The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-03-21
RICHMOND AND MANCHESTER.
i Very Important improvement sng'
gested.

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Richmond and Manchester might be-
come the nucleus of great city Tor
trade and manufactures if they would
but come closer together But both
cities are run mad Al their west ends and
neglect those natural advantages which
lie al their east ends.
At the cast-end of Manchester inst
south of Hull street, there lies hne,
open tract of land, which may be bought
now for a song, but which in the near
future will be- covered with warehouses,
factories. and mills. This tract of IN
improved land possesses those natural
grades which are essential 10 the heavy
business of a city, and strange 10 say, ii
lies I'm the heart of Il radius which IN
cludes the heavy business establishments
of Richmond.
Why is this tract unimproyed, and
why bv lis non-improyement does the
east end OF Richmond suffer SO much;
The answer is plain.
Mayo's bridge IS owned by parties who
lack capital TO reconstruct il upon a
solid granite basis. As It now stands il
II, an obstruction to travel and traffic. II
Is one of those paralyzed ligatures which
refuses any longer TO perform the iunc-
ZION designed by nature TO join TWO
homogeneous communities together.
Like all old things that have served their
day and are no longer useful--it should
20. IN.
In it, stead there should be built 70
Qranits rogd free to all, and Of such Iii
menslon and solidity as 10 admit The
heaviest vehicles 10 pass Ia safety and
the llghtest with rapidity. Two or more
branches might be made to connect the
Richmond tTunk-end, 30 az 10 bring the
lower portion OF either city into conVe-
nient reach one Of the other
stLet the stOrekeepers and the real es-
tate owners of Main, Cary, and Franklin
streets, below Twelfth street, indicate
their wishes In this respect, and II VIII
be a bold Council who will deny their
petition.
What a revolution in the prices OF real
estate IN the lower ends OF Richmond and
Manchester would Immediately ensue
upon presumption that this natural
avenue would be thrown open 10 the
public What revolution in trade
particularly in the lower parts OF kch-
inond. where il Is now almost liieless-
what throngs Of vehicles ard OF pas
sengers would gladden. the hearts OF the
merchants, who now stand idly in their
stores waiting for customers
See what that poor rlcketty thing
called a tree bridge has done for the
west end of Manchester and Richmond.
Hampered at the Richmond end as II IS
by railroad tracks, yet is il used by thou
sands OF vehicles and passengers where
Mavo's j. used by hundreds. Land on
the Manchester side in its immediate Vi
cinity. that lay dormant for a century nj
one dollar OF less 10y the front foot,
Jumped Immediately up 10 twenty dol
lars as soon as il became known that the
enterprise would be success
The heacg trade of Richmond must 90 bdch
10 The 0d Sits Il Ads temg0rdr,y deserted,
because, az real estate owners will tell
YOU. there is no more land vacant 10
build on beyond Sixth street, unless by
a hop, skip and = jump you bound
over the hills and far away TO Sidney.
The heavy trade OF the two cities must
turn back on itself.
No city can well become great busl-
ness centre unless il have easy grades.
Witness New York and Liverpool, the
two greatest trading communities in the
world. The lower portions OF Richmond
and Manchester are tavorably situated
In this respect, but the latter particular
w. 4 great high granite road over the
river will add TO Richmond property
she much needs, and for which she will
look In vain, unless she cover up her
docks. or fall back to her old time bust
ness sites in the Rockets old tields
CHAs. VI. WALLACE