Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-07

the correctness Of these statements.
Every soldier knows that to the last
Richmond was impregnable to assault,
and only yielded when famine fell upon
the Army of Northern Virginia.
Ofcourse where such natural strength
Of site is found the cost Of Gortifying It
is minimum which, other things
being equal: ought to tdrn the sc,lo In
its favor, It Il safe to say that, If the
Government should determine to select
such site for Building ships and manu-
featuring ordnance, and should expend
the money TO get the requisite depth in
the river pori pasSu with the expendl-
turc necessary for plant and materials,
the river could be put in condition long
before the works could be finished ;
and that the cost Of deepening the chan
mel can be saved many times over in the
much smaller expenditure that would
be required for the other enterprise.
1t will strengthen what has been said
TO give the following extract from a
letter Of Professor John NJ. Brooke. OF
the Virginia Military Institute, late
lieutenant Of the United States navy,
and captain Of the Confederate navy,
who is recognized the world over as
high authority on such subjects
LFNINGToN, VA. March >, 1883.
Tolo.,y j. q. RuDia. RichR,pnd, a..
10 rfsa On IN L "a
s'dcred Your suggestions In detail and in
general, il remains but 10 saw That
believe that the results plainly indicated IN
this rare concurrence of all essential and
many favorable elements are within reacn
OF our people a a cost paraiiVely insg-
nihcant. And H. after deepening the James
there shall be as we have reason 10 believe
there Will be. a demand for American. Quilt
ships OF iron and steel, the advantages
afforded at the head Of tide. water. In the
Immediate vicinity OF Richmond for the
prosecution OF that industry would be nm
surpassed. And especially would this be
the case with respect TO ships of war, in
Guiding their armament.
wishing you success, | am sincerely
yours, JoHS VI. BROOKE.
So far every word that has been
peDned above has been meant to show
that the natural advantages Of Rich
mond give her a claim to deep water
the one condition she lacks to enable
her to rank first-class as a centre Of
commerce and manufactures, and the
site Of ship.yards and arsenals.
But she has one other claim which
should not appeal in vain to the justice
Of Congress. Heretofore the United
States has contributed to this work
$72o.713.7o, and Richmond has given
$432,l1.9S, nearly 10 per cent. Of the
whole expenditure. This she has done
in spite Of her losses in the war and in
spite of her payment of $l3,OOO,OOO
internal revenue since 1865.
But she is unable to complete the
work; she waits upon the action of
Congress. She will move again when
assured that the present scale Of inn
provoment will be worked out to COM
plction by the United States.
1t may relieve this exposition of the
merits Of James river from an imputa-
tation that it is exaggerated to cite the
fact that the Legislatures of the adioin-
ing States Of Kentucky. Tennessee. and
West Virginia have each passed resolu-
lions unanimously instructing their
Senators and requesting their Repre-
sentatives in Congress to vote for all
appropriations to its improvement.