The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-10
Richmond.

Riding in company with us through the
suburbs OF Richmond, 4 gentleman Of fore
cast and practical philosophy remarked to
us that Richmond was fair city-blessed
in her climate and geographical position,
and wonderfully conditioned for her ply
steal advantages. She was destined to great
wealth and population. You sir, said he, you
will live to see her with 100000 population,
and before die / trust to see that popula-
ton increased to half million.
This expectation was not the result Of
the mere impulse Of u sanguine temper, but
was the deliberate judgment Of practical
and rejecting mind. Our friend hurriedly
enumerated the advantages which Rich
mond possessed, and which he said would
lead to her great prosperity at an early day.
She is Underwater city, located far inland,
where importations are brought nearest to
the places Of consumption, and where pro-
ducts for expectation would earliest take
shipping. Her railroads afford her easy
intercourse with the country in all its most
productive and wealthy districts. She is
therefore admirably situated for both for
eign and domestic trade. Virginia affords
the staple articles which furnish freights to
all markets, and may at any time, when her
wealth justites it, give return freights that
will double the gains Of Richmond upon
her trade in these great staples.
For manufacturing she is more richly ia
vored than almost any other city. Her
power to manufacture -four that stands SUI
perior to any other in foreign markets may
be extended to degree hardly limited by
anything save the supply of grain, and her
mills stand in view OF the ships that trans
port their manufactures.
The manufactured tobacco OF Richmond
is known in all the countries of the world,
and her manufacturers have commercial re-
lations with every city Of any note on the
globe. That 80 large and wealthy class Of
citizens is SO intimate with the commerce Of
the world Is certainly an advantage that
must facilitate the general enterprise Of the
Locality. T. = . T. -
To the large tobacco trade Of the city we
have reason to believe there will in time be
added considerable business in cotton,
thus increasing the advantages Of our mer-
chants in securing return freight to swell
the Richmond commerce, yzs5rs
The tobacco trade OF Richmond must
also increase. First, she has the Virginia
her, and that tobacco is the most excellent
In many respects that is produced in the
world. It's excellence gives Richmond the
reputation which must secure her the con-
trolof the tobacco trade. She must be
sought as the point OF shipment for o great
part Of the heavy tobaccos Of the West.
Considering Richmond, then, as one OF the
most eligible cities on the Atlantic coast
for her trade in the leading staples Of the
land, we behold In her city of promise and
power in this respect alone; but we see that
she has all the elements OF salubrity, beauty,
and physical capability that are needed to
secure health and contentment to people
and give energy and success to manufac-
turing. She must attract population, and
must be developed into an immense man
ufacturfng city. Her advantages as point
OF distribution indicate that manufacturing
would find here the best market.
Coal and iron are the chief elements
of manufacturing power, as they are of
national wealth. Nowhere can they be more
conveniently brought together than In this
locality. The ores Of the James river are
in great abundance and Of excellent quality.
We have ready access TO the best and most
abundant eoai-felds. It has been found
that 1t Is best for manufacturers that their
raw material should be brought together In
q city where operatives can be readily OBJ
tanned and supplies are plenty, and where
capital can be had. These advantages
are not found in the neighborhood Of
mines or In far-of rural regions. Here,
then, In and near Richmond. tho naanufac-7
turef finds the most favorable cone ions for
bis enterprise In time land that not far
ofY--there viii be 8 number Of foTgcs along