The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-03-09
West Point and Richmond.

The West Point Star seems TO be as conf
dent as any OF our Norfolk contemporaries
that Richmond, not being Immediately
upon the seaboard, can never hope to be a
very large city. All these opinions are en-
titled to consideration; yet, as we in Rich
mond have never had a jealous or enNious
moment when thinking upon the future OF
other cities, we will reproduce the Star
prophecies touching West Point. Ii says
"Tbere can be no doubt about the fact
that the future is full of promise for West
Point. Her natural advantages are llnsur-
passed-tbey must find their proper place
in advancing the commerce OF the world.
"E!sewhere in this issue will be found
some account OF an enterprise that Is Just
beginning, which must develop our port as
THE PORT for the foreign commerce OF the
southern coast.
1.-THE rebuilding OF the wbaryes here,
with much greater facilities than ever be-
fore for handling freight-tbe deepening OF
our channel by national appropration-the
general knowledge among shipping lines,
hitherto doubted or entirely denied, that
our river can float upon lis bosom the
largest ships, all point to the fact that The
future OF West Point is one OF great pro
mise, not only to her own citizens, but to
this section and to This State. There IS, we
think, only 'one thing Deedful.' and that
is for Richmond to appreciate the true
position West Point occupies TO Richmond
BY james river Richmond can never be a
place Of large importance from CONNER
c;al point OF view, but through West Point
che may be.
"Tnis L., as we understand ii, the true
interest OF both places.
"But whether Richmond ever appreciates
This fact or not. we are confident IN our be-
lief that West Point must at no distant day
be THE shipping point for the Virginia coast
and as such she win be place OF large i'm
portsnce. There are other schemes con
coc,ing which will greatly advance her ma
terial interests, but OF these we must speak
hereafter"
As there Is water.power enough on ih'
Monongahela river and Its branches be
tween Pittsburgh and the sources OF The
latter 10 turn all the machinery in the world
yet there are more manufacturing establish
ments in Wheeling than on the three rivers
combined, 80 we sic inclined TO think, thai
there are very large number OF good ports
on the Atlantic ocean and its bays which
will never be as large as Richmond. The
Seine al Paris is only few hundred feet
wide, and The Thames At London only
few hundred yards wide. The pro
perry. holders Of Richmond could wei
afford 10 spend million Of dollars
TO make James river twenty-five feet
deep all the way up 10 the dock. Deer
water. however, Is not all that Is needed Ia
order TO the growth OF city. Cincinnati
Is not hall 50 fsvorably situated as Rich.
mond, yet Cincinnati already has popua
ton OF several hundred thousand souls
The best locations for cities would seem 10
be where there Is not only fine water com
munication- with the outside world, but
where railroads can pass through, running
In almost every direction. Baltimore will
always be lager than any other Marylan
city lying nearer the ocean. Pbiladelphis
will always be larger than Cape May
though the latter is regular jump
iDg-off place. West Point ana Norfolk must
have railroads running through them north
and south before they can hope TO rival Rich.
mond. SO we think. But, as we have said
before, We feel no Jealousy Of either Of those
places, nor Of any other, and would rejoice