The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-28


PROSTATE.
-Four years of war had stripped her he
labor was metcmorphased into an incubus
her institutions wera overthrow, her debt
and burdens were increased; her property
and taxable values were annihiiated hei
energies were paralyzed; her very existence
was suspended.
This was twenty-three years ago. Dunnl
a large part of this period the problem OF
existence. the paramount question of simple
being engrossed all her powers. Mlsunder
stood aud Stunned by all without threat
ened and burdencd by many within, sb hao
To devote all her facilities to the imperative
demand of the hour, the preservation Of her
being as a State and people.
AT last she stands upright again in the
yigor Of renewed strength in the joy Of re-
stored health, in the full power of a sovereign
State and the pride of hale and prosperous
people.
As such her Capital City, her beautiful
Richmond on the James now sets her
house IN order, prepares her feasts, sets ou'
her wares and stretching out her hands unto
her sister cities, says to them
CONE ATD SEE NE
Richmond. the Capital Of Virginia, is the
Queen ofthe South enthroned upon her tree
clad hills. and crowned with the diadem OF
beauty and health.
Situated Oh the elevated plateau at the
Falls ofJamcs River once the Powhatan, She
stands at the gateway between the upland'
If the Piedmond and the lowlands of the
Tidewater. 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 msny miles below Is
one If the landmarks of the continent, and
one Of the heirlooms of American history
gentleman Of Virginia. member of the King
Council. Representative Of the Colony Bur
eess of his County was entrusted TO run the
much questioned line between Virginia and
her sister North Carolina. Thus occupied,
living awake one nigh, nth juniper reccs,es
ofthe Dismal swamp came tohim thoughts
ofhi. home and with them one fthose Inc
ypiratious which may he the whisper OF q
pay.i angel. and may be the emanaton OBJ
genius. lie would found city, nay he
wonla found TWO. ono should be ou the APP
pomattox. but the other should be on YET
fairor spot ON a qleeaiieT river. his own
majestic james.
lie knew the spo, for it, There Nature
herself had laid the si,e--a more skilliul en-
gineerthan be had drawn the plan-a diFiner
architect had laid the foundations.
II was already a city and wanted but the
buildings and the people. These must IN
eyitably come in time. Indeed that most
rash but most brilliant and farseeing young
man who had been once bis fathers neigh
Dor. had chosen the spot with his 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 he had started
revolution which came deuced near up,etting
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-
pie would but recognize It's advantages ana
build it up. What spot it was.
An elevated plateau right at the falls of
the river. above malaria and ague, with
the fresh air Of the mountains, keeping It
cool in summer, and incompatible climate
and purest water from unp0pulated
springs; view of the foaming
waters, CHANGING and dashing over
immense boulders for nearly two miles,
made IA Landscape whose beauty was I'M
rivaled a. place Of residence fora beauty-lOv-
ing people, this side of the oak clad reaches Of
the Thames. The river front was easily ac-
cessible, and evenly d stributed 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 il 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 il was
the
HEAD or DEEP WATER NAVIGATION
with its diurnal tides which could float any
vessel that His Majesty's marine could send
across the seas.
How could il be otherwise than city?
Thus must have thought Colonel VIM.
Byrd lying 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 fair spot 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 il after
that incompatible spot upon the loved and
winding Thames,
RICHMOND.
This was III 1877 and from that day 70 the
present Richmond has been the Gem City Of
the South.
For beauty, for salubrity, for convenience,
for all hecharms and advantages which can
make home delightful, or place of bust
ness desirable Richmond stands supreme.
Since it was founded the most momentous
events of the nation have clustered around il;
focusing ii as il were in the focus of a sun
glass
is h.a IL