Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-28
. PRETTY GOOD "sTARTER."


Manchester has shown sagacity and
generous spirit both in consenting to the
Encouragement of the grade Of the Free
bridge.
Richmond is under obligations to her
for having dealt with the subject in
libeTatmipdede way. o. The proposed i'm
provements would undoubtedly benefit us,
and in benefting US would surely benefit
Manchester.
The Dispatch has never given up the
hope of seeing the two cities made one.
Consolidation ought TO have been effect
ed years and years ago. The flight Of
time. however. but accentuates the ne
cessity for the union. Never can the
two cities work together to the fullest
advantage, and with perfect harmony
upon all occasions, until they are
brought under one government And
so. before many years have passed, we
believe that Richmond will be found try
ing TO extend its boundaries so as to
take in Manchester and the suburbs of
both cities. Not TO do so would be for
Richmond 10 offer premium to bust
ness-men to avail themselves of all of
our facilities for trade while they put
up their factories and warehouses and
pay their taxes outside of our limits.
We repeat that Manchester has met
the viaduct question in a wise and gene
rous spirit, and consequently, our peo-
pie feel drawn to her closer than ever.
Next, the Free-Bridge Commissioners
are TO be called upon to act, but in
view of the assent given by Richmond
and Manchester, the owners Of the
bridge we cannot imagine there will be
any hesitation upon the part of the COM
missloners In giving their approval 10
tho change of grade. That done, it will
only be necessary for the Chesapeake
and Ohio Railway Company to arrange
some matters Of detail with the autho-
rites Of Henrico county. Then the great
work in which we all are so deeply in
terested will be passed upon by the
Board Of Directors of the company, and
Will. we presume. be ordered 10 be be-
gun. This viaduct would be something
unique In railroad building. 1t is not
proposed TO build 1t upon land, so TO
speak, but in the James river Leaving
the canal bank west Of the old pump
house, the connection-track would be
laid upon trestles of granite and iron
set in the river. The bed Of the James
there Is OF solid rock, and. therefore.
affords the best sort OF foundation. The
viaduct would leave the river in the
nelghborhood OF the Danylne Depot.
Coming ashore there at a considerable
elevation above the surface OF the earth,
IL would run down to the intersection
OF Dock and Seventeenth streets.
Thence 1t would proceed down the north
hank OF the dock, and onward until con-
nectlon was made with the Peninsula
division of the road. A curved track
would. however connect the line with
the depot, which would be on the north
side OF Main street between the st.
Charles Hotel and the Old Market.
TO the company. the advantage Of
these Improvements would be that II
would be able 10 pass its great freight
business through Richmond much more
easily than at present. Its lines con-
ties that they much need for running
their trains TO Newport News and Old
Point.
Our city and Manchester would be the
gamers by having the crossings at
Seventh street and Ninth street relieved
OF the trains which now so frequently
block those highways. And instead OF
a passenger-depot which is an eyesore
20 our people. the Chesapeake and Ohio
Company Is expected TO erect a splendid
building-one that Will be very large
and very tall. and that will furnish am.
pie passenger-depot facilities and COM
modious company offices also.
1t Is worth consideration, too, that
section OF the city that has been "going
down" for some years would be bene-
fted by tho presence Of the depot and
the business that would centre about II.
Furthermore. and inasmuch as all OF
these improvements would cost nearly
sa.coe.ooo, Ne could be sure that the