The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-03-17

Richmond.


Richmond.
The Marion (Smyth county Pdsriot-
Herald. In the course OF a sensible article
about Richmond says: 80 II Richmond siad
/. a fourth Of million Of inhabitants, our
q State would be the richest and happiest in
g the Union. We would have home market
"that would consume all we could nake.''
There Is practical sense In this quotation
The large population in Richmond might
not make Virginia the richest Of States but
it would certainly greatly promote the pros
perity and comfort, and therefore the nap
piness, Of the Virginia people.
This will do to impress upon the virginia
nrhsic the idea that In the advancement OF
Richmond consisted the chief nope OF INC
State. Az our contemporary says, = large
.nonalation here would establish Market
that would give ready sale for all that ote''
southwest virginia could produce. IL was
in advancing acknowledgements pro-
,.c,s ,hst tended to the diffusion OF the
commerce OF the State rather than It's con-
cen.rs.ion that impeded the growth OF Rich
mond and gave to no other city OF the state
the benefits OF which Richmond was de-
nr;yed. Thus was the great injury done to
rho State. What was taken from her mas
cone to enrich outside communities, ana
tbe narrow minded legislators who hoped
TO build up other Virginia cities by dwarf
ing her have the poor consolation that their
contracted and needless ideas and discredit-
able efforts have only ended in impa'rlnS
the commerce and wealth Of Virginia. 1no'
is all.
suopose that Richmond had 100000 in
habitauts at this time, the State DEBT "ouio
he nothing. We should be saved the hu-
initiation of the discussion OF repudiauon'
and OF the proposition to seek to deleat Tue
decision Of the Supreme Court OF the state,
which declares the taS-recelvab'e clause OF
the funding bill constitutional. That would
be a blessing OF very grand nature. but
take even a lower amount OF population:
tina, mentioned by our contemporary
250,0oO-and the same condition OF soi'chcy
and public credit would he enjoyed py the
State. Had the neutrality-suspicious. ys-
tenn made Richmond the objective point,
and had it been regarded as fatal error TO
leave her out altogether in thoroughlare
from the western border to tide-water, we
are satisfied the population OF the city Wou'd
be now at least $4,000. She lies rlght IN
the most eligible line OF commerce from the
western and southwestern interior to the
Virginia tide-water. She has eligibility,
health. and the very best means for the dis
tribution of trade, and with proper poiicy
would have grown as no other inland city
upon tide-water in the Union has grown.
Had routes for roads been marked out by
men whose money was to build them this
CITY would not have suffered. She would
give more business to railroad than any
other Virginia city, and she would have been
made an objective point in all Virginia rail-
roads seeking outlet through the Chesapeake
bay. -.-......
What is done cannot be helped. But Ger
tainly Just aud unbiased public must
confess what evils have fallen upon the State
from the sectional conceits and small-town
jealousies that have vexed ourimprovement
system. A liberal and enlightened improve
ment policy would have given Virginia
grand city that would have lifted the State
out of debt, and by the demands upon in
dustry for the support OF her population
would have irrigated the country and caused
the people everywhere to flourish.
One grand city would have nourished
other cities and towns in the State. Whereas
in the delusion of an effort to make State
full OF cities we have State with hardly
single town worthy OF the name OF city.
The Marion Herald is correct. 1t sees
exactly where the fatal mistake OF Virginia
has been. We thank it, on behalf OF Rich
mond, for its advice to Southwestern mer-
chants to visit Richmond. We trust that
the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio railroad
will allow them to do sol. e., that it will
not discriminate against the Virginia mer-
chants in the transportation of their goods
to the Southwest. Both that road and the
Danyille road should give Richmond fair
play. This would be just and, give us leave
10 say. re1D.