Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-28
The Linking of the Hills.

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The Linking Of the Hills.
The proposition to connect Shockoe and
Church Hills by bridge, or viaduct more
properly, erected over Broad or Marshall
street is not new, though not the less en-
gaging.
A score of wears ago or more 1t was adj
vocated by the dispatch on the ground
that il would bring the people of the two
great sections of the city together bet
ter than would otherwise be possible.
and thereby unity them in ambition and
interest.
The high hills and deep valleys Of Rich
mond are of great advantage to us from
sanitary point of view, as they afford
valuable natural drainage, but thew are
disadvantage in that they establish what
almost amounts TO separate communities.
Much of the lack of concert OF action
and absence of public spirit which we
from time to time hear deplorcd (and much
exaggerated) is attributable to tho tact
that our population is divided into sections
if not into factions.
The inhabitants Of each hill are apt to
lake O circumscribed view OF municipal al
fairs. but the more they are thrown together
the faster this feeling will disappear. 1t IS
as nothing now compared to what IL was
wears ago, when the spirit OF antagonism
descended from fathers TO sons ana IN
PEELED the boys to engage IN rocK-oat-
ties" with the same ardor that actuates
the patriot soldier in defending his native
land from invasion. The levelling OF hills,
filing in of rayines, and grading OF streets
have brought many of these sections INTO
the general community so efectually that
ancient border-lines have disappeared and
the cbivalric youth of the bills find them
selves Joint tenants and neighborly occu-
pants with hereditary foes. Street-cars,
too have done much towards bringing to-
pether the people. 1t is no longer half a
davis Journey from ShOckoe Hill to Church
Hill or Fulton and back. The electric
cars have annihilated distance and be-
come a strong bond of union, and proper
tv in each section has risen in value since
their introduction.
The late Mr.. JAMES A. CowARDIN wrote
scores of articles suggesting plans by winch
not only the various hills of Richmond. but
Richmond and Manchester and their sub
urbs might be made one compact COM
munity. The Free bridge stands as
monument to the efforts of him and his
associates. Ii was his hope to see-he felt
confident that immediate posterlty would
sea bridge for carriages and pedes-
TRANS crossing the James river In the
neighborhood Of the Three-Slile locks,
and IL was bis ambition to have Church ana
Shockoe Hills linked by viaduct over
and along Broad or Marshall street.
In the years now long gone when these
schemes were fret preached they seemed
10 be pleasant dreams that never could
have realization but this generation has
witnessed such great growth of Richmond
and Manchester it is not improbable that
the hopes of the past Will find fulhlment
in this active and energetic present.
An improvement company finds as
surance of profit in the construction OF
yiaduct from the north end of Fifth street
to Chestnut Hill, and it does not seem i'm
probable that in the future either through
public or private enterprise substantial
bridge will be thrown flom Shockoe Hill
to Church Hill nigh over the tracks and
buildings of the Chesapeake and ONO
Railway Company.
In numerous respects the eastern half OF
the city Is particularly suited for resi-
dences. 1t has a great frontage towards
the river, affording views of the falls, the
islands. the harbor, and the beautiful
southsde country, and it ought to be con-
stantly improving in value. We see how
beneficial to it are the street-cars. The via
duct would be still more beneficial; it would
give il even greater start than the Free
bridge gave to Manchester. The scheme GER
tainly has merit, great merit, and we desire
TO hear it discussed. Whether the Broad
street or the Marshall-street route is the
better: whether the city of Richmond or
some private corporation endowed with
certain privileges should undertake the
work. can he best determined after the
views of experts have been formulated.
We shall not urge the city into any great
expenditure at this time. We trust we
understand the pressing demands upon
il for new streets and for the improve
ment of old ones. We are committed
to the establishment Of city electric
light plant; additional buildings are re-
CURED for the public schools, and we have
not finished the City Hall yet. OF all these
calls and claims we are not unmlndful,
but if upon thorough investigation the
yiaduct scheme seems feasible, if it pro-
misses well for the whole community OF
taxpayers, we feel certain that in the
course of few years ways and means can
and will be devised to carry the project
into effect and make a smooth. level
thoroughfare for street-cars, carriages, and
pedestrians from Chimborazo Park to the
Fxposition-Grounds. Mr.. BURGwYN, who
is fresh from European tour and who
looked at everything he saw with the
practiced idea of an engineer and architect,
saws it would be one of the most beau
tiful streets in the world.
Let MIR. FERGUssoN introduce his resolu-
ton.
The Cadet Affair.