The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-01
AGHICULTuKE AND COMMERCE..

Dldtlnb stDJtClo VI uiiliiuitro
ton. but in the references introduced will
have a general application only to the
trading interests Of Richmond. The rapid
progress OF this city upon the lines of
general prosperity calls UP many pleasing
reflections from both retrospective as well
as prospective views.
The Times to-day presents It's readers
with a full and comprehensive exhibit Of
the progress made by Richmond during
the past year. In the present time and
in that which is to come the realization
Of her prosperity is and will be quite
different from that OF the past. Rail-
roads having changed many Of tire chan
nels Of as they existed before
the expansion Of that mode OF transpor-
tation uniting distant sections Of coun-
try in commercial Intercourse. teach i'm
p~ressive lessons OF the value of local
Improvement and development.
Trade centres exist, and have been built
up TO the highest degrees of prosperity
without the aid Of tributary agriculture,
but where the conditions have secured to
dIl llt Nit IN VI
agricultural productions, it has estab-
lished for them charging clements Of
power and thrift.
The causes which have deprived many
wide sections of the State of the means
for keeping their agricultural interests up
to the progressive conditions to which they
should be, need not be recited. AT this
point a retrospective view is in order.
Before Richmond possessed the present
means Of conducting her large and grow
ing trading interests. the agricultural
values which Sought her markets were
the main clements that established her
as a seat of commercial and manufactur-
ing industries, and these productions come
in their fulness and richness from the
country below the mountains. Before
| the line OF the Chesapeake and ohio rail
road penetrated westward beyond the
Blue Ridge tunnel, or the Richmond and
Danville route had a connection south
waId, Oh the Norfolk and W estcrA a.y o.
its present associations and extensions.
Richmond with the James river AID
Kanawha canal to Lynchburg, and with
only limited railroad facilities from that
point to the west and southwest. had
entered upon a wonderful progress OF
development. Her -four mills were the
largest and were more probably operated
than any on the continent, even, per-
haps. those of Rochester. New York. The
wheat produced in the James river val
go 49, ~ Df1I,o-, ,l,,,frr fror,,
Underwater and the growing interest in
is culture Dn the oOuUlside. iurLis I'd
the cereal for these mills. The product
t. -Four ior et,orJ Olsta.t. 4-
creasing, built up a home feet Of sailing
vessels, and in the ten years from 1850
TO 1860 elevated Richmond to the third
coffee market in the United States. The
flour was taken TO South America in
our own vessels, which in turn brought
here cargoes of coffee. The Richmond
auction sales Of coffee grew from about
one q month ia 1879 L, ,hrce.a w-en i
1860. They drew to Richmond dealers from
our interior cities and towns, and from
Baltimore, Philadelphia and occasionally
from New York.
The causes which broke own the pros
perity of ou. agricultural interests were
aiiHe destructive ~ our commercial. En-
larged transportation facilities have, how
ever, furnished US Of late new territory
for our mercantile and manufacturing
enterr rises, and we have made wonder
full progress on those lines.
C.,,o .t-.o ag,oo the DfchD,onI Dbauohar
of Commerce published Il map OF trans
portation routes which connect this
city directly With those OF the west and
northwest. It established the fact. that
Richmond was the nearest port TO Chi
cage and TO points south Of that city on
the Atlantic slope. Since that time. bot
by the Chesapeake and Ohio and the
Norfolk and Western extensions. closer
connections have been established between
Richmond and the cities Of the Lakes.
and far down the valleys pointing south
ward.
History has repeated itself. so far as the
prosperity OF Richmond is affected
through a prosperous trade in manufac-
turing and mercantile development.
we want now is the same repetition in
respect TO our agricultural interests so
that we can achieve that progress In soil
culture which will effect the enlargement
of our milling enterprises, and restore
something Of the lost commerce. which
came about when South America ne
cessarlly had to look 10 the merchant
mi,iers on the Adriatic coast, instead OF
those Of Richmond on the James. The
quickest aud most reliable methods TO
do I al have been pointed out by no less a
parsonage than Mr.. ingalls,. president Of
the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad. He
gould uulih Almost dormant, but we'll
known, restorative Of soil productive
ness Astounding in unlimited resources on
the lines Of hat highway. He declared
that with proper effort in the application
the lands Of the valley Of James river
could be brought up to the standard OF the
bluegrass regions of Kentucky. To tina
and kindred interests in the renovation
of our soils we may advert again.
Agriculture and IN long ago
blended in profCsion their blessings over
Richmond, and Virginia and her metro
polls are indissoluble in fraternal asso-
Citations. The restoration of the wasted
soils of the territory of The one, should
be among the grandest Of purposes of the
other. When the way is opened to the