The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-09-06
CITY Hall. Union Depot. and Uptown
Hotel

Hotel.
A, tho late municipal election upon the
oucstion OF authorizing the City Counc'I
70 snpropriate $500, 900 for the erection OF
A.. CITY hall the voice Of the people was
pretty nearly unanimous. OF those VINO
voted against the proposition the majority
believed the sum named was insuflicient,
and feared that it would but be the begin
ming OF an enormous outlay, which
neither the wants nor wealth OF the city
would Justify. The truth Is that Saoo'oVo
w.s named because after inquiry OF
f1ourishing western citics-cities that nave
even greater expectations than Richmond
Il was ascortaincd that 1t would be ample
for building which would serve all pur-
poses for seventy-fivc or hundred years
10 come, and at the same time prove an
architectural ornament 10 the city. Some
o the said western cities, with present
population much larger than Richmond
and with the expectation OF doubling same
in twenty years, have recently built city
halls that cost less than $500, 200, and which
are truly handsome and imposing struc-
lures. We can build rs cheap as they
can--perhaps cheaper.
In the course OF the next few months the
City Council will probably give great
deal OF thought 10 the new city nall
They will have TO consider and conclude
at what time the finances OF the city Will
warrant them in ordering the building 10
be commenced, and in the interval, which
cannot safely be less than q year, they must
fix upon site and be seeking for the best
plan. No haste should be allowed IN
adopting a plan; nor would few thou
sand dollars saved by getting cheap one
be true economy, but the contrary. The
work Of all competitors should be care
fully examined and exposed to intelligent
criticism. Indeed it would be worth while
TO wait two or three years or more to get
an architectural gem, rather than cucumber
some beautiful site with horrid, mis-
shapen mass, in which all schools Of archi-
lecture are mingled and all laws OF proper
tons and propriety violated. When we
do build city hall let us not try to build
one as for a city Of the size of Baltimore or
Cincinnati, but one FOR city of the size Of
Richmond, making, Of course, reasonable
calculation for future growth. Let others
glory in masses of stone and brick and
iron; let us have the pleasure Of pointing
TO our city hall as something that delights
the cultured eye and serves q uscfufpur-
pose, and as be&uty-spot, not scar, upon
the face of Nature.
We feel sure that the City Council
will proceed cautiously in this matter
To do otherwise would be to do in
Justice to the trust committed to them.
They may commence looking about for a
plan as soon as they please after they re-
solve upon site; for perfect plan-as
things gO-will be difficult to procure, and
in the interval such financial arrangements
rs may be necessary may be made.
The thing always to be kept in mind is
that we want hall that will lie useful and
beautiful; we could not il we would have
"the largest and finest in the country"
As we may be reasonably sure that with
in few years we will have suitable city
hall, or mind naturally begins to dwell
upon the next most needed public build
ing; that is 20 say, union passenger de-
pot.
Present depot accommodations in Rich
mOnd are very rude. II not absolutely
wanting in comfort, they are certainly not
what the travelling public are used to.
They are worse here than in most western
towns OF 10000 inhabitants. Strangers
when first landed in Richmond have dis
gust fixed upon them which it takes good
deal OF riding up and down the best
thoroughfares to remove, and sometimes
that first impression is not removed at ALL
In the way of grand union depot here
there are, we know, some great natural
obstacles; bat they are not insurmounta-
bic, and all but one OF the roads-the
Chesapeake and Ohio-may be brought to-
gether without any very large outlay.
With the aspirations and expectations Of
Richmond, is it notabout time to commence
thinking about union depot!
May we not hope TO see such n depot
here at some day not dim in the future?
knowing as well rs we do the trying
history OF all railroad enterprises in Nir-
ginia for twenty years past, and aware that
even now all rairOad-running is not profit,
We do not expect the companies to rush
right in and contract for union depot at
once; but we do hope that they will think
about it, or, in other words, gradually
nerve themselves up to the undertaking.
We cannot do without 1t forever.
Even the railroad-men, who cannot yet
persuade themselves that a union depot is
a feasible project, join with the general
public in declaring in favor OF fine up
town hotel. 1t is the concurrent testimony
OF railroad and steamboat-men that with Il
hotel so located and so kept as to satisfy
the demands of that rich portion Of the
northern public which annually moves in
advance OF cold weather TO the South, we
will have here every fall and winter a well
come addition to society. They are people
liberal In the patronage OF public entertain
ments, and able and willing to buy at the
retail stores whatever strikes their fancy.
1t is freely declared by those who ought to
know that many who now go farther south
would gladly stop here il we could offer
them the accommodations for which they
are willing TO pay, and that they would
form nucleus for the support OF an up
town hotel.
Several times We have seemed to be upon
the eve OF getting this much-desired hotel.