The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-04-02

who hnS been Sf'eDulDS u Nv ho'
yotlr charming city, to give tpe5 leausls =,
your extensiyely-circuIated paper soa 49,. VI
;he i'm nressjons made ttpon his mind during
his nlrasart soiourn in Richmond. the
,yr;tar at this sketch has beer in the habit
a, serinyC Richmond enthusiastically ior
some wears, especially before the war DC
twtensthe sections. The last tiaIe ne So"
the city dTring the war was Just q Few DAYS
before It's eyacuation-iust before Inc en-
actmegt OF the terrible scenes Which io'-
lower, so swiftly upon the heels OF tue
ret;r ement OF the gallant soldiers VINO
hail so long defended and protected
the Confederate States capital ana vir-
pinia,s chief city from the advancing
tide OF vantal hordes aud victorious troops
hv whose superior numbers we were DOOM
Cd to he overwhelmed. Richmond then,
| in it's physical and geographical proper
tiops. was not what It is to-day. Ihe cry
has grown astonisbingly, spreading user ~ !,
ali directions " over the bills ana tar away,
since the close OF. the struggle OF inc ooutn
for separation II ON the Union. Every pai
of the city. wherever the eye IS turnGo, "a
hIbits substantial proofs OF tne Wonue r.
irrcpressihle activities to puiid u up, ~
,i;fBrnIt for stranger TO tell in what direc-
t;on tho city has most improved. Main and
Carv streets. where the fire-fend reverted
during the evacuation OF the city, nave
some n, the largest and finest business
holscs ever erected in any city. LII "oulo
really seem as II the work OF Improvements
md nrooress had started with the city 5 Gis-
asters. and had gone steadily on, WITHOUT
check, let, or hindrance.
Nor have the hard times and the scarcity
o, active capital seemed to interfere WIN
the ciiv,s physical growth. The Woik OF
imnrovement has gone steadily and Draveiy
m until some Of the finest monuments OF
human energy and active Industry ever seen
in any community are to he tound IN RICH
mond, 1t is doubtful whether any city IN
the South, or in tic Union, has grown as
rarid!y as this city has done since tue war.
Thc trade and business Of the city have OF
course been crippled and held in allegiance
since the depression Of the times, but it is
obvious that business activities are only
checked Temporarily, to go forward with
unexampled celebrity and facility when bet
fer times return. The interesting and eu-
cvuraging statistics OF the business and
commerce Of the city given by the Dispatch
at the beeinnin. Of the present year show
that Richmond IS full OF essential business
life.
Richmond. however, in its social, moral.
and religious life, entities itself to the re-
spectful regard Of" strangers within her
gates. This writer, who has seen many o1
The largest cities Of the Union, has never
seen one in which law and order were more
universally observed and respected. 1t IS,
for lis size. the most quiet city we have ever
seen. It's police force are obviously gentle
men. and not brutal roughs who have been
selected because Of their bca5tly Instincts,
and who enforce obedience to and respect
for the laws, not with their club, but by
the department Of gentlemen. No rowdy-
ism dis.races the city, and its police reports
show that population OF nearly S0,00o
souls, large proportion OF which are un-
educated coorcd people, are held in check
and to the maintenance OF the law by the
Strong and commanding moral forces which
here hold society together.
The example set by the various Christian
churches OF the city during the past season
is an example which may we'll be followed
elsewhere. Behold how good aud how
pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together
in untyi" found practical application IN
the religious meetings held III the hall OF
the Young Mems Chris ian Association and
in the various churches CT all denominations
in different parts OF the city. SO, whether
we look at this great centre OF population
destined in the future to almost indeiinlte
enlargement and cXplnS!on) IN social,
moral. business, or religious aspect, it will
be seen that the capital city Of our grand
old State is entitled rot only to the respect
of her own people. but to tic love and ven
Grafton Of al! her sons.
A stranger, OF course, cannot enGnicratc,
nor can he adequately and faithfully de-
scribe in the compass of this brief alticic,
all the scenes Of interest and all the nonu.
mcnts OF the wisdom, sagaeity. energy. and
industrial activities OF this chief and rapidly
! growing city OF The State; yet nc may refcf
TO some OF them which have given him
pleasure and inspired pride In his nina
which all Vircinians ought to feel when
they remember that what does credlt 10
Richmond does homer 10 the whole state.
One of the first things that arrests me at
tention of strangers in The city Is the wise
and splcndid system OF thOrouShfareS and
highways adopted in the improvement OF
IFS streets. The streets OF the city, moro
especialv those running cast and west, are
broad and clean, well graded, well paved.
and their sidewalks constitute admirable
avenues for pedestrians, who in pleasant
weather always throng paremcnts OF
ldenscly-DoDulatcd centre. The streets OF
Richmond all show that this department OF
the cty's improvement is in competent
hands. The City Engineers plans all OBJ
yiously look to wide, wcll-graded, and
cheerful-ooking streets. hanked by ample
pavements. 1t really affords charming
vision to stand on the upper or summit
level OF Broad street and gaze either east or
west.
The city's connections with the country
south OF james river are all good-its rail
way and other substantial bridges spanning
the liver being superb structures reared
high above the utmost reach OF the swollen
and maddened stream in it's utmost fury.
The city's water-werks, at the base OF
that enchanting d" city Of the dead"-EIoly-
woods another creation Of capital and en-
tcrDrisc OF which any city might we'll be
proud. The water-works so near and SO
directly underneath the beds of the silent
Sleepcrs in Hollywood would seem TO be in
compatible with some ideas In the minds OF
the squeamish; yet visit to these localities
will satisfy all Of the eminent appropriate
ness and harmony of these seemingly too
close and intimate connections. A more
lovely spot than Hollywood is not to be
found. Here very many OF the city dead
sleep sweetly and quietly whilst the James
murmurs an eternal anthem as it rushes to
the sea.
Did not the apprehension arise that we
are trespassing upon the time and patience
of your readers we should like to refer to
the splendid monuments in Capitol Square,
embracing some of the finest statuary in the
world to the city's almShouse, where the
| Door and unfortunate Of the city are so well
cared for; and to that other more ancient
getty Of the dead" Shockoe-IEill Cemetery,
whose Wondering, moss-grown annals"
tell us so eloquentIy OF the destiny OF all