The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-01-12
lirIsl,lull
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8, 3 .p.1gT,a So ssJARY -. 1873 IS


4 .rr1eT,a q AfstJATsl y. 1873.
Tna Jasnes-River RAILWAY.
speak Of this project N no tn issaslse
ana in,petuoas spisif. peak q y - sc
improvement Indicated bs the pays'cai W
,eranhy 81 the state as necessary to the
,,nits and completene OF the stase system 'a
1T inaproyeY,ei,t, and necessary TO the estab-
Iishment Of the proper &C lnsnercial power OF
The Commonwealth. A line OF Transporter
tion-equai TO that known as the most rapid
ana efficient that prevails at this time II, the
commercial world -along the main artery
os Virginia to her very hears-is indispep-
sable 10 her proper position amongst the
States. From a.patient consideration OF the
commercial advantages of such compae-
tion3oi the unity Of Virginia public works,
we say that such accretion and opuience
would De secured by it to Virginia COM:
merce, as well as to that of Richmond, taat
by it there win be built up Mt the capital
trade and wealth thst for massivencss and
durability may be compared with the Esyr-
tan pyramids.
The practical and weIl-reasoned essay in
yesterdays Dispatch, signed w. truly
stated that the James-River canal "was
born TOO late" and yet it was begun Just
litsle zoo early to be prevented: the exam
ple Of the Erie canal and the wonderful
energy and persistence of JOSEPH G. CABEIL
were too strong to be frustrated by the then
partial development OF TIE power OF rail-
roads. Most unfortunate was it. This city
has been injured to degree that it will
take years 70 repair. Had a railroad. been
built instead OF the canal Richmond Wonid
now hare population Of 100000. Balti-
more was but village in 1885: the Balti-
more aud Ohio railroad made her wealthy
city o, 4oo, 900 people What had she before
the railroad that could equal in advantage
the James river to Richmond, or in any
way make her position superior.to that OF
Richmond?
Our esnal has prevented railway along
James river and put back Richmond hall
century. Now the canal has ended its career,
and what are tue pcopleo of Richmond going
to do about it?
we sometimes think that there must be
something in the atmosphere or scenery
about Richmond that.tends to construct the
minds Of some citizens. But may itnot be
that our people have so long been deprived
of the fulflment Of prophecies concerning
the growth and wealth Of their city? Their
long disappointment has acted upon their
minds as do COMPRISING and restraining
machines upon the bodies OF men.
Consider the James-River valley: It is
the richest as well as the loyeliest valley IN
the Statc-productive, saluhrious, and at
tractiye. From Ricbmondto Clifton Forge
is over two hundred miles. Is not such a
valley able to furnish sufficient Transports
ton for the support OF a cheapIy-built rail-
road2 Suppose it draws nothing from the
farsWest and the Southwest, is there not
sufficient local business to make that road
a prosperous one? A committee of sensi-
BILE and practical men would without hest
tation decide that the business would be
ample to make such road amongst the
most prosperous.
But it is one OF the most Illogical and err
roneous Of ideas that there will be no trade
drawn to such q road from other roads. 1t
will be the best Of all roads in the State
for its grades, since: 1t will follow the
water from end to end. Will not that
road draw transportation towards it.?
To say that it will not is to deny the
law OF nature, and, furthermore, to as
sert that Richmond is so repulsive a
place that it will, even with the most pow
eriul natural advantage in its favor, repel
commerce from it. Is any citizen ready to
admit this? If there is one such be should
get out OF it as soon as possible. He wastes
time to live in city be regards with such
contempt. Richmond has more attractions
commercial, classical, and social--than any
other city in the South. ..,.s-
no, fellow-citizens, the James River rail-
way will draw from wide distance literally
all along the valley. 1t will cause great
enhancement OF wealth and population in
the valley, grace the river elevations with
fine residences, and mark the line Of rail-
way as with mile stones with f1ourishing
: villages. It is the only locality in Virginia
caSOE- o. Tic hIuSe cSpeCluiy~ aOaPtCo W
such communities. The unsurpassed
grades OF the road, and the market Of
Richmond will draw transportation from
other lines, and from the far West and
Southwest, and Virginia will at last, fgura-
lively, have her paths Strengthened and
smoothed and her commerce regulated with
proper regard for her own rights and
welfare.
Reyerting to merely local suggestions,
we hear OF a man now and then who asks
if we have not railway to Lynchburg.
We answer positively no. so far as having
an efficient medium Of commerce with
either Lynehburg or the Southwest is con-
cerned. Let lis ask a gentleman OF this
opinion would he be SATISFIED to live by
the food that was fed to another mans
stomach? II he thinks he could, then he
is logical in supposing that Richmond can
in any sense profit by the operations OF
road that runs by and far away from her
by the transportation ofethe Atlantic, Mis-
sissippi and Ohio railroad, corporation
which has inflicted more injury upon Vir-
ginia and Richmond than its authors could
eyer efface If they lived, each of them, 900
years.
- ,ro., no <hao.an nv sav;no that we arel