The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-02-06
The. introduction of railroads increased
M ii Woi5deTfSf manner tis 7ntgfe0urset Of

- The lntr0QucItOnS MISUNDERSTANDING Ssso
Esnsa Wor1derfuf manner tbs intercourse q
people flying at great distances apart yet j
Was not, until the era OF streets or horse-eal
railways athatl thes cities began tofeeis thle
|benefitsa6f q rapid transit Immediately
that facility TO- intercourse between all di.
visions .ofa city was employed there foi'
loved efforts to perfect the machinery q
this new sort Of transp ortation within the
cities. Immense progress was made in'tiis
matter, and as q conseq there was q g
great deal Of grading done as&ones Wayit to
facilitate the passage Of cars from one pari
TO another Of d great city. ~ 81, ,.,s..sSg
d New York has gone ahead of all other
cities in this respect. Her crowded conai.
ton blocked UP the surface. ways and there
was no recourse but to find ways that would
not conflict with surface travel and trans
portation,, and she found this alternative in
her elevated railroads, which have proved
perfesf success These elevated railways
promise to be:rapidlyiuereased, anddustify
the expectation that the means OF aceommo.
dalton for persons doing business in New
Yorkgwill be equalsto any demand. Per.
sons who have been compelled to cross the
rivers Tor. homes. may return, and the city
may increase to. the full extent that may be
warranted bythe circumstances that guide
and govern men in their pursuits. sIiq,o.;
The fashionable stores in New York are
ssedrifting" In the line Of business move.
roent.y The amusements follow the. same
course, and New York will in a few5years
be SO changed that one who knew that city
d short time ago will hardly recognize it.:
It is interesting to consider the, effects OF
this "raplds transit upon city. 1t is q
great human benefactor. 1t enables closely
packed communities to spread themselves !:
to get exercise, fresh air, and health II
spreads over wide surface the thrift and
capital drawn to a big city, and thus dis
penses the advantages OF a concentration, OF
commerce amongst greatly-increased COM
munities. Thus we have for the good
Of mankind increased breathing spaces,
diffusion OF pleasure as well as health,
diffusion of wealth, spread OF Improvement,
increase Of liberality in the encouragement
OF art, and increase Of taste and refinement.
OF course there must go with these an in
crease contentment and civilization.
Man is made surly, rude, and aggressive by
discomfort and restraints which limit exer-
else and deprive the limbs Of their natural
freedom. Liberty is ;'the remedy, and the
.rapid trausit'' affords this liberty. The
remedy is,seen in all-big cities. 1t will be
seen that this tends to make man more mild
and tractable to man, to increase the peaceful
temper of large communities, and to pro-
mote the general welfare. rs
All cities should study this wonderful
means OF promoting the public good. The
city fathers Of Richmond should give it much
Of their time twill besoon discovered that
no city can pretend to compete for the bust
ness, the travel. and the favor OF the gene
raj public which is deficient in means Of
rapid and pleasant transportation, and in
public places OF pleasure and recreation,
and in amusements. Richmond has the
most providentially favored locality. She
has all that Nature could well give her.
Man; must do the rest. II well done we
shall, make her one of the greatest, il not
the greatest inland city in the Union.