Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-22
wATER-powER-PuBLIc SPIRIT.

A correspondent OF tne Cthtc' III +" -
ter which was published yesterday after
noon, questions whether we have nj
Richmond nearly so much water-powst
as our people suppose. A few weeks
ago we heard civil engineer Of distinc-
ton make the same remark. So we may
conclude that the common belief on TINS
subject Is not received In every quarter
without challenge
That we have In existence. ready Tor
manufacturing purposes. considerable
amount Of power not now in use wa tnihk
inaisputable; but. can II be obtained
upon easy terms. and is IL SO STU
ated as to mako It serviceable for gene
raj manufacturing purposesY we 'hiiiN
II Is: but IL would be well Tor 'he
facts in the case to be put forth In OF
fetal form for general information else
our city may suffer Misrepresentation on
this account.
That our water-power Is not as tuIly
developed as it ought to be, we feei qu''e
sure. The falls OF tho James ought ~
Weld a far greater amount o. power thah
we NOW get from them The question
70 Can't this power be fully utilized
What are the rights Of the city a.
Bosher's dam, and what at Grants dan'
What rights are owned by uhe
Relic Isle Works; what BY the city OF
Manchester Tor Chesapeake and ono
Railroad Company and what by the
Haxall-Crenshaw Company? Would the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Company
have the right to widen its canal from
the Three-Mile locks to this CITY, ana
Thus double or treble the supply OF
water I'm the canal? These are questions
OF prime Importance in determining
70 what extent tho water-power here
is susceptible OF enlargement. In time
a complete investigation OF this SUBJECT
will doubtless be demanded by the
growth and needs Of our city; but, Tor
the present. II is apparent 10 any one
who has eyes TO see that there Is con-
siderable unemployed water-poWer mere
There is enough of IT, we should say
70 run quite number OF factories OF
moderate size, and the question is'
What are we going TO do about 1t?
Are we going to make use OF IT, or are
we going to talk about 1t forever; but liit
no hand and spend no time or money 10
make It productive Of employment TOT
our working people?
Many cities that have no water-poWer
~ all are beating us I'm securing new
manufactures, and this is not credltaDle
70 our energy and sagacity. Let US
nroceed 70 find use for all the water
mower that we have in sight, and, mean
while, see what we can can DO 10 en-
large the canal on the Richmond side oil
the river II this be possible; II not, then
enlarge that on the Manchester sac.
Never a month passes by that some one
does not suggest that new manufacturing
nlants fought to be exempted from TAXA
tion nv the city" But there are many
difficulties in the way. With what grace
could we exempt new plants, while We
taxed old plants? Then. our State Consu-
tuition seems to forbid such fayoritism'
90 our City Attorney has always held
Vet in some cities Of this Commonwealth
this discrimination is unquestionaDV
made.
The Dispatch urged the Legislature al
It's last session to propose an amendmeh'
TO the state Constitution giving to cites
ond towns greater latitude than they
now have to deal with this question. But
the LEGISLATURE took no notice OF the SUE
gestion; perhaps because it mad m"d'
nm its mind to submit 10 the people the
matter OF calling a convention to revise
and amend the Constitution.
Until the Constitution Is amended IN
this respect It !s useless TO talk about
granting special favors to new Industries
So. those who make the periodical as
covery that we Ought to exempt new
enterprises from taxation" might as well
know that until the Constitution Is
amended II will not be within tho power
OF our City Council to do so.
But we can do a great deal better Tor
new enterprises than exempt them from
TAXATION. How? Why, by having our
citizens take shares OF the capital stock
Of new companies Suppose that all the
Richmond capital that has been invested
elsewhere during the past six or seven
wears had been invested in MANI featuring
plants here. why our population and capi-
tai would have been enormously IN
creased. and Richmond would have been
one OF the richest cities Of this par; OF
the country.
We must put our own shoulder 10 the
wheel. We ought rot TO be looking 10
others TO help US when We can help our
selves It Is too much our habit to SIT
down and wait for outside capitaP' to
com. here and DO for us what We ought
TO do with our own abundant capital.
A capital sum Of 500 90 ought 10 be
subscribed here and paid up 10 help on
new manufacturing Industries and espe-
cially what are called Small industries"
The business depression now prevailing
throughout the country will soon pass on
and II we are sensible men we'll set 10
work 10 catch the tide Of returning pres
perity as soon as 1t begins 20 rise. We
have done enough towards building up
other cities and towns; now let US see
II we can't do more for Richmond than
ever before.
---
savIsut-RY,S EGYPTIAN GAME.