The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-06-06

A Plea for sparing the beautiful Handi-
Wort. of Generous Nature.

her population In the United States or
Canada
situated upon the north bank Of James
river. at the head Of tide-water. upon
seven magnificent hills, so elevated as 10
suggest the idea OF miniature mountains,
combining all Of the advantages Of tide
water In point OF supplies OF fish and
game. and within easy access 10 the most
charming seaside resorts which the At
lsntic coast offers. she commands. by her
elevation. immunity from the malaria OF
the low country, and rcjoices IN balmy
atmosphere as pure as that OF the noun
tairs, whose gentle zephyrs are supposed
10 carry healing In their wings.
Richmond has been often aptly COM
pared 10 anc!en, Rome. and well and
truly she may be. for Rome crowns seven
hills. lying cpon or adjacent TO her hts
tor'c river. the Tiber. which river in IT.
self also resembles our noble Jeens"
for does not Byron apostrophize the
eternal City, and her river In these
terms:
"Nlobe 81 nations, there she stands.
Chndless and crownless in her voiceless
woe:
An empty urn within her wlthered hands,
Whose holy dust was scattered long ago;
The Scipios tomb contains no ashes now
The very sepulchres lie tenantless
or their heroic jewellers. d0st thou flow
Old Tiberl through q marble Wilderness
Rise with thy yellow waves and mantle
her distress"
We truly hope. however that though
tho noble James" docs get on an occa-
sional rampage and attempts 10 do as
much for Richmond he will never sue
coed in accomplishing more IN this direc-
tion In the future than he has done in
tho past. ana as % the color ~ hts waves
We trust that science VIII enable us 20
change that so that his waters or at
least that portion which we arc called
unou by nature 20 make use o. VIII be
rendered AS clear as crystal
In what other city Of the population Of
Richmond can the country DO reached so
readily? And such a beautiful country.
and such grand scenery as tho James
River Valley surrounded By IT'S imposing
hills rock ribbed and ancient os the
sum-" crowned with magnificent forests
we have often thought what a pity II
As that so few - our people know and
appreciate the lavish gifts which nature
has placed az our very threshold 90 20
tho south end Of almost any ~ the
many streets OF our grand old city ter
minatinc on James river. and whether
% be on hin or dale the Wow cannot fail
70 be charming. and in most cases sub
lime T once had : most esHmahle elder
~ friend who whenever ne went 70 gam
bios bin. would almost involuntariy ex-
claim What is tho necessity for any
hodys going 20 the mountains when we
have such q view az thisf'
FHrgrfnh
superb forest which lies between Forest
I'LL. and the DeJt-L.re railroad
briGge7 Il not - there and see 4 in IT'S
present loneliness. and observe how the
ruthless hand of civilization and progress
r. this unitarian age. IS fast deruciug the
massive hills OF thar riaSn.tcent timber,
roofing ~ the verduro. and des-oling
the face OF nature.
What a shame It IS that all OF this
country a mere strip lying and BORDERING
upon James river. on the Chesterfield
side. extending from FOREST Hill on
the east 20 Granite station on the
west. and included between The Granite
road. on the south. and James river
on the north. S. fast being sacrificed 20
utility. when IN a few years Richmond
will De sadly IN need of just snch park
and drive as could DO established here
az a very small cost 4 bridge might
be thrown across the river at Some point
above the Bedtime railroad bridge so
as 10 connect with tho Grove Road"
and another bridge might Doe thrown
across James river ~. or below Forest
Hm connecting with ono OF tho streets
abutting upon the river. between Holly
wood and Candles Hi, which would
secure o drive that few II any Of the
other cities Of the United states could
equal. and none surrass for the sublime
grandeur OF its scenery.
Why cannot this DE done2 Why not
make our city as attractive 10 strangers
and as enjoyable 20 our cWn people as
We possibly can?
Why allow everything which IS bcauu-
ful and which makes life pleasant 90 be
utterly destroyed and that without
remedy2 Why allow an that nature has
with such q lavish hand done for US 20
be sacrificed 20 utility. until our lovely
city becomes Ike one Of those maaufac-
turing towns in Old England which
Charles Dickens so eranhlcslly describes
as having been rendered little else than
a waste bowling viIderne g.
While I am pleading for sparing the
face Of nature and arguing for improve
ments. I am not unm.ndful, nor migrate
citizens havo spent with a lavish hand IN
building up our waste places. and ln
rendering attractive our suburban coun-
try much has been done 10 make its
WAYS WAYS OF rieaslnfness and truly an
IT'S paths arc peace.
We have 4 Lakeside Club and a Gun
Club Well. hardly the latter as vet.
And In this connection I wish 20 say that
I think a Gun Club would be one ~ the
greatest attractions 20 visitors which We
cosld possible have said would, |
should have said Will he one Of the great
est attractions our city viii have. for
"a. rIn-olub Is being rapidly organized.
and has a present membership az about
sixty members Ia addition 20 IFS attrac-
tive social features. tie eun-ciub presents
a utuifarian side which should recon-
mend Il 20 each and a'I Of our merchants.
lt WIN attract strangers 90 the city 70
take active part il or 20 witness the
shooting tches L. VIII bring money 10
tho c,ty IN The shape OF prizes. for / am
told that he "E9zard Powder Company
recently added tie SUM or = 900 TO the
prizes already offered by the Cincinnati
Gur-Cl.b ard we'll the powder company
nigh, DO this seeing that 70 IS expected
that az The shooting match not less thar
IS 90 shots day would be fred while
ths tournament continued. what a har-
vest tai. would afford 20 our dealers IN
ammunition. 10 say nothing az 20 the
money spent and other supplies CON
sumed by the gun-ciu5
Everybody should DO his part towards
organizing this. and al other clubs and
companies which have for their object
the Improvement OF our city and the
adding N its innocent pleasures.