Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-01-06
| - U-uDEA 81,

towns, must contribute % the growth and i'm.
| ProVemeht of the county. And ,hs eilec. IS
"tou5nt not soiefy on the vicinity ofthose towns
Ill is seen not merely IN the wealth VIII, CHI gilt
tiers IN their suburbs but discovered m the aug
| ineheatoa OF Their means OF Consumption, and
tue enlargement of their Commercial capitals
III uiis necessary and reciprocal relation of
| commerce and agriculture, the country below
| tiue water IN Virginia, has an immediate and e.
ven local interest IN the progress and perfection
or all those public works, exclusive OF ITS general
interest, III whatever advances TO the grow, &
prosperity OF the Commonwealth
Inc inhabitants of the low lands will, there.
l9re, partSe OF ne benefit of every applica on
or the public revenue to the improvement of the
connexlon between their market ,owas ADD the
country above them. II should be pecui arly
1hsir policy TO turn tie cjm.nerce of ,he west
from its northern direction INTO the bosom f
tiie'r own territory. In the efforts VIII ca are
contemplated 10 improve the roads pa,s,nr i'm
mediatey through lhe,r own country they hive
an interest more sensible 20 the eye but les, 10
the understanding.
Ast,io' much mas been done for the improves
meat OF the interior OF Virginia more vet remains
70 De accomplished Roanoke and ITS tributary
serc2ns, including the rivers Dan, Notloway Me-
hscr II and B.c!swaier; the head waters of
james, 70 omac and Shenan .d1ail rivers nose
OF The Rappai4lnock Matapony and PanIlky.
on the east side OF The Ailes any .ue great Ken
awiia and1ts waters, including, along with Green
henawha, Middle Island, the MonongalIa and the
branches winch swell its current before II leaves
the boundary OF Virginia all entitled to pub
tic consideration.
II nasre mas divided the territory of the Com.
monWealth by numerous CHAINS of lofty noun.
talns, 1T IS only TO mcite the genius of man to
climb them; and the pei, cd Is not uaattanaole
-'iay, 1t rests with the Legislature, To determine
whether 1t be rem tie, when the roads winch cross
those natural ana tormldtble barriers, shall not
be surpassed BY those winch run along their
base.
The experiment of the United States to con.
meet, by a national road, the waters of Potomac
with those OF Ono; and q conpaflsoa of the Aur.
face over winch that hIghwsy has been alre ,dy
conducted, with the corresponding ranges Of
mountains to the South, assure YOUR committee.
that such hope is not chmerIcal
Should the General As emily deternino 30
patronze by the application ofthe publ C ,evef,
all such works as are likely t. De ofereat ,nn,,r
utility' II becomes important TO decide whether
an improvement may lot he made m the noel
heretofore pursuedp Of extending to them that
patronage. N'"s
hour Committee are fully satisfied that much
io-'fias hitherto been sustained by all the canal
I companies which nave been inc lrpOra ed for
| want OF skill in their conduct Their directorz
have served, 1t is true, without Compensation.
Ihey nave generally been photographed 1T Va e
| Sehtiemen; out 1e s1er profess onai engineers
nor capable, IRON eXper ence and oh ,ervatlon If
guarding against the errors and frauds of agents
\ who pretended 20 Oe so.
Nosngc company could afford 10 purchase or
could fuiIy SIMPLIFY, IN country where few pub
lie works were begun, the services of . distinguish
1 ed engineer and ct, without the previous sur
| Veys, plaIs.a and eStimateS Of such am officer no
| very arduous pubic work could be confidently
| begun or successessfuly conduc. ed 10 san.
| ply the detect OF sucn an officer, would be M.
| obvious interest of the Commonw eaith who. f
not sufficiently compensated by the general uti.
! LILY OF ms labour5, might -mand b each GONNA.
| ny, sucn an interest Us stock, as should be e.
| 4uVaen, t tnevt o the service rentle ed Ia
/ the company by sdch oil en-
| Whatever iud he Legislature NAV he ;r,I;r-
edlto appropriate to Internal Improvement al, n.
| cuiy must occu' IN sett lg ne relative impor-
| Lance OF lts proper OBJECTS ami, If me apnrnnr;
| alton were also requrel % designate some Mr.
ucuar object 1t would be ofe mp.ac, icabIe
IRON the YaheW ot oP.nois always existing m
| an Assembly representing many local interests
| to produce an union IN the choice of anv one =
| The hrst OF these difficulties may be obYlated bv
| organizing proper body, 10 collect and preoare
for the General Assembly, the fact, and ,nfor,na.
| uoh necessary TO cast upon every application for
portion OF The fund, light enough to guide Is
| sound discretion OF the Legislature m the selec
| ton OF subjects
And tne'e facts will be entitled o the higher
conhdence, At reported under the sanction of OH.
cal responsibility.
! TO aiay such local jesIousies as nigh, oh
s,ruct dn agreement IA favor Of any single object
OF internal IMPROVEMENT, the fund may be 1re.
viousiy consecrIted aud ct apart for tie accom-.
Pi'shnent OF ali, Dy one appropriation. If the
| terms OF its future application to any be at me
same time prescribed, Ike Participation IN the.
benefit OF tue fund, Wall be assured to any me-.
est which At is caicua ell 70 promo G.; and the
| speedy enjoyment Of tnaJ benefit viii be secu-.d
to each by proporuoning the magnitude of
the fund, 50 set apart, 20 the number and nm
PorIance OF the objects, for whoa IL IS designed
/ 10 provide.
j. may be sound policy for the commonwealth
| IN order to accomplish some gteat commercial
or political purpose, to throw open the general
use, without the charge OF toll, particular canal
or roadi but II can never be It's interest Tor ma
! ny reasons, 20 become the sole proprietor of all
] the public works within the ,srrltUry Expert.
ence testities that they wit be more ec3nom, caty
made, and better repaired, # their management
be lett 70 the individuals who sub cr.be Ia their
| stock with view 10 prya,e gen, thai If conlil-
| ed 70 public officers or agents. The Common
wealth should subscribe so much 10 tier stock.
and on such terms, as viii suffice TO elicit indl-
yidual wealth for public myroyenen,-and he
control which she retains over tie conduct Of lne
individual subscribers, should ek end no f.rther
than TO preyent or correct such abuses upon the
community At large, might be apprehended
from The Two eager incentive Of gain.