The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-08
About Richmond.


ING to speak of these matters we begin py
having down the proposition that it is an abb
.olutely indispensable condition that R'ch-
mond shall be put In such direct connection
with the leading railway through ana De-
vond Southwest Virginia as that there shall
he no superior force driving the transporta-
,;,n nnon that line away from Richmond.
Indeed. the superior force should impei It
towards this city. But by no means shou'o
), h, permitted TO take the transportation
away from it. ~ :.
We Law down this proposition because II
i INDISPENSABLE to the prosperity OF the
State and to the proper employment OF the
)ocs, advantages al this city. 70 great
CITY can be built up in these days that is
no. in connection by the most prosperous
line of communication with the interior
country within its sphere that ahoros tue
LARGEST amount Of commerce. BY the
neglect OF this city in the formation OF the
Atlantic. Mississippi and Ohio line Rich
mond and Virginia have suffered most Sc
riouslv. And the people OF Richmond and
the representatives OF the State should
never rest until the injury from this cause
is repaired. This is great point. and all
NAV rest assured that as long rs 1t Is nc
elected the State and her capital will suffer
immensely from shackled commerce ana
4 yreatly-diminished State revenue.
But suppose this cause OF delay ana op-
nressiou OF our advantages and energies
Shall be rcmcdicd, there is still great draw
back socially in the city OF Richmond, which.
nd matter what may be the facilities OF our
commerce. will retardthe prosperity OF Rich
rnond as long us that drawback exists.
The city Of Richmond is divided by hills
and rayines which interrupt most mate
rally the intercommunlcat,on OF her peo-
p!e. The topography Of the city divides
the people into what may he called clans,
whose local wants clash and whose social
feelings lack the harmony and sympathy
that can only exist under facilitated ana
accommodated Sociabi!ity.
This condition is the pro!ihc source OF
local Jars and jcalou>ies that mar and veN
improvement. and impair the force OF har-
monv and concert. Our people are very
industrious. They come in the morning
from their hills to the commercial centre,
ard pursuc their callingS with ardor and
unfagging industry until business hours
end. and then they withdraw TO their sevc-
raj hills to associate with their neighbors
aud cultivate clanniShne>S by intercourse
with them. The day affords few oppor-
tunitics OF cultiyating the good feeling OF
citizens generally, or of understanding we'll
their views and opinions, while the hours OF
recess from business are not improved by
cultivating liberal and comprehensive ideas
OF the wants and policies Of the city.
Who will deny this ?. Why, Church Hill
and Shockoe Hill are socially as far apart
rs Richmond and Petersburg. And there
are seven hills to cut up in so many parts
the interests and separately crystalize the
sel6shness OF the people.
Again: The business which absorbs the
largest part Of the capital employed in the
city is one peculiarly special and technical.
II tends to isolate, III commercial sense,
the large community engaged III 1t. mat
Is tobacco. 1t has its Exchange. andthere
the dealers assemble. and are actively en-
gagged through business hours. Upon re-
firing they repair at once to their count
ing-roomS and thence to their homes. They
see but little of citizens otherwise en-
ployed, and do not become so we'll ac-
ouainted with the things that concern the
whole community as they would were they
less absorbed in specially.
By all means those who employ large
capital, and whose business tends to accu-
mulate large gains to the Commonwealth,
should see much Of one another, and by In
accommodation with the people acquire
familiar and practical idea OF all matters
OF public concern interesting to all the peo-
pie Of the city.
The WAYS from hill to hill should be made
easy and as direct as possible. There should
be places OF an attractive and agreeable
character where all businessmen could
meet for rcfreshment and intercourse with
one another. Weknow no city that is so badly
ofrin this respect as Richmond. There is sad
want of the opportunity for that social col
hsion which would tend to enllghten ana
liberalize us all, and would elicit the cleo
trio mental sparks that indeed are the
greatest forces OF city's prosperity. Were
there one or more spacious places for re-
freshment and comfortable social meetings
that would be great means Of harmonizing
the influential men upon matters OF enter
prise and Improvement. Yet for the want
Of it these 60 forgotten and neglected.
A few years since We spoke of the pro-
perry opposite the post-ofice as Offering the
best location for grand hotel, with line
cafe in the basement, where the merchants
and men Of enterprise could have their
daily retnion to consider the state Of the
city. A hotel an a place OF social exchange
there would reyolutionize the city. More
intelligence would be impaired as to public
and private interests in day there than we
can now have in week. Around the Ia
bles OF its salons there would be frequently
exploited schemes and organized plans
and means for enterprises that would do
great things for the local prosperity and
growth of the city.
These are matters that should enlist the
most earnest consideration Of our capitalists
and businessmen. We may go on plod-
ding in our way, but never will Richmond
receive an energetic impulse in the way OF
advancement until something to remedy our
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