Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-07
THE CENTRE CITY.
cl>AnLorrEsvILLE AND WHY THAT
SHOULD DC ITS NAME
~ Edasasional, Misunderstanding. Indus
trial. and osher Advautagcs-tts Pros
end and It's Future Growth.
CuAnrorrEsvu.r.n, Jan. 6. 1891.

This delightful old place ought to be
called tho Centre City. II is about the
centre Of tho State, is an educational
contre. railroad centre, the centre OF
sich agricultural section, centre OF Var
GINA hospitality, and a centre OF his
SoricaI associations bat ii Is far from
bang upon "dead CENTRE" On the
CONTRARY, the cranks OF progress are
driving il along road OF Development
that will soon make 1t great manufac-
turing centre also. An old University
sfudent who has not visited bis alma
Mater for ten years would be astonissed
AZ the picture Charlottesville and
IL environments now present, yet
on reflection, he would be inclined
20 AJAX himself the question. Why should
he be astonished Could the sage OF
Monticello look down upon 1t to-day
from the heights of his home no would
DO satisfied with the fultilment OF tue
prophecy OF bis building. The growth
OF the city TO its present importance IN
the matter OF propulation, industries,
and general improvement and its assured
future are but the natural result OF paipa'
able conditions. When the reawakening
In Virginia out OF the trance OF desoia-
flor TINT succeeded the war took place,
Charlottesville did not spring to her
feet with n bound to expend all her enc
Qies in q day and then suffer reaction.
She arose slowly, recuperated Judicious,,
Nv off of the substance that was around
her and gained tina. healthy and lasting
strenpth that enabled her as the era OF
rapid development dawned upon the
state 10 push forward with steady and
uuflsgging stride to the goal OF perma'
nent prosperity.
DID NOT HAVE TO REACH OUT.
Nor did she have to reach out for the
sustepapce that gave her bone and sinew
for the march. Ii poured into and
through her lap. Take a map OF the
United States and examine the topogra-
phy of the country around Chsrlottes-
vile and il will be seen that the point
Is the natural junction of the two great
railway highways binding the North
and Northeast to the far South and the
Atlantic to the great West and tho Pa
cifc. These two great systems. the
Richmond and Danyille and the Chesa-
peake and Ohio, with their multitude
mons connections with and prorating ar
engagements to pll parts OF the Union
could not have avoided it In their
building. The grent engineer oil Ma
ture had surveyed and graded their
roadbeds through Charlottesville. The
same great engineering hand had thrown
mn an eternal bulwark to the north and
west OF the location to protect 1T against
rigorous winds in winter, yet had ele-
waited it sufficiently above the level OF
the domain of Neptune to insure 1T a
cool and healthy climate in summon.
From the soil of the farming lands
around it spring luxuriously the cereals
and the weed that solaces the rich and
= the poor alike. Beneath that soil IN
many places the gnomes have been for
ages fusing and piling up stores OF mime
rails, and in the caverns OF the hillsides
myriads OF nymphs of the wine-press
only awaited the hour when the hand OF
man would unlock the doors that con-
fined them and let them sport In the
genial sunshine and balmy air OF the
upper world.
NOT SURPRISING.
Could location with such advantages
fail to become the site OF city? is tho
instinct of the founder OF the city,
Thomas Walker, TO be marvelled at? is
il matter OF surprise that Piedmont
Albemarle sbonld have been the home
of Jefferson, of Randolphs, of Nicho-
lases, of Stevensons, of Lewises, of Mel
sons, of Monroe, of Riveses, and OF hun
dreds OF others whose names are indis-
solubly linked with the political and
social history OF the Old Dominion? is
il q subject for wonder that, what with
the general development in the South
during the last ten years. the population
OF Charlottesville should have increased
in that time from $500 to 5000, and
that including the University population
il should now number over 5000? Let
the University student of q decade ago
pause and reflect and he will answer all
these questions in the negative.
THE CITY OF TO-DAY.
The plat OF the Charlottesville OF to-
day. as viewed from one of the distant
heights that surround the city, can but
be compared to varicolored star in q
field of green-a star that wrinkles with
activity. In driving through the city
there is observable an air OF freshness
and push on every side. Handsome pri-
vate residences. handsome churches, and
handsome stores greet one at every turn,
and the population conveys at glance
the impression of contentment coupled
with energy. The city is well laid oil. is
supplied with gas and elcctric-lights, and
has AN abundance of pure water drawn
from an unfailing source. There is street
car line in operation, affording excellent
facilities for communication between the
extremes OF the corporation, and q
dummy line is in course OF construction
which will belt the city and run through
the property OF the Charlottesville Land
Company, about which desire to say
something further on. The municipal
affairs are economically and judiciously
managed and the State and city taxes OF
Charlottesville amount 10 only 81. II
on the 800. The retail trade OF the
place is upon solid and thriving
basis, Charlottesville being the market
for an exceedingly prosperous aud
wealthy agricultural section of large
area
EDUCATIONAL.
It's being the seat of that renowned in
stitution of learning and protege OF Mr..
Jefferson, the University OF Virginia, is
sufficient in itself TO give Charlottesville
prominence AZ an educational centre.
But the University is brilliant hui
from which numerous educational
spokes radiate. In the city are
large classical schools for boys, three
splendidly equipped female schools
Of high grade, apd which enjoy q
large patronage and free-school sys'
tenn, embracing q high school, the
teachers in which are collcge-bred men
capable OF preparing their scholars fol
entering the University or any other
advanced institution. In the county arr
the Miller Manual School and the Pan.
tops Academy for boys. All Virgins
s.<,.danta ava admittad To the Academic