Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-18
FUTURE OUTLOOK.
strsst Railways, Municipal Government,
City Debt. and Taxes-A
Bright Promise.

In contemplating tho remarkable post
b an development in Virginia the Rich
mond people are prone not only to lose
,,1t Of the prominent and essential part
tfolr own city has played in that develop
r,nt. hut in largo measure appear to fail
of appreciation of tho magnitude of her
own immediate progress.
The business growth, the prosperity, and
,hocontinupd extension of Richmond since
the war constitute most interesting study
Of the problem of recuperation and a
striking demonstration of what energy and
enterprise can accomplish under even the
most discourasing circumstances.
Iicv,r q people had occasion for despair
irc. the people Of Richmond had after the
evacuation, April 3, 1865. OF truth the
CITY was in sackcloth and ashes. A bosom
q FIRE had swept nearly the entire busi-
r.s- and manufacturing-quarter out of
existence; the residential sections were in
8cYni.tion Of utter dilapidation; railroad
connections were destroyed; our banking
capital was ni, aud the wolf was literally
1.-THE door Of majority of our people.
EEBvu.D1NG COMMENCED.
". hardly had the echo of the guns Of
Aypamatt0x ceased when rebuilding COM
usucei. Material was dear, labor was
high, ani money had TO be borrowed to
purchase the one and pay the other, and
ss' the wheels Of banking in motion. No
tal. 1auuted those who owned the
ground under the doris orrealty elsewhere
81 TIE city pledged their credit for these
purposes. and the young men who came
back from the fields Of surrender, with no
tssa'- save their paroles, addressed them
's.yy, TO any labor that came to hand, no
batter how uncongenial 1t was. The
sane courage, confidence, and fortitude
'at inspired them in the blood-stained
ta,tomcuts of Richmond during the
closing DAYS Of the Great Drama character
lzrl them in their efforts to earn living
i1iT,Lab.lItate their city as a commercial
centre.
A TRADE REVIVAL.
Slowly the great heart of the Common
wealth for such Richmond always was,
tad always Will be-began 10 beat again
ttd send the resuscitating elements OF
t1rtanifnauce along the arteries OF trade,
~ only here but throughout the rest OF
ueS's,e. In proportion as she received,
G helped others. Here the first national
bank the territory that had been inside
Of the Confederate lines was established,
ifd here began practically the monetary
secretion aud distribution of the new era
te.e was the genesis of VirgiDia's renewed
prosperity.
TEACTICALLY NEW CITY.
To-day Richmond is TO all intents and
Purposes practically new city built upon
a. Old, but for that reason the surest
80 safest of foundations. She has all the
Enterprise and vitality of youth com
t'ed with the conserving influence OF
'ge and experience. In the twenty-six
Years If her commercial and industrial re-
IaAd'rg very little material has been used
us' las not proved enduring, and to-day
Agaeen Of beauty and animation--she sits
'''t'oued upon her many hills crowned
tnl blossoms. every one Of which is sa-
VIII garland Of perennial historic leaves
Ved TO the State and TO the South.
THE TOURISTS MECCA.
Richmond is the Mecca of tourists, and
BOUNDS in lsndmarks--Colonisl, Reyolu-
u'nary. and Confederate. The country
'i miles around was during the civil
war one great battlefield. From Rich
nohd, as the capital Of the Confederacy,
were directed all the great acts Of that
uonentous struggle, in which southern
'a'of won the admiration Of the civilized
world. Almost within rife-shot Of her old
'ofpora,Ion-line may still be seen the
nle-pits and breastworks in which the
'ain gray line for months bid defiance to
overwhelming numbers in 1865
THE CAPITOL AND VICINITY.
taxing the Capitol rs starting point. IN
ahy direction one goes along the streets
Vi Richmond he meets with objects OF in
,erest. The foundation Of tho Capitol
Uoiiding was laid in 1855. Here tho Con
~s1s oa tbs coafhasarais States max sra