The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-11

The following paper on Streets
and Roads in Richmond" was pre-
pared by Mrs. clifford Lewis and read
before the mem bcrs OF the Know Your
City Club
In the year 1732 William Byrd de-
head of tidewater of the James. 1928
miles from the ocean by water route.
He laid out streets. lettering them,
which form is still used by assessors,
A being Arch street. Main street
originally ran from First 10 Twelfth
and Is the line between north and
south. 1t was the highway from the
country. for fleets Of wagons loaded
with produce OF all sorts from AS
far as the Blue Ridge.
Main street was not a smooth road
to travel on horseback or on foot.
no part paved and sidewalks only
here and there. About the end OF
the eighteenth century an attempt
was made to beautify Main street by
planting LON hardy peplars. Intro
duced by Jefferson, they became the
rage and soon overtopped the talIest
chimneys
+ An old historian saws: The tobac-
co plants Jealous of their popularity.
induced their own insects to attack
the trees--the great caterpillars. not
recognized by the people. were
thought to be poisonous. foreigners
uourished by the exoties they cher
| ished. evidence as strong as thar
against witches was adduced The axe
was put TO the roots and few were
left standing
Main Called Washington.
Main was first called Washington,
and most Of the larger streets We're
| named after the great men Of the
country. Foushee. division between
| east and west was named after the
| first mayor. Mrs. David Randolph, a
! prominent woman of those days. gave
Cary street its name. Franklin, Grace.
Marshall, Clay and Leigh. the latter
from Ben. Watkins Leigh. eminent
| jurist and statesman, were favorite
| resident streets
| Almost each house and garden at
| one time, occupied a square or al
| least half square. Westward the
course of fashion took it's way--out
Franklin, Fifth and Third, till the ave-
nues Grove, Floyd. Park, but most of
all Monument, now dispute with these
| the choice for homes. Ross, Mayo and
F, college streets were cut into Council
| Chamber Hill, in lower part of the
city, exposing to the light vast beds
| of shells. sharks teeth and other in
| dications that this lofty spot" had
| once been the bed OF the now distant
| ocean.
| In January. 1911. there were 21o
niles of paved streets. 107 miles OF
sewers, I6 l2 miles OF paved alleys
and 1900 or more trees planted by
the city In the last decade.
his real estate into cash. cut up part
of the town into small sections and
sold them by a lottery.
Richmond was made the capital OF
Virginia in 1910, and Incorporated as
| a city in lTS2
Brook turnpike Is the oldest good
country road--Richmond in line with
Broad street Westham pike towards
/ the west and lastly MechanicsviiIe
eastwardly, all extended eight or some
ten miles out OF the city In early
times they were called mud pixies
toll being the only distinction over
other roads. Cary streek continued
was the only road laid with planks &c
the forks.
Hermitage road, named from the
country home Of John Mayor, WHOSE
4 daughter married General Scott. are
all interesting for romantic and his
torical associations.
The Trcticgnr Works.
The following paper on The Tired
egar Works" was prepared by Mrs. X
G. Blankenship:
In the year 1886 there Was estab b.
ljshed on ground extending from this
canal to the river a plant which ha.
continued to expand and grow from
it's foundation, The works were fin
ished and operated by Mr.. Franz
Deane, who later moved 10 Lynch
burg. Va. and was succeeded by Mr.
John f. Farmer. who was succeed
ed by Joseph r. Anderson & Co, VIII,
later Incorporated the Tredegar Com
pany.
Here was built tand erected a
Rocketts) the James X. Polk, one o
the first vessels propelled by steam
built for the United States govern
4 ment. At later date were built tn,
boilers and engines for the Roanok,
and Colorado. government war yes
sells; also was rolled armor plate 70,
the Confederate ram Virginia or Mer
rimac.
Both before and during the Civi
War large quantities OF cannon wer,
made. Car building was also an ex
tensive part of the operations OF thi!
plant ever since its foundation. The,
have made and still are making large
quantities OF iron work.
Colonel Archer Anderson is now
president of the company having sue.
ceeded his father, General Joseph +
Anderson.