Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-07-22


to the south could be seen the battle
fields of Seven Pines and Malvern Hill.
Next came the Van Lew mansion. We
visited st. Johns church where in 171j
the most famous of the Virginia conven-
lions met and Patrick Henry made the
notable remark. Give me liberty of give
me DEATH" The old site of Libby prison
is now occupied by an fee plant. Just
beyond is old Castle Thunder, an old
relic Of bygone days: the old Stone
House, undoubtedly the Oldest house in
Richmond. Tradition attaches to it the
names Of Washington. Lafayette and
others. The old market came next, orig
inally built in 1873; more modern struc-
ture stands here now, built in 1855. At
Capital square we saw the Capitol build
ing designed by Thomas Jefferson where
the Legislature convened for the first
time in 1883. 1t was the capital of the
Confederacy until Lee surrendered in
1869. In this square stand the library
building ana the governors mansion, also
the famous Washington statue designed
by Thomas Crawford of New York. Just
beyond is the old bell tower built in 1921.
used during the Civil War as military
headquarters and to sound the alarm OF
danger. Just beyond are the monuments
Of Henry Clay, Stonewall Jackson. also
st. Paurs church. where both President
Davis and General Lee occupied pews
and where Davis received the dispatch
stating that Petersburg had fallen. From
there on to the Confederate monument
where 1900 Confederate soldiers are
cln atn &c, nj
the most beautiful cemeteries in America.
the Mt. Auburn Of the South. Many IA
nous men are buried there, including
President Davis, eX-President Monroe.
eN-President Tyler, John Randolph OF
Roanoke. General J. E. B. Stuart, Com
modore Maury, Gen. George f. Pickett
and Gen. FitZhugh Lee. From Holly
wood we again boarded our special AMI
were taken up by the Jefferson Davis
monument unveiled n few days before We
arrived in Richmond, to lakewood park.
where banquet had been spread and
was daintily served by +. F. VS.. 1t was
the Virginia hospitality personfiied and
nothing was omitted, even to the cracked
ice and the cherry. Mayor Mccarthy pre-
sided ably. assisted by the wealth and
DedutS VI Tic city. - was AeANAA
mond's royal welcome to her guests.
OF the many cities and odd corners OF
the Old Dominion the old historic city of
Richmond appealed to me as perfect
type of southern cities. Situated on the
banks of the James, three hours from
Washington by rail, night ride by water
from Norfolk, at the head Of Navigation,
it is the gateway to the new South, his
tOrically the center of civilization, as OLD
as the nation itself, with a past rich In
achievements and q future bright and
promising, it stands upon the border land
of that territory which once swept by
war and travail is today throbbing with
a new and nightly energy born of full
realization of the unbounded resources
and opportunities which lie before it.
With the railroads branching out and
covering the entire South like an i'm
mense spider web. with trolley lines COW
ering the suburban points and all center
ing in the capital city, Richmond has
been given an impetus that has placed
her in the front ranks from a CONNER
cial standpoint.
Richmond just after the war, like many
a southern city, found herself without re-
sources and without means. Business
was stagnated, the planter who former
ly owned acres enough for a principality
found himself real estate poor with the
serious labor problem to overcome, but
time and perseverance have brought
| about many changes in the southern cap
ital and today she stands as one of the
most progressive cities of the South.
| Eighty passenger trains enter and leave
the city every "A hours. The Richmond
| & Chesapeake Railway now under con-
| struction will tap what is known as the
Northern Neck of Virginia, one of the
richest trucking sections of the world
with a population of something over 10O,-
| 600. with transportation facilities bring
| ing the city within touch Of the cutlaying
| districts not already covered by trolley
| lines. the result is easy to foretell. Rich
| mond is not boom city, more ccnserva-
| tive, but to say the least, her future is
| bright.
Visitors to Richmond are at once inn
pressed with the beauty. of the city as
| n whole, and more particularly with the
| residential sections. The spacious and
| Impressive Monument avenue is destined
| to become one of the most noted boule-
| wards in America. Founded in colonial
| time. 1t presents in it's combination of
colonial and modern architecture a state
| illness and variety not to be discovered
In the newly-built cities of the country
The streets are broad and we'll paved,
and SC abundantly shaded with great
trees that from the top OF high build
ing the city has the appearance Of a vast
park.
I In the evening we were very pleasantly
entertained at the Jefferson Hotel Ga mill
lion and half dollar palace by Polk
Miller and quartet. and wnen the clock
began to tick off the small hours we
| were 10th to say goodbye, but, alas!
time and tide which 1t is said wait for
no man. we reluctantly babe our host
adieu and caught the 40 winks of sleep
ere our special started. In the morning.
promptly at 6.45. our editorial train pulled
out for Old Point Comfort, where the
Norfolk and Washington steamer awaited
us Tor trip up to Potomac to the ma
tional capital. OF Washington and my
journey east. 1 may be tempted to write
| later.
4 4 a -.