The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-07-19
"a Grsat work for Richmond. :,

| uitlonal reasons In support OF the improve
| ment OF our harbor, work OF substantial
merit, and calculated to attract the atten.
ton OF the citizens that are concerned at
all times about matters OF public interest
OF Richmond.
| Much OF the progress OF our city in com.
mercial welfare and manufacturing indus
try depends upon the iudicious direction
OF her public interests by our City Coun-
ell. Let such OF them as would familiarize
themselves with the topography OF her in
terests go to the brow OF any one OF her
numerous hills and survey the panorama OF
works OF nature and art that constitute her
riches and are the harbingers OF her future
greatness. There let them view her hills,
valleys, highways, falls, bridges, water
fronts, foundries' stacks, furnaces, mills,
warehouses, and ebb and flow OF her
tides, and ponder the scene. Let
them contemplate what measures would
assist her commerce-what methods are in
dicated that would give greatest majesty
and power to her enterprises-wh make
her the object OF national admiration that
she should be. Thus enlightened by the
contemplation OF works for public good,
they would enter upon harvest OF enter
prise, the evidences of success OF which
would cluster into view like sunlight dis
pelling the mists of morning. Soon our
Council would distinguish itself in foster
ing enterprises that would ere long estab-
| lish our commercial power and perpetuate
our peoples prosperity and happiness.
And these we have right to expect OF
| them, as, indeed, it should be their aim
and pleasure to achieve.
But we must also turn our eyes TO Con-
gress, that would not be an Indifferent OBJ
server Of our claims to advancement; and
now is favoring opportunity, while 1t is
discussing questions OF commerce and the
enlargement OF the navy, to draw its atten-
| tion TO the great advantages OF improve
ments OF trade over armamcnts for national
defence in securing safety and prosperity
OF the nation. Since the most effective
measures Of national defence will be found
| to result from the maintenance OF the great
est possible perfection OF trade and COM
merce, that would make us indispensable
TO the rest OF mankind. BY these relations
we may most firmly maintain the conditions
OF enduring peace.
Richmond, surrounded by q country
rearing great variety Of products, among
them those most essential TO man, and by a
country abounding in lands susceptible OF
|
been an exporting market, and, proper
toned to its population, exports as largely
and throughout the year rs any city in the
! United States. The mountain slopes and
| highland meadows and valleys, the watered
pastures and table-lands OF the interior, the
sand-loam fields OF the tidewater region,
are the great producing areas Of Virginia
and OF these and the industry OF our agri-
cultural classes Is derived our surplus pro-
ductions, which seek the pathways OF ocean,
and through them are dispensed to The i'll
habitants of other lands, who are ever beck
oning our transports to their shores. The
James reaches forth for 100 miles its tidal
arm To pilot i'm safety vessels freiShted with
these treasures Of human industry to the
sea.
| Thus nature has indicated clearly the
safer and cheaper as well as the ever ready
means Of transhipment-yiz., to the head
OF tide-water. where the ebb and flow OF
the tide Is gentlest, and the ships may load
and unload with greatest facility and COM
fort, and with least agitation OF the waters.
and consequent freedom from chafing OF
the vessels and least possible damage TO
their cargoes. Not only so, but these arms
OF the sea. like the ocean itself, furnish the
|
transportation known to man, and so lar
a. they are found to possess depth sum
cieut are the great natural blessings OF
commerce, and where such depth falls short,
reasonable expenditure of money and labor
may be iudiciously applied to adapt them to
commercial needs. 1t is remarkable that
natural provision for channels in rivers OF
even great length is made so sure and en-
a IL, -l,r ttt,ff
(eaving the shallow parts or bars OF alto
gether inconsiderable length that require
| no great dredging to secure adequate depth
| for navigation. We may say law OF the mo-
| ton OF water is to gravitate towards COM
mon centre, and consequently the speclhc
gravity of the under-stratum Is greatest,
and increases from the surface in the ratio
OF the squares OF depth OF the stream or
body in motion. Thus the impulse OF
| the stream is greatest at its bottom. ana
| therefore the tendency to wing out sediment
TO each side OF the current is increased.
The effect OF this law Is to prevent the ac-
| emulation Of sediment in the streams
which the currents have produced after
thousands and thousands OF years flow,
| leaving the hills on either side where once
q level surface existed. BY this influence
OF the law OF currents channels for nayl-
cation are maintained, as II Providence
has designed them TO secure freedom OF
commerce among men. This law OF cur
rents is worth remembering, as cvidenclng
the berculeau work Of nature that has
been so wisely performed for man, and so
| necessary to civilization by supplying easy
and safe mediums Of transportation OF the
products and manufactures OF industry
among the people OF the earth.
1t should be observed that the effort 10 eX-
| tend railroad transportation to the margins
for nearly SOY OF the ocean itself Is OF doubt
| ful utility. The passion for speed, ior
rapid motion. has grown so great that tli.l
motion which is perhaps best will not sat
isiy lis any longer, and considerations
against undue velocity will not be enter
tanned. The motion Of the piston, which
| l. limited TO certain number OF strokes as q
maximum, Is now regarded as IN obstacle 10
motion that must be removed. The adyan-
tages or economy OF speed proportioned to its
cost and safety will indicate maximum OF
motion that Is best, and it will not be lar
from the highest possible velocity OF water
navigation; for all speed beyond this viii
occasion wear and tear and vibration that
will bring resulting loss and danger. This
desire for speed induces the construction OF
railroads parallel to nayigable water lines
ot even a higher cost OF transportation.
Rut Is IL wise! The necessary time 10 test
this has not transpired, but the result Is a.
certain as that we can calculate the diner'
cuce Of the cost OF production between
artifcially.watered lands for cultivation
/ vI.,x