Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-01-04
Tnos. DoUGHERry, .sec'ry.
[from TIE IIlnchcst.r Ga-ettc.l


From tie It-nchcster Ga7ettc1
Extract ofa letter from tie Hon. II. s. G..
Itcker, dated
ASHINGTON, Dec. 81.
The great want otiutereSt in the proceed
lngs OF Gongre :, at tie commenc ement Of
session, united Ia the duties which have press
ell upon me as member OF several committees,
have conspired to preventing making any com
municationS to my Fellow Citizens hitherto,
through your paper. Having, however, repor-
tedall the Bank bills, Ihave now leisure to give
you some account ofWhat is going OIL, and |
shall asheretotorc, availmySclf OF your paper,
rs themedum OF conveying information as it
is impossible for me TO write to all and
as all have equal claims upon my attention.
In this letter propose giving some account
of the measures in progress, peculiarly inter
esting 10 our part ofthe country. These relate
TO the roads and the river navigation.
Having been again placed on the Committee
for this District, have had thcpetitiOus OF the
Uncharterrd b ais c oreuS, y bills for char
tering them, ar,t Cor extending tie charters
OF the other District Banks, have been report
ed.
As however great privileges and advantages
are conferred by these charters. i; has been
deemed reasonable that they should invest or
employ apart OF their stock in the Improvement
OF the Shenandoah and Potomac Navigation.
and IN making roads. II Is contemplated to
require nine per cent. on their Capital TO be de-
voted 10 the latter, and two per cent. to TIC
former. The nine per cent. on the capital Of
all these banks viii amount to the sum Of6S0, 900
dollars, sufficient to make l39miles ofturupike,
nj about , ,O01 per mite, and will he proportion
ally divdedfor the purpose of making the fol-
lowing roads
The road from Georgetown 20
Frcdericktown, say i5 miles.
From Washington to Montgom-
cry rt-HOuse, If
The road from Alexandria to
WilcN's, thence To Smokers
Gap, and thence to Winches-
ter, * the Had from George
town To Wileys, the whole es-
timated atabout 50 miles.
Making with the two other
roads aforementioned, i'll
all LIZ miles
These will give 10 our country, five roads 10
either of the three markets for their produce,
GEORGETOWN, Alexandria, or Washington. We
wished indeed In have added the road to
Chesters or ThOrntons Gap, bnt after tie sub
iect had been several days before the commit
tee. we were OvCrrulei.
The nine per ccnt. for the roads is proposed
to be taken by the Banks in road stock, az
Companies shall be incorporated for the roads
respectively
The two per cent. proposed to he set apart
.or the benefit OF the rivers, is contemplated TO
he lent to them IN equal proportions by the
banks. at an interest of six per cent As the
river stock is already taken up, no other ar
rangcment was practicable. Should this fea-
turc of the bill prevail, there will be about
sixty or seventy thousand dollars TO be lent
on tie above terms, 20 each river compa-
ny.
Such are our plans in relation 10 these dcsira-
bic objects objects of great importance to
us, but equally essential to the prosperity of
this District. Whether we shall succeed in
getting through them, time alone can deter
mine
With respect TO the Cumberland Road as
soon az the subject was referred 10 the com
rnittee on roads and canals ! wrote 20 our Seu-
atOr ana Representatives III the Virginia i.e-
Cislature, asking their cooperation. | have
and shall receive it doubtless a. far as possible
I perceive that the Doarfi OF Public Works has
already expressed 70 the Legislature theirdeci-
died opinion ot the importance Of the road. and
OF State cooperation. | therefore waited on
the committee this morning, laid the infOrna-
ton before them aud explained at large the o.
sential advantage Ofthe United States giving
its all to this mpCrtant measure. ain incii-
ned to hope that they see The matter in the
same light with myself, and will report favora-
bly,.
u must be remarked, however, that Mr..
Calhoun. from the committee raised for that
purpose, has reported Il general bill appropri-
atiDg the stock which We own in the United
states Rank, TO internal improvements This
measure Whichis certainly most important, as
u viii give an annual revenue of650,e00 dollars
tor the purpose OF internal Improvement, adj
eGuate to the construction annually Of 100 miles
of Turnpike Road, will probably be much op-
posed, bTi think will pass. lfso, have lit
tie doubt thatits passage will ultimately secure
the completion Of the road from Cumberland
but am inclined to fear il may delay the mea-
sure until future session as vote of TO-DAY
on the subject of another road, appears 20 indi-
cate design TO makcnO specific appropriation.
until ;!ie committee OF public Improvement
can report GENERAL plan or system. shall
however, press our subject fpossibc upon the
attention at the i'0uso.
In the present happy state Of orr conntry,
there is nothing Of more Importance, than per-
nlanent internal Improvement.
The strength, as well the wealth of
the nation. and the comfort Of the poo
PIE Is so essentially. connected with it, that
hope sc eliaIi not fdii to perscveTe in our
prcsrrt COOL intentions il relation tn roads and
canals Many have constitutional scrupIes on
ilir ubicct. For myself ] do not tl,iuk the Oh
lection insurmouuiaic and if 7 did, I should
feel great solictude for an amendment of the
Constitution. which, without taking any power
from the States. would permit Congress 40 co.
operate in tie lauda5ie work. and 10 apply the
funds OF the nation FOR lis imgrnvemcBi, in
Il manner calculated TO addt0 It's greatness and
respectabiity'
ACCIDENT.
BY the explosion ofa kcg OF Powder, IN the
store Of VI. Nracland Raggins, near the Mar
kct, Yesterday. several persons we're much
bruised an burnt, aud the two adjoining ten