The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-30

-Four years on war nan stIlpPcu hef hci
labor was metemorphased into an incubus
her institutions we're overthrown; her debts
and burdens were increased her property
and taxable values were snnihiated; her
energies we're paralyzed; her very existence
was suspended.
This was twenty-three years sgo. during
large part of this period the problem OF
existence, the paramount question OF simple
being engroSsed all her powers. Misupder'
stood and Stunned by all without, threat
eped and burdened by many within she had
To devote all her facilities to the imperative
demand of the hour. the preservation OF her
being as 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. ,..c,
As such her Capital City, her beautiful
R;cbmond 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, rays to them
COME AND 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 on the elevated plateau at the
Falls ofJames River once the Powhatan' she
stands at the gateway between the upiahus
&c tbe Piedmond and the lowlands OF the
T;dewater. 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 If the landmarks Of the continent ana
one of the heirlooms 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 anu
nor sister North Carolina Thus occupied,
living awake one night in the juniper receSses
of the Dismal Swamp, came to him thoughts
of his home and with them one OF those IN
snirations which may be the whisper oil a
passing angel, and may be the emanatlon Oh
genius. lie would found city, nay be
wonld foundtwo one should be on the Ap-
nonattox 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
herself bad laid the site-a more skil'fui en-
pjneerthan he had drawn the plaza OWNER
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 bis fathers neigh
bor. had chosen the spot with his rare WIS
dom and had there a plantation or quarter
and when the Indians had come down anu
killed his oyerseer and cattle. had he not
clamored for revenge until he had started a
revolution which came deuced near up;etting
His Maiesty's Government and played the
devil generally. II would be the chief city
in Virginia, the largest in the Southern
colonies if not on the continent, if the PEG
ple would but recognize its advantages and
build it up. What's spot 1t was
An elevated plateau right at the falls OF
the river. above malaria and ague with
the fresh air Of the mountains, keeping II
cool in summer. and incompatible climate
and purest water from unpopulated
springs; view Of the foaming
waters, glancing and dashing over
immense boulders for nearly two miles
made a landscape whose beauty was IN
rivaled as place ofresdence for beauty-loy-
ing people. this side of the oak clad reaches o.
the Thames. The river front was easily ac-
cessible and evenly distributed and at the
same time 50 immense that it would gnnd
the grain of q 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 it was
the
? HEAD or DEEP WATER NAVIGATION
l with its diurnal tides which could float any
r vessel that His Majestys marine could send
] across the seas.
E How could il be otherwise than a city?
Thus must have thought Colonel VIM.
Byrd lying under the stars reading the future
with prophetic vision for OH the completion
OF his mission, he laid out the streets and
4 squares Of city, on the fair spot at the Fall'
! of the James, and the head Of deep watei
e which had haunted his dreams in that ther
1 far distant shore of the Dismal Swamp, anC
D az there was no place this side the sea whos'
S beauty was comparable, he named il aftc
= that Incompatible spot upon the loved anC
e winding Thames,
RICHMOND.
j This was in 1877 and from that day TO tn
4 present, Richmond has been the Gem City 0
; the South
For beauty, for salubrity, for convenience
d for all the charms and advantages which car
S make homie delightful, or a place of bust
Y ness desirable -lichmona stands supreme.
n Since II was founded the most momentou
D. events Of the nation have clustered around il
r focusing ii AS it were in the focus of a SUI