The first step,
il would seem to US, is to ascertain, with as
much accuracy as possible, the extent OF
the damages by the late flood, and the proba-
Bile amount OF the cost OF repairing them.