Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-08-25
FROM THE NATIONAL. INrEL11oExcEa.
10 Tie Legis'atures efthe resnecfioe Ste.es
LETTER THIRD.

Ell liberal provision Tor internal improve
ments. This ought TO be an object of at
tention under all governments but espe.
cially under those exclusively ms i,uted
Tor the general welfare.-Nothing can be
more congenial 10 the spirit OF republican
government than the application of re
sources derived from all TO the benefit OF
all. There rs, moreover, SO intimate a
connection between public and pc, sonal
interest, that it is, perhaps, impossible, TO
advance the one without promoting the
other.
Ina country whose numbers are extend
ing with an unprecede lted rapdity, and
which is so advantageously situate for an
internal interchange of product ms, as
well as Tor external Commerce, the e can
De no Improvement o, liberal an pru-
dent scale, whatever the expense, that will
not eventually, and at no very remote pc
Rod, indemnify the cos, whle it diffuses
benctits TO an almost .nappreciablc extent
among the community generally.
The experience Of ENGLAND onthis sub
Ilect is conclusive. In that country there
has been scarcely canal or a turnpike
formed, which has rot liberal!y rewar,le (.
the adventurIng individuals. and i'm some
instances there has been remuneration, IN
a short period of above one hundred per
cen, on the capital expended m addrdon
10 the incalculable apprec citation OF land
bordering on The new canals or roads. II
is true, that III some cases, considerable
number OF years have elapsed, before any
material profit accrued; but The progress
though gradual, has been sure.
This would be the case in the existing
circumstances Of our country. A road
could not, perhaps, be judicious!y laid oul.
and turnpiked that would not ultimately
remunerate advt nturers though il is pro
bablc that IN most instances there would
not be competent interest immediately
paid i'll the shape of tolls.
No canal or turnpike can be made tha,
Will not Immediately draw the attention OF
land holders to the improvement OF their
property, that will not give rise TO seats OF
trade and nanufa6tur and afford con
venIent and regular markets for an inter
change of productions. Lands in the
neighborhood will INN ediately increase IN
value, by being brough, into the market
ny settlements being extended, by emig,a
ION, and by the great convenience and nc
Communications which Increased population
can alone bestow.
w The enlightened author Of the 6 Nature
and causes Of the wealth of na;ions," oh
serves that "good roads, canals and nay,-
gable rivers, by diminishing The expense
OF carthage, put the remote part of the
country more nearly upon level with
thoss IN the neighborhood of the town.
hey are upon that account the greatest
OF all imProvements.t They encourage
the cultivation of the reuIote, wh,ch must
always be the most extensive circle of the
country. They are advantageous to the
town, by breaking down the monopoly OF
the country in its neighborhood hey
are advantageous even 10 that part of the
country. Though they introduce some
rival commodities into the old market.
| they open many new markets to its produce.
monopoly, besides, IS great enemy 10
! good management, which can never be II
Universally established but in consequence
OF that Tree and universal competition
which forces every body To have recourse
10 il for the sake OF self.de fence. Ii is
49, ''S'~ eh'' my years dROS tDdt some
OF the counties IN the neighborhood of on
don pctiIioned the parliament against Che
extension Of the turnpike roads into tine
Iremoter counties. Th )se remote counties,
they pretended from the cheapness Of la.
Dor, would be able TO sell their grass and
corn cheaper in the London market than
themselves, and would thereby reduce
heir rents, and ruin their cultivation
Their rents, however,have risen, and their
cultivation has been improved since that
! liWe."
! $50 great however, IS the expense ofcar.
rying into efTeGt buraI system Of inter.
nal Improvements that individual resourc-
es are inadequate 10 its >uccessluI accom-.
p'lshment. It's one Of those vast ob;eAs
which not only interests the whole com.
munlly, but requires likew,sc their united
co operation. There may be particular
districts, so situated as TO reward the en-
terprisiog citizen and there may be . Il
miied number Of citizens so lventurous
or public spirited as to encounter peculiar
risques but so cautious, gener ,lly sneak.
ing is individual interest, and 81 circur.
scribed individual resource, that there ie
too generally wanting both the disposi,ior
u