The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-21

IHEGUUD CUUNlRY
DOWN THE JAMES
Continued From First Page.)
mission of the Industrial editow, cite
one example calculated to give point
to these remarks.
On the Lower james.
There arc some twelve countics
either converging on james River be-
TO that waterway to be deemed locally
tributary. In area this section cor.
responds approximately with the State
Of Connecticut, which supports more
than 100000 people as compared with
less than 2oo,OUO In this part OF Tide
wateS esse. MIA. -Four of the counties
referred 10, bordering the middle
James-Prlnce George. Charles city
Surry and James City counties-.meus.
uring approximately 1000 square miles,
contain about $4,000 people, or about
twenty-siN Inhabitants TO the square
mile, as compared with about 225
people TO the square mile found on
the intractable. sterile mountain
ranges and croded hills, and marrow,
cut II we could Imagine these two see
lions. which We are thus briefly com
pairing. In virgin state. both devoid
Oh all improvements, without popula-
tion the agricultural potcntialitIes or
the Virginia section. conseryativcly
stated, would be found by any com
petent economist to be not less than
five times greater than those Of the
area comprising the present state OF
Connecticut. suppose We indulge the
speculative thought n trlfle farther
and imagine this section developed,
not to the extent of its possibilities,
but to the extent reached by the State
OF Connecticut With such II develop
mcnt what influence would It have
on the fortunes of Richmond? With
such a development, what would be the
value OF real estate on Main and Broad
Streets? TO the outsider gathering
his Impressions from newspaper re-
ports, business men of Richmond seem
to be somewhat insular In their views.
Ihey do not seem to be open 10 the
conviction that there are occasions ami
opportunities for doing more for Rich
mond by investing money in ner tri-
butary territory rather than In the city
itself. If the tributary territory IS
taken care of Richmond will be taken
care OF. since all growth is primarily
derived from the supporting territory.
pettcr Transpor alton Facilities.
NOW without desiring to ,rrspass
too much on the industrial space, TINS
correspondent would like to take al
brief glance at one OF the primary
causes or the stagnatr. CONDITION OF
TINS large section Oh Ricnmonu's trluu.
tory territory. ana suggest at least a
partial remedy. The chief troubles.
have been isolation and the selnsu
rapacity of transportation people.
For several generations the james
River country between Richmouo and
Norfolk has been served by one steam
boat. operated under different owner
ships at different times. but all sus-
tanning the same venerable TRADITION
that there Is only one way to operate
& steamboat business on James Iiiyer.
This steamer leaves Richmond On al
tcrnate days, taking her departure at
an early hour before people are gem
orally out OF bed, and following the
tortuous reaches of James River ar
rives at Norfolk at an equally unsea-
sonable hour, when merchants arc put
ting up their shutters in preparation
for the night. The passenger who
made this tedious journey twenty-five
years ago finds little change in condi-
ions upon taking the journey again
at this late day. The steamer handles
little miscellaneous freight at a mum.
II number OF attenuated mail pouches
as IL aid quarter of century ago
but aside from the development at
Ncwport News and the smaller growth
III Claremont there is no more life or
movement visible from the deck than
thcre ever was. / venture to SAL that
TINS VIII always be the case as long
as this method of dealing with the
James River section continues. If the
old Dominion Company, the present
owners OF this steamboat. would make
d careful study OF the needs of James
ElHer they would abandon the anti
auated way of transporting people and
iheif products, and inauguratc = ser.
wee That would be- advantageous to
inc company, develop the river section
ana add Importance to the city OF
Richmond rs our chief commercial cen
tire.
just Suggestion.
SllCh study womb Droha hly ,-eSlilr