Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1815-12-14
IN IER.N4L IMPROVEMENT.
PROPOSITIONS.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.

we are the happiest people on earth,
IN the most important respects-in most of
those blessings which flow from Liberty
and Plcnty-What we are most in want OF,
Is, the means of improving our conntry,
and of improving the minds of its inhabi-
tants.
The Virginia Legislature has already
Stdndiry Committee of Roads and Internal
Navigation.
1t is best, to raise a similar Committee,
OF Seminaries OF Learnipg-whch may, in
the same manner, serve as a rallying-
point, during each session, for keeping a
live the flame, collecting information res
pscting our Schools. and producing fund
tor their Improvement.
The Legislature should have an eve to
both OF these subj CTS.
1t Is then proposed to have one fund for
Roads & Internal avigation-another, for
Seminaries of Learnng-Special boards
beng endoqOed with the funds, to be set a.
part for these respective purposes.
The fund, for the first object, to be cir
cHiating fand-that is, as soon as the mo-
ney appropriated to one river, canal, &c.
along with the monies advanced by ndivid-
uals, has completed that object, and the
stock Is aboUe tar, then to sell out and turn
the fund into a new channel OF improve
ment-Just as an indiv dual, who has i'm
proved one tract of land, sells out, and buys
another, to improve it i'll the me manner.
In this way, farm after farm might be In-
proved and the whole country enriched.
thus, the State having contributed to
dis the James River Canal, may sell out its
shares, and devote the proceeds to new ob-
jects.
Kthis fund is judiciousIy laid out, it will
have these advantages:
1st BY being endo7ved, it is consecrated
to this object-and improvement must
march on.
1.-The fund is improving, and thus it
Can grasp greater and greater objects
by degrees.
Sd. All Improvements win be upon a
grand scale-because the fund Circu-
lates from one thing TO another-and
every part OF the State will be sure of
being benefited.
AS underst md the Governors recon-
mendation, he proposes 10 throw into this
fund, the proceeds of the James River
Stock, the River Stocks which the State
owns elsewhere, the dividends on our
Bank Shares, and the interest of the u. S.
debt, from 100000 to 1,5O0, 900 dol.
lars.
In tie % Place.
What becomes of the Summaries of
Learning Endow board for this pur-
pose also-The great difference between this
and the other fund is, il cannot be circu-
lating fund--schools cannot be taken in
shares--and these shares sold cut. This
fund, therefore, does not annually improve
in value. though no fund will be so well
employed--if the State buys the ground.
builds the Academies, procures Libraries
and aPparatus-and gives the Professors
a Certain small salary, leaving them ptinci
paliy dependent upon the fees of his pu-
Pilsto be obtained by his own exertions.
The revision of the Lnerary Fund NAV
ONE und-r the same Board, though It need
not BE- united with the .Hcademy Eitnd.
To raise this fund, why not take hart
OF the u. ). debt, militia fines, &c. &c.
There is one great subject which does
not prop rly come under either ct these
boards-,he system Of Public Roads. Per
sonal service, as it now is, ought 20 be com
muted for money, TO be levied by the Coun
ty Courts, and the roads put out to contract.
Ia this way, the work will be better and
more honestly done.
These IDEAS are thrown out to seize the