The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-08-16

tuition was suggested BY the executive. when The
subject was recommended to the consideration
Of Congress. Until this be obtained, the assou,
of the states being necessary for each improve
mcnt, the notifications unccr which that assen,
NAV be given, will necessarily control the matt
ner of applying the money. Itmay be, however,
observed, that in relation to the specific improve
ments which have been suggested, there is hard
" any which rs not either already authorised hy
the states respectively, or SO Immediately bene
fetal to them, to rcnder it highly probable that
no material difficulty will be cxpericncedin that
respect
The monies may he applied in two different
manners: the United States may, with the assent
OF the states, undertake some of the works al
their sole expence, or they may subscribe GER
tain number of shares of the stock OF companies
Incorporated for the purpose. Loans might also,
in some instances, he made to such companies.
The FIRST mode would, perhaps, by efiectua;y
controlling local interests, give the most proper
general direction to the work. Its details would
probably be executed on Il more economical plan
by private companies. Both modes may perhaps
be blended together, as to obtain the advantage
es pertaining to each But the moeiiiio. tons OF
which the plan is susceptible, must vary accor.
ding to the nature OF the work, and of the cha
racters and seem to belong TO that class of details
which are not the Immediate SUBJECT of conside
ration
At present the only work undertaken by the
United States, at their sole eXpence, and to which
the assent of the states has been obtained, is the
road from Cumberland to Brownsville. An APP
preparation may for that purpose be made at any
time In relation to all other works, the United
States have nothing at this time in their power
but TO assist those already authorised; either by
loans or by becoming stockholders and the last
mode appears the most eligible. The only com
Panies Incorporated for eitecting some of the I'M
provements considered in this report as of natl
onal and first rate Importance, which have applied
for such assistance, are the Chesapeake and De-
iawarc canal. the Susquehannah canal, and the
Dismal Swamp companies and authority might
be given to subscribe certain number of shares
to eacn on condition that the plan of the work to
be executed, should be approved by the general
government A subscription TO the Ohio canal,
toihe Pittsburg read, and perhaps to some other
objects not fully ascertaned, is also practicable
at TINS time.
As an important basis of the general system,
| an immediate authority might also be given to
take the surveys and levels OF the routes of the
most important roads and canals which arc con-
templated: work always useful, and by which
the practcabiiity and eXpence of the ,mdertak-
ing would be ascertained with much more cor
RICHNESS than in this report A moderate arpro-
priation would be sufficient for those several OBJ
lJects.
in the selection of the objects submitted in o.
bedience to the order, OF the senate, as claiming
in the first instance the aid of the general govern
ment, general principles have been adhered to,
as best calculated TO suppress every bias OF par
TALLY TO particular objects Yet some such bias,
Ct ,.'".ich 30 individual s perfectly free, may,
without beng felt, have operated ON tins report
The national legislature alone, embracing every
local interest, and superior TO every local consi-
Iteration, is competent to the selection of such
national objects. The materials contained in the
paper herewith transmitted, and the information
to be derived from surveys taken under the au-
thority OF the general government, will furnish
f.rsg Il.
communications, by MIR b. Ii. Latrobe, and by
Mr.. Robert Fulton, marked E. and f. are in tie
meanwhile respectfully referred to, as containing
much interesting practical information, connect,
ed with observations of general nature, OH the
subject.
All which is respectfully submitted
ALBERT GALLATIN,
Secrtta1y gf me Treasury
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
ftli April, 1903.