The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-01

L
PROSTATE.
Four years Of war had stripped her; her
| labor was metemorphased into an incubus :
her institutions were overthrown; her debts
and burdens were increased her property
and taxable values were annihilated' her
energies were paralyzed; her very existence
was suspended.
This was twenty-three years ago. During
a large part Of this period the problem OF
existence. the paramount question OF simple
being engrossed all her powers. Misundef-
stood and Stunned by all without, threat
eped and burdened by many within, sh- had
10 devote all her facilities to the imperative
demand Of the hour, the preservation oil her
being as a State and a people.
Al last she stands upright again in the
voor Of renewed strength, in the joy Of re-
stored health, in the full power Of sovereign
State and the pride of hale and prosperous
people. ,.e.,
As such her Capital City, her beautiful
Richmond on the james now sets her
house IN order prepares her feasts' SETS out
her wares and stretching out her hands unto
her sister cities, says to them
CONE AND SEE NE,
Richmond. the Capital Of Virginia IS ''e
Queen ofthe South enthroned upon her tree
clad hills. and crowned with the diadem OF
beauty and health.
Situated on the elevated plateau at the
Falls ofJsmes River once the Powhaian' she
stands at the gateway between the uplands
Of the Piedmond and the lowlands OF the
Tjdewater. The breath Of the mountain
fans her brow, the tides Of the Ocean wash
her feet.
Old William Byrd Of Westoyer, whose
historic mansion not many miles below IS
one Of the landmarks of the continent, and
one Of the herlooms Of American history
gentleman Of Virginia. member Of the King
Council. Representative Of the Colony Bur
CESS Of bis County, was entrusted to run The
much questioned line between Virginia ana
her sister North Carolina. Thus occupied.
living awake one night in the juniper recesses
Of the Dismal Swamp, came to him Thoughts
If his home. and with them one OF those IN
snirations which may be the whisper Of a
nassipe angel and may be the emanation OF
genius. He would found city nay ne
would foundtwo; one should be on the APP
pomattox. but the other should be on yet
fairer spot on a queenlier river, bis own
majestic james.
He knew the spot for it. There Nature
herselfha laid the site-a more skillful en-
qjneerthan he had drawn the plan-a diyiner
architect had laid the foundations.
1t was already a city and wanted but the
buildings and the people. These must IN
eyitably come in time. Indeed that mos'
rash but most brilliant and farseeing young
man who had been once his fathers neigh
Dor. had chosen the spot with bis rare Wis
dom and had there a plantation or quarter
and when the Indians had come down and
killed his overseer and cattle had he not
clamored for revenge until be had started a
revolution which came deuced near up-ettng
His Maiesty's Government, and played the
devil generally. 1t would be the CHIEF CITY
in Virginia. the largest in the southern
colonies if not on the continent, if the peo-
nle would but recognize It's advantages and
build it up. What spot II was.
An elevated plateau right at the falls OF
the river. above malaria and ague' with
the fresh air Of the mountains, keeping il
cool in summer. and incompatible climate
and unrest water from unpopulated
springs. view Of the ioamihs
waters, CHANGING and dashing over
immense bou!ders for nearly two miles
made landscape whose beauty was IN
riyaIed as place ofresidencefora b@auiy-lov-
ing people. this side Of the oak cl;dreaches Of
the Thames. The river front was easily ac-
cessible, and evenly distributed and at the
Same time so immense that il would grind
the grain Of a continent, and run the factor
les of a nation. Behind it was the rich Pied
mont running up TO the Blue Ridge and yet
further back behind the azure mountains an
unexplored region which stretches TO the
French territory, Louisiana. Before 1t was
the ..
HEAD OF DEEP WATER NAVIGATION
with IFS diurnai tides which could float any
vessel that His Majestys marine could send
across the seas.
How could il be otherwise than a city?
Thus must have thought Colonel VIM.
Byrd living under the stars reading the future
with prophetic vision for on the completion
of his mission, he laid out the streets and
squares of city. on the faifspot at the Falls
of the James, and the head of deep water
which had haunted his dreams IN that then
far distant shore of the Dismal Swamp, and
as there was no place this side the sea whose
beauty was comparable, he named 1t after
that Incompatible spot upon the loved and
winding Thames,
RICHMOND.
This WAS in 1877 and from that day to the
nresent, Richmond has been the Gem City OF
the South.
For beauty, for salubrity, for convenience,
for all the charms and advantages which can
make a home delightful. or place Of bust
ness desirable Richmond stands supreme.
Since il was founded the most momentous
events of the nation have clustered around it;
focusing il as il were in the focus Of sun
glass