Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-23

NlIguia-jer ChDlJdllbJS anu 1OWI4o'
The writer Of the following letter has for
years been one OF the most sagacious, en-
terprislng, active, and far-soeing OF the
businessmen Of Richmond. We are pleased
always to hear from hun, whether he is at
home or abroad. A Mr.. STARTE did In bis
address Of Wednesday, 20 our correspon-
dent IN this letter calls attention to the fact
That " Richmond has contributed Der portion
Of capnal-and Il il by no means TiGng Ito
speculatlng in the Northwest:
An ora stager's View or Roanoke.
To She Editor Of the Dispatch:
lam here on little yiNt and am astonish-
cd 90 the progress the town has made since
last saw Il. a yesr agO. Virginia people sre
too much disposed 10 beiicVc that ali the vim
and enterprise OF the cOnstry are confined
10 the Northwest, and go have got 10 sendiD2
their surplus money there for investment.
When people have an almost unlimited SID
ply OF capital forced on them and do not use
IT 70 advantage thew. would be held TO he =
very funny set. Such has been the lot u ihe
Northwest. 10 has BEEN the resoryolr for
wears of the surplus means OF wealthy New
England, aud utterly capita has been pour
mond h1s contributed her portion, and IL il
hY no means triln2. To one who Will take
the trouble 10 look about him nearer home
il would seem that there IL room tor The pro-
dtablr lnyesfmcnt Oi Gii The money we can
command. IN tins region, for instance, eve
rythinc Is alive snd development IS making
very r1pid htadN3v. The NorfOi6 and
Western railroad, u all the roads 10 Viz
glnia, appears 90 be doing The most WORK as
d developer ~ me region through which 1t
passes. Certainly the bulk OF - ireighis is
looal. and uulc-s the people have something
90 haul The railroad couldn't haul IL.
Look where YOU viii here and pew build
lncs are Going up, aud they are not shanties,
either. The busincgs-hDu.es are substantial
and handsome brick structures, and ! have
meyer seen place whore the private rcsi-
dcuce. age 30 uniformly beautiful in design
and convenient 10 appointment. Real e.
tate continues 20 steadily advance I'D value,
and NJ late this advance has been very RAPID.
During the week iust ended The operations
u this line reached bali million. stanton
men own a good deal OF property here and
investors from other parts Of the state are
taking q hand. The plsn OF the town is
GOOD one, and when only reasonably well
flied up few places will be baudsOmer. Many
az the men connected with the railroad ard
the machine works are building tine private
residences which would seem IN indicate
that the Norfolk and Western railroad aud
an IFS belongings, despite Sir lnman, are
here 10 stay. ~pcating Of Mr lnman's i9te
operations 10 can hardly be p}laiah.e 10 The
AVERAGE Virginia man 20 bcar that tie ports Of
his own state are TO be dosrled 10 make those
OF Georgia rich. / imagine that no member
Of the NWgiua Legislature who voted for
81 t... D.. 4
that end 10 view. II he bad be was avery
sorry representative Of hig people. But Mr..
lEmln's utterances do not appear, as far as /
am able to observe, TO alect t1e spirits OF the
people here at all. They are fun Of muck.
New schemes 81 development continue TO
take form. aud those already established are
moving forward succe>siuv. There are
three banking Institutions here, and one OF
them ha, over bail a million Of deposits.
This is not a bad showing fora PLACE that but
few wears ago WAS the modest village OF
Biz Lick.
Richmond men nave come In for honors
here. Mr. walter BeyIll is general passenger
agent OF the Norfolk and Western railroad.
aud Mr.. Thomas II. Brausiord is auditor OF
the cbongndoaE-N aiiey railroad; aud The
business houses ere well spruklcd with Rich
m0ui boys. as also the railroad Offices, and
not d few OF them live in houses Of their own.
In q word, il docs make Nirelnian feel
proud 10 see that at least one portion Of the
cid state IL w0raing like . beaver on the
road 70 fortune. Virginia has The resources
II her children will 0uiy develop them; and
Il IA shame that anybody should be able TO
rcproye her FOR being behind otRer people
in such good work. But example is pow
criul teacher, Rad we can but hope thai The
dov Is not far dl,taat when the whole State
Will De alive with enterprise. and Southwest
Virginia not continue, as she Is now, the eX-
cepuou 10 the rule. A LooKER-ON.