The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-04-08
The .James-River Valley

and poMel ~ -, :. d, -
r,erate latitude OF the country. II Is ~
.n,,nsra,rre and geographical position Inc
s.a,,,,h,e and unavoidable line. The posi-
49,. 49, conceded to the James River canal at
ar t,oe that work was conceived, and Inc
,,n.o,c;liatory resolve and repellant self
assertion by which 1t maintained that posi-.
lion for long years afterwards, deieates
every movement towards she construction
:, :. railroad on that lias until last year;
and railroad, in this ageof railroads, along
that valley was absolutely necessary 10 give
to it that position Of dignity and iorce 10
The transporting power OF the na''of 'na'
,y,s reouisite to establish its commercia''
Do,it;cal. and moral dignity in the lahd'
The unfortunate construction OF the Ga
,,I and that prolonged and ardent enthu-
siasm in behalf of that improvement winch
is ut,erIy inefficient in these days prosohseo
tho r,isfortunes Of the old Commonwealth
md prolonged also the slavery OF Richmond on
r. great delus;on. Richmond, the proud
r-su ur.u ..rvs. nsv-,.--s -. 9 '",
dwarfed and detained in obstruction ana
discomfort unit, two long-dcferred events
First. the relief OF the community from a
sort Of blind .doatry to the canal; and Sc
cond, the breaking down OF stupad aho
corrupt combination that lost no opport".
ni,v 10 impair the prosperity OF Richmond
and divert from her that trade which would
have helped her, but the diversion OF "o'en
could not possibly benefit the combination
against her.
At last. thanks to kind Providence.
these events have come. A law looking 10
the early construction OF tirst-class rail-
way along this magic line is matured, ana
we cannot doubt that this work Will De
built. and that Virginia and Richmond VIII
aeon commence the realization CT those
grand rcsults-commcrcial, political, ana
moraI-which we anticipate from the great
work.
There are advantages to cnure from the
building OF the railroad which Will ensure
its construction. The corporators can 100
clearly foresec those advantages TO permit
them to let pass The opportunity for owning
such property. che road will be bullt, ana
then our bright expectations will be real
ized
One OF the political advantages that we
may count upon will be the establishment
OF a real Virginia party-not such as that
which consisted OF voice, and nothing
more, uttered by hybrid organization
whose great effort was to defeat the only in
terest that gave real ground OF hope for
Virginia wealth and power. The James
River Valley Will inaugurate the Virginia
party-a party homogeneous, compact, SIN
cere, and honest-a party armed at all points
and intact. 1t will he as firm and solid rs q
hollow square, soIidifed by unity OF in
terest and OF feeling, cnthused by public
devotion to the rcvcrcd Commonwealth, and
20 made durable by the Interchangeable moral
nd physiological forces that will sustain it.
Virginia then may feel safe and conf.
dut in that power which rests upon the
mural strength OF her position and her
reources. r'....
IS we have said before, the establishment
OF bis proper improvement in the James
RiSr Valley will have most admirable
.Get beyond the boundaries Of the State.
The will be an improved condition Of the
relabns OF the communities north and
wesSf her. Along the middle line Of the
Unid there must accumulate enterprise
and Gees which will exert great power
as wGpver politics as over commerce and
manu- tures.
Ricnond, we repeat, more blessed than
any, Off southern city in all the respects OF
commSal and manufacturing adaptions,
Is the y that stands right in line OF this
salutarfbiddle latitude, that cannot fall to
exert reat influence in the future OF the
natlon-his line which, by wonderful
comelnaon Of physical advantages, must
become ID scene Of great political action
and COMMERCIAL and manufacturing devel-
opment. 81 situated, it must in time be-
come one 4 the first, If not the very first
inland city IN America
hichmont with such line Of railway and
proper conn ctions will realize the expecta-
lions OF her most sanguine friends. The
road along the James-River Valley will rem
Ger intact the commerce Of Virginia ana 'ne
Trade OF Richmond. The Jamcs-RlVer TAI.
way viii resemble somewhat the rope o.
horse-har that is pinned down around tno
camp and that no snake will cross. Inns
por,ation will drop into that road ana not
cross it; for the line of road foi.o"s lug wa va
ter-leveI. and freights move, AS it were, by
their own momentum. 1t cannot suner
1roun rivalry. and must maintain tue condi-
1ion,triumphant and unassailable.
Let us hope that ail dispositions and con-
ditiops will now favor the early construc-
ton OF tue great railroad whose effects will
more tnan realize all that its most ardent
advocates expect fromit. It is the greatest
+. work ever proposed pr Virginia, aud its
establishment will secEe 10 Virginia the
benefits OF those naturas advantages which
have never failed to command the admlra-
tion OF all Intelligent travellers.
An indispensable Thing. -.