The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-02-24

The Aims and Expectations Of shs
Proposed Richmond Dock and
Dry.Dock Company.


briefly and frankly:
| I. III the bill Is passed we shall not or
ganize rs incorporators, but we sbaii ao-
vertise and open books Of subscription IN
the city of Richmond. and II the minimum
capi,ai of 100000 Is subscribed, we shall
aid In the organization Of the company.
EVERY citizen OF Richmond and OF Virginia
win have an opportunity TO share ID the
risk and profit Of this enterprise.
| 3. The objects OF the company are 10
bsiId docks and encourage commerce, and
IN prov,de A place and means for ship
building. and Incidental TO this to encour.
ace mr. carry on the various enterprises that
nroperly pertain thereto. IL will be neces.
sary 10 connect these works with railroad
lines. and TO construct canals for water
SUNNY. and the right to do these things Is
asked for IN the bill.
3. The bill has been carefully prepared
and well considered, and Is not itaDie 10
| constitutional objections. All that is given
| In a bill Is not stated In the title. Inc
dock. which indicates the commercial pur-
pose, and the dry dock, which indicates
the ship-building purpose, sufficiently en-
| title the act.
| 4. The bin Is intended to cover any con-
tiugeucy OF future need. Ii was thought
| desirable not TO leave these powers to gen.
erai expressiors, but rs far as possible 10
plsinly state them, so that the Legislature
which was called to pass upon the charter
and the investors who would be asked to
take under it might act intelligently.
8. IN the objects here aimed at can be
obtained this movement means great deal
TO Richmond. 1t is reasonable to expect
that the Richmond delegation will be
unanimous and hearty IN support OF this
bill. and that the mineral districts will feel
peculiar interest in it. But we see no
reason why any man who seeks the gene
raj prosperity Of the city and State should
oppose 1t.
The suggestion that foreign capitalists
should not be treated in equal terms Is an
unworthy one, and the experience OF those
who have invested In Virginia during the
last twenty years has not been such as TO
make us fear that they will succeed too
well. The bill is modelled upon existing
statutes. The principal clause which gives
the powers Is almost literally copied nom
| the charter Of the Norfolk and Portsmouth
Warehouse Company. Our business eX-
perience has taught us that it Is much
easier TO criticise than to accomplish.
The incorporators do not represent that
thev purpose or are individually able to
carry out the project indicated. Success
will require large outlay and the CO.
operation OF many interests.
We are convinced that Richmond is well
located for seaport and for the building
and repair Of iron ships.
Opposite Hampton Roads the Atlantic
coast is drawn in several hundred miles,
and there the Gulf stream passes, carrying
ships far in their course towards European
ports. Within the capes is an inland sea,
"a kings chamber" as Maury has it.
From this great arm OF the sea reaches
one hundred miles straight towards the
corn-fields and the coai-6elds and the lines
that cross the cotton-felds OF continent.
The tide -uns to the granite foundations
OF q city of $4,000 people, and here great
river leaps one hundred feet into the tide.
The lower James has agreat average depth,
and the aggregate shoals requiring dredg-
ing to bring twenty-five feet TO the
lower city limits are less than SIX
miles. Richmond is as far west as Roches-
| ter, and il practically nearer to Memphis
| than Charleston or Savannah. Its pro-
gress has been retarded and decried. While
! it paws one-eighth OF all the taxes OF the
| State, il has seen the great railroads, con-
structed largely by State aid. pass her by.
Nineteen years ago it was left after a devas-
tating war without commerce or currency
or credit or good government, and almost
IN ashes, aud yet it has so far outstripped
other eastern cities that its growth is
almost miracle. We have faith in this
location and in this people. We believe
that the time has come for an effort to
bring the advantages of this city into
prominence.
Unfortunately plans for the improvement
OF the james river are checked by the fact
that we cannot handle commerce If 1t Is
| brought here. The open river is narrow,
| much affected by floods, and too limited for
! the maneuyring Of large ships. Docks
and basins must be built. Ship-building
requires yards and free way for launching.
An outlay is demanded too large for pri-
| yate enterprise. The State cannot help;
| the city cannot help. What argument will
induce the Government to aids Its stated
| that this place furnishes the best fresh-water
anchorage for monitors and iron-clads on
the eastern coast, and that the Navy De-
partment needs place for the dockage and
repair of large vessels, and will need u
defensible ship-building yard in case OF
war with foreign Powers, and it il assumed
| that the combined interests OF the South
and West in having a new interior port.
aud the interests of the Government in
\ developing commerce and at the same
| time providing a great ship-yard without
the cost Of maintenance, might be success
| fully appealed TO. Nothing may come OF
| it, but the chance Is worth the trial.
Nothing can be done until the State au-
thorizes it, and then it will he necessary TO
select a location cat or near Richmond J"
1--WE understand there are three good loca-
tons within sight OF the CapitoD to secure
lands, complete surveys, and put the pro-
ject in form.
II DIRECTORS propose better plan or pre-
sent stronger men than we can reach, we
will give them cordial help. IL we must
work alone this will not be the first time
that Richmond projects have succeeded
against sneers and opposition from those
who would neither build nor let others
build.
The project is not new one. 1t was
outlined more than half a century ago; it
has been favorably mentioned by expert
enced men. The suggestion OF indirect
Government aid is not novel. A large
part Of the navy Of England Is In pri-
yate yards to-day, and our own Govern
ment is paying large rentals. Every dol
lar OF this goes to northern yards. and II is
time the expenditure should be divided.
Perhaps in this way 1t shall come about
that a feet and busy yards may lie at the
gates Of Richmond and her prosperity be
multiplied. Very respectfully,
WILLIAM LcvEEsTgIS,
GEORGE II. PoNDExTER,
/ X. ii. CARDwELI.,
LUcIEN l.. BASS,
| NJ. Il. PLEAsANrs,
II. ID. WHITC0MB,
| ~ Il Errvcnu