The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-10-16

10 the Northwest, from winch i ueuuceu
conclusions which should give encourage
ment not only to Virginians, but to you
gentlemen from the North who have
embarked your capital here. No doubt
you wish your investment 10 pay, and
while l am neither prophet nor
the son OF a prophet, venture the predic-
ton that Il will. Reflect, gentlemen, that
one hundred years ago the whole popula-
ton Of this country was less than 3,000,O
Now it IL over 50,000,000. With anything
like natural ratio OF increase, what num-
bers will inhabit these hills and valleys in
few years. The increase Of population in
Virginia has not kept lace with other
States at the North and in the West hereto
fore, but in future it will. At the or
ganization OF this Government Virginia
was among the foremost in wealth and
population, but unfortunately she failed to
retain her position. Whyf Because she
has contributed largely Of her population
and brains and energy 10 the great West
and the North. Go where you VIII among
the busy and industrious in this country,
and among the foremost men you find Nir-
ginians or Nirginians' sons who have gone
elsewhere TO seek their fortunes. There
was q reason why they did so, but that
reason no longer exists. In the days OF
slavery the planter who owned his 600 or
1000 acres and his fifteen or twenty
slaves, and had family Of five or six boys,
was at loss what TO do with them. After
making n doctor Of one, preacher OF an
other. and lawyer Of the third, perhaps
occasionally merchant was developed
from the fourth. The rest had to emf
CRATE; there was no place in our economy
for them. The planter owned his black
smith, his carpenter, his wheeIwrigbt,
his bricklayer; in short, all OF the
great field OF labor was filled by
the slave, which at the North gives
employment and profit to your laborIng
classes. The oyerseer class and the other
men OF Virginia who had not the wealth OF
the planter, but who had their families oi
sons to provide for, were at this further
disadvantage, that they could not provide
the necessary education to make lawyers,
doctors, and preachers even OF part OF
them. so all had to leave the state. But,
gentlemen, all is now changed. We have
a State abounding in all Of the resources
which capital and labor united must de-
velop into enormous wealth. You ana
MANY other citizens OF the North and
West bring your capital here and invite
our Young men to stay at home, and they
will stay, because they see employment
before them and have something to look
forward to in the profits OF their industry.
In the name not only Of Richmond, but in
the name OF Virginia, and especially on
behalf of the laboring classes OF this State,
| extend YOU cordial welcome. 1t is as
sincere as our declaration made in 1861,
when YOU came with arms IN your hands
aud we promised you hospitable graves.
appeal TO the efforts made in the war to
make good that declaration rs Il guarantee
of the earnestness and honesty with which
we now offer YOU our hands and place in
our hearts.
OTHER TOAsTs AND SPEECHES.
"Science Is capital"
"Pocket full Of rocks"
Colonel Jed. IIotchkiss responded, show
ing very happily how the mountain ranges
and the lands Of limestone bind this
country together and made it one, and how
bountiiulIy the region Of country trayersed
by the Richmond and Allegheny railroad
had been blessed and enriched by Provi-
denee-ineYhaustible beds OF iron ores on
the one side, inexhaustible seams OF coal on
the other, rich lands, and magnificent
forests.
Just here Colonel Ross, Of Lexington,
called upon Mr.. Morse, Of Boston, to gave
his views upon the situation.
Mr.. Morse, who is one OF the youngest
looking gentlemen OF his age in the coun
try. responded in brief speech replete
with good sense and good humor.
Mr.. Shethar, and afterwards Mr.. Colgate,
early and valuable friends OF the Richmond
and Alleghany railroad, were next called
for. and responded briefly and well-eX-
pressing their satisfaction at the success OF
the enterprise, which promised so mucn,
not only for its owners. but for Virginia
and the country.
The President then called upon Professor
J. J. White to respond to the following
.|The great educators Of the country
the colleges and the railroads. May they
both teach the young ideas how to shoot,
and how to shoot in the right direction"
Professor White made one OF the Dest
/ speeches OF the evening. =,
/ General Ewing, Of Ohio, was next called
ont bv General h. ID. Lilly, and Colonel
Run. of Cincinnati, by Colonel Pendleton.
/ Roth gentlemen spoke in happy vein, ana
predicted a grand future for the Richmond
and Allegheny railroad and the regions OF
our country which 1t will penetrate ana
| bring nearer together.
| pittsburgh, the Workshop OF America
/ Nav she soon he brought nearer TO the
mines and forests OF Virginia and become
/ the Manchester and the Sheffield of the
world"
/ Mr.. Joseph ID. Weeks, OF Pittsburgh,
western editor OF the Iron Age, was called
upon to represent the Iron City, and this
ne did most creditably to himself and to
Pittsburgh.
"Tbc Testimony Of the Rocks: II proves
that Virginia's material greatness in the
I future will rival her political power in the
past"
Professor ]. l.. Campbell, Of Washington
and Lee University, the eminent geologlst
and mineralogist, responded to this sentl-
ment. Among other impressive remarks
which he made, he stated that while IN
some special instances there had probably
been some exaggeration OF the resources OF
some localities, that it would he almost im-
ross.ble to oyerstate the mineral wealth OF
the true mineral belts Of Virginia.
The following sentiment was sent mp to
the chairman, and received with great en-
thusiasm and cordially endorsed:
s9Tbe Richmond and Allegheny Railroad
Company The child Of destiny To II
and TO its pioneer, Henry Chester Parsons,
the people Of Virginia and OF the country
owe debt OF gratitude"
Colonel Parsons was called upon, ana III
replying 20 this toast gave briei outline
OF the history Of the Richmond ana ALE,
ghany Railroad Company's enterprise, and
OF its plans for future extension OF It's line.
He recognized that its success IN the past
was not due to any one man, and that GER
tainly he would have been powerless %
have gotten it upon its feet but for the
valuable and generous assistance OF such
men as Mr.. shethar, Mr.. Colgate, and the
present president Of the company, MI
h,......l. nrd 70 tho lnsl-nnmed pentlcIllal