Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-04-24

a particular object from among many others,
nj acknowledged Importance aad treat in.
Ieresi, IS sensibly tel In making the de-
clsion, general interests must be ke,t i,
view, and be held superior t. local cu,side
ra'ioAS. IL appears proper, that whe III,
government authorize the expenditure a:t
'pphcatIOn ot public money, to one of these
ooJects, they should az the same time sdopt
a system. calculated To insure, in due time.
aid '''N"
Alter due consideration. and that exami.
'"'ioh w'nch the committee have beenable
|" give To the Su ject, they respectfully re
commend to the first attention of Congress.
" me Chesapeake and Delaware Canal"
being In their OPTION of the first impor-
lance, and requiring the aid of the general
government. Ii forms the GENITAL link of
that great chain of inland navigation ALONG
the sea coast, proposed tn be opened lis
believed, from the best evidence. To be nrac-
ucaoie OF execution, aud Of itself. uncon.
nected with other improvements, will af-
FORA the most extensive advantages. On
ms the committee will make special re
port.
Ut the different modes which MIGHT no
devised OF applying public monies . Object.
y. interhai improvements, that Of autinri
ENG SUBSCRIPTIONS for a limited number of
shares OF the stock of companies incorpora-
teI Tor the purpose, appears, on every con-
sIneratiOn, to be the most eligible. Nv Inn
ltlnS the number of sha es To be s,ibscr;-
oeh' To third, or less than one half. of the
wh"ie stock, there is more security thn, rho
government shall not become engaopd IN
impractical BE projects for improvements
anu also Tor the economical expenditure ot
tne iunds, than would be. on the nIan of a
umect application by government. of the
public mo les. - '"e
me committee, in order to ascertain
"nat FUNDS may be made applicable to the
"cJects OF internal Improvement. with due
regard :" the state Of the finances. and de-
,nhhas o" the treasury, requested informa-
i'on from the treasury department. The
information obtained accomnanies tb;o ro
port 1t will be observed that the surnIus
revenue applicable to these objects. is byoo.
lhe''cai'y stared IN the Secretary's letter.
as pectsssariiy 1t must be, in the present
W. 'NNN'hc laws.
appears, however, under anv cDntem-
piated change in the existing system. that
me revenue would be sufficient to SUNNY
Ter TIE present year, and during stafe
OF peace, an annual appropriation of Coo.
COO dollars for the purpose of Internal inn.
provement. That sum would c,nst;tnta
!und capable Of effecting many valuable ub-
lects OF that kind and uuder nro.n a,o,s
circumstances, the fund might be gradually
augmented in the proportion of tbe dc.
crease OF the public money. But. if i
s'ail enter into the policy of government
10 authorize expenditures in execution Of
me works calculated for public ADVANTAGE
ana general convenience, the same policv
VIII direct to the provision of the means =
FOR 1t cannot be doubted that the resources
OF the nation are amply sufficient. when
brought in aid Of private means. to eAac,
every nbj"ct of Improvement ON roads and
canals that are OF an extensive nature. and
OF national concern.
Inc committee respectfully propose, that
an annual appropriation be made TO cunsti
'ute a fund for making roads aud upeDin.
cahaI' that the fund shall be under the ii;
ec'l"n OF the Secretary of the Treasnr,
VINO shall, whenever authorized bv Con |
SresS' subscribe for shares in the sfock 81
COZ Pahles incorporated Tor MAKING artif. !
ciai roads or opening canals, and shall IA,
out OF the aforesaid fund the jpstslmont. -
'hey become due 90 such sha es.: and thai
any dividends thence arising. when anv
work shall be completed, ,haII be paid into
'"d become part of said fund, and the Sc |
IRE airy shall report. at each session. Ia
Congress all expenditures, and the general
state OF the fund, as well as the state Of the
works IN which the government are con. |
cernPd.
HE committee have directed bill TO be- !
ePorteu embracing tie above provisions.