Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-04-10

The then pasture of affairs, we shall be Jo.
N astonishment at the magnitude. & rapi.
dity OF the chlngc. In the year eisoe
there were only seven states, in which the
goyernment was republican; and there
are now fourteen. Can we under these
circumstances, so, far as regards charaet.
eristic politcaliprinciples, be said to be a
divided people, - Nat. Lnfei.
Mr.. cdfhearf. late consul Of the United
States, to the Berbary, Powers, has arr;y.
ed, With his family, in this city. ID.
| $50 --.,.. .r.sI-.s
PROM TIE BALTIMORE AxKarcAn.
49, y 49,
Mssrs. Peehin e Ptailev, :. 81. .>,-
/ ~. READING yesterday the history
OF Conneeticut in DR.. Morse's Geography,
met With the following observations ur.
on. turnpike roads, WHICH think are rs
worthy of notice as any that have yet ap
fpesred in your useful paper upon the sub.
s" The. FIRST essays In this state, towards
this kind Of improvement in roads, va.
made about the year 1871 ar i793. on the
road leading from Norwich to Newton.
done Adixtance Of about Ia miles. This
road vas considered as among the wors,
IN the state, being almost impossible with
carrfages. Now, Gentlemen who have
travelled In England, and have lately pass.
Cd this road. affirm, that tits little inie rior
to the best turnpike roads in ENGLAND.
notwithstanding the great expense Of first
mak'nsthis road. and since, in. keeping
It IN constsnt good repair, the toll, for the
whole distance of IA miles, is only the trif.
Ing sun of six cents for a horse, and
chaise nothing for o,.passenecrs and
yet, though this road is not by any means
. great thoroughfare, the proprietovs re-
ceive handsome compensation for their
expenditure.
When turnpike roads were FIRST esta-
bfshed 10 England, about so years since,
the innovation occasioned great disturban
ces and come riots. Though matters did
not procstd to these lengths here, vet the
plan when Erst proposed, and in ito one
ration met with. violent opposition from
the neighboring farmers & others. These
same farmers and opposers are now, how
ever, among the hrst to applaud the un
dertakers and their improvements for
they nov find that TWO oxen will coyev
to market what vas formerly a heavy load
trr FOUR and the saving in time. in
wear and tear of carriages, independen M
OF the greater safety and convenience "A
travelling. and the rise of property, in con.
sequence Of good road running by their
doors Is far more valuable 10 them than
ed.
San issue Of this experiment, so pyeas.
ing, so unexpected. did not fail 70 nro.
duce IT'S effect throughout the State; aud
tue consequence has been, that the last
session otthe general assembly was croud-
ed with petitions, from all parts OF the
state, tor liberty to establish ,urnpikc
roads; one among others was, to estah-
lish turnpike on the road between Nor.
wich and Providence. very bad nier. ,,r
road. This and some few others Of the
petitions were granted. The legislature
tor wise reasons, thought best 10 check in
some degree the rage for ,urnpikes, think.
'ng' probably, that good thing nigh, be
overdoue.
Turnpike reads, next to canals. NAV
be reckoned among the grea,.s, rs ;,iaa1a
Improvements No tax can operate with
more Justice and equalu , than tina, of,urn.
pikes' since all who are benefi,,edby them.
strangers as well as othsrs, must contr;.
butte towards their support. The neipbbor.
ing farmers, who now very uneauaIiy hea,
the expense of making and keeninp IN 70.
par the roads in their vicinity, would b.
reed IN great measure from 80 heavy !
ourden.--Since improvement. oftb;s lind
have so successfully Commenced in CON
nea'cut and Pennsylvania, we csnno, bu,
WIN pleasure anticipate the spread ofthi,
, n.as ., en'erpise N the other siates, and
that shortly the United States ,v;,, =.
as celebrated for the excellence Of - :, -
roads. as they are for their innroysn.n,'
IN bridges canals, and the arts and SER
cess" 81" sc'sN
A SUBSCRIBER.
fHoA FHk CONNECTICUT cova.sr.