The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-04-06

Al Olu CltiLtu SeuUS us tue lOIiOWlng.
He is a live man, surely. Nothing old
fogyish about him.
lFor the Dispaich.I
Richmond.
Those OF us who have lived in Richmond
for the last fifty years have witnessed her
progress. BY steady. forward movement
in commerce, mechanical industry. and
population, she has advanced from day 10
day and year TO year. taking no back step.
Now she has an assured strength and posi-
tion that makes her Should her public in
terestS he wisely dir2cteGl mistress ef her
future and glorious destiny. To those OF
us WHO have these long years watched her
fortunes and beheId the adverse tides OF
competition that. favored by the vast capt.
tai of opulent cities having opposing inter-
eSis, threatened to snatch from her the little
trade she had, and besides those Of us wit
messed those invidious determinations
against her OF great lines OF transportation
in freights and travel, have now the JOYOUS
recOmpeuse OF seeing her stepping forth from
the midst Of her troubles, with buoyant and
elastic tread, like Young giant impatient
for action. Nothing remains to crown
her patient but unialtering efforts with sue
cess but that sensible adjustment OF her
public affairs and a vigorous prosecution
OF proper enterprises and apportionments
OF city. She has now The population that
is sufficient 10 make her conscious OF
strength, for it IS the power and capacity
for production that establishes wealth, and
that guarantees its permanence. The pro-
duet is contemptible Us compared with the
producer. The one Is ever perShing and
subject t. consumption and decay. the
other has life and perpetuity in continual
renewal of strength and activity. The
great question for Richmond now to solve
is how shall we Use the power we have to
be able TO hold to our natural advantages
for trade and industry against all opposi-
ton. come from whence 1t may? We have
now the population and the natural advan-
tages; the rest must depend on our sagacity,
and moral. intellectual, and physical devel-
opment. The great power OF population
must be welded by a corresponding power
OF administrative genius in the City Coun-
ellis. A mass OF brain activity there must
give vital energy to the strong arms OF the
artisan, and so assure Us the victory so long
anticipated.
The advantages OF population and natural
blessings in these regards are often lost by
clumsy administration of public affairs OF
CITY, and the confidence OF the masses in
their ability to achieve handsome results Is
IMPAIRED and discouraged by a scklv and
inefficient government. The people want
TO see their handworkS. They want to see
completed and laid at their feet the usual
conveniences and comforts OF city life. and
at reasonable cost to them. They cannot
afford to spend q life in expectation Of bless
/ ings which, promptly bestowed, would pro-
long that life itself, and give to il phases OF
enjoyment and happiness that it cannot be
made to derive from expectation.
We want every comfort and convenience
Of city life. We want perfect drainage,
easy grades, safe and regular sidewalk,
clean streets, ample light, and pure water.
and an absence OF all offensive matter and
| business that imprcgDate the atmosphere.
We want a perfect system OF Fire Depart
ment, with ample, even redundant, means
and implements for its efficient Working I;
| for it is a great arm OF public safety and
economy. We want a reliable and we'll
apportioned policemen OF decided hrm-
ness and conscientious sense OF duty. We
want the avenues OF industry festooned
with every emblem OF encouragement to
labor and morality. We want labor made
more respectable than idIeness, and econo-
nv more honorable than extravaganza, and
order and neatness more appreciated than
licentiousness. We want more than these.
We want places OF cheap and innocent
amusement and culture Of the masses. We
want for them edifying lectures, and we
! want spacious parks and grounds Tor recre-
alton and social acquaintance. We want
these things suited 10 the area OF popula-
ton. and distributed 50 as to give equal ad'
yantages TO all. The people rCq0le these
/ things within easy reach and always ready
! for their enjoyment and uses.
We do not say that we have not many OF
these things, but most Of them are so clum-
| sily supplied, 50 incomplete, or so lar Oe-
| hind the age, that we may be pardoned for
complaining OF our city administration.
\ The kings ignorance is crime against So
clety, and bad administration OF pupnc
affairs OF city may well be regarded as
matter for which the City Fathers may be
! held TO responsibility. grave ana enduring,
aud OF a type that should reproach the
memory of those OF them who have accepted
| a trust for which they were incompetent
or towards the just performance or when
thev proved deTeliet.
There is at this moment great need Tor
improvements and work that would employ
daily for a wear to come one thousand hands.
The various approaches to the city should
moi ONLY be rendered more slightly, but more
essV and convenient. The beIghls' ana
stones about Rockets aud neighboring pub
lie grounds should be relieved OF their GUT
lies and gaded places, and De turfed ana
mantIed with yerdure. The wharyes should
be built up and the landings and levees on
the river paved with substantial granite
blocks. Deposits Of filth should be re-
moved to places suitable for utilizing II for
agriculture, and yards and rear lois snoulu
he secured OF the nuisances that an mex
cusable want Of taste and decency has SUI
fered to accumulate in great portion OF the
city.
We are soon to have the eyes OF the woriu
on us. The concOurse at the centennial Oh
the surrender at Yorktown will be the most
numerous and important gathering OF ID.
telligeat and active public.spirited ana
businessmen that this country ever expe.
riepced: and the occasion wisely handled
in the interests OF our city would be worth
hundreds OF thousands OF dollars TO It, and
would be like introducing electric light In
places OF darkness, just at time when the
glorious triumph OF Ricbmond's eoDnec-
lions by rail with the great commerce OF the
West will be consummated. Z.
-->up--------
we are grieyed to record the death, at his
residence. in King George county, on Tues
dar. March 29th, OF Bev. Edward IL. NC
cn,,a after only a few DAYS illness from