The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-09-04
PEOPLES FORUM


Editor of Virginian:
sir.=~ln the yrginiaschs zeitung, German
paper published in this city. find In Its num-
"A Dream OF Ricimond's Future
1T snltry summer day. when lets-
ureY / was making for the James rivers edge
tried my best to fight against tho drowsiness
which generally, during this season, Is getting
the best Of most inhabitants of the South, but
without avail. To rest little ! hunted for a
quiet place near tho shore Of the beautiful James
river, Not long after sitting down WAS fast
asleep, forgetting everything around me- Soon
was In Greenland, spellbound by It's vivid Pic
lures the following being To me the most
interesting 1 wondering through the streets
IF Richmond bat everything seemed strange
and different to me. II was not the city of the
year 1a11t it must have been after period Of
ten or twenty years had past Then great
changes had taken place
THE streets themselves had quite different
appearance. skyscrapers and beautiful villas
were in place Of the two and three-story build
ings and dwellings, The number OF business
houses and residences had multiplied tenfold.
But not only the city had been improved.
no. the citizens themselves seemed to be diff
fersnt. Wherever / looked saw busily en-
gagged humanity THIS easy going, sometimes lazy
ways OF former days had been replaced by up
to-date activity and alertness. Interested 10
know how many inhabitants now dwelled In
Richmond, ] was told that their numbers were
not much less than those Of New York city.
Everything around me- was SO strange and
grand that could not understand what had
brought this wonderful change about, until
went down II tho James river and the
derrully improved harbor with all the modern
convenienees, saw the tremendous steam
their piers. Then / able grasp
the whole situation. The city of Richmond
and its Inhabitants had awakened from their
sleep which had held them since tho
The business spirit of the North had taken pos
session and Richmond fast becoming the
New York Of tho South. The James river
not any longer. the quiet. lazy river-no. Il
could now be proud then, thoroughly cleaned
with secured shores. the largest ocean stee mers
could bring their foreign goods into The heart
of the city and reload again with products from
this country. In this way the city Of Richmond
had become independent from New York
attention to the New York market for Rich
mond now the center of business for all
the South. Tho buyers OF the great business
houses did any so to New York to
"All these changes had elevated Richmond
and had made the whole South prosper
GUS.
Richmond money did not have to seek safe
investment any longer In the North but stayed
at home. plenty opportunities being offered in
the whole South Everybody looked upon Rich
mond the center OF business. o! what a
wonder.
But, alas bitter disappoin tment awaited
The whistles of few plants my
resting place woke me up, rolling me back into
reality.
Somewhat disappointed. started for home.
but still hoping that my dream may became
true. Once more ! turn around toward the
James river. proclaiu1ing: 'O capitalists of
Richmond. awake"
Tho above was written by a German youth.
who Is working FOR OF the firms OF tho city.
translated 1t. III do not care to publish.
please throw It into the waste basket)
Yours truly.
August a. 1911 r. p. KNUTzEN.