Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-01-15

car;;oa = i.1c .Sspe.tiaiS Submitted,
im1aibc sd \ ) a:sd all enable the .cgisa-
tar 10 decided tween The different modes
81 forming tie connection much Gi the
richest territory 81 the stale Ia on The ha-
nAHha ana ONO ri. ers, "A great proper
Lon OF whici, was .ranied ~ itr.e tracts
- Individuals tor military SsFVlcSS, muny
ui 0i,lch tracts have been KEEP, entire,
ana the greatest parl oi InCm rcinain un-
settled 70 iaiS day .ilis cir,lln SiauCe
coialned wt;h ,.is sparse population OF,
the counties tlIouGl. pAsch tie im9rave-
nicnl is 10 bc r.aHr iHdsccS tie Erii
that the uSaal n'rlhuiionS from indisi-
di,alS Can;;oi De expected - that quarter
Of the county i is therefore rcs2eci-
fully suggested ;l,@ he Sa!,ilary reSiric-
ten ihst re i,,.ges ihece-!.ihs OF the stock
10 10 r:ikesl ~ ihflS i,:lEls. be dispensed
With ,r icollHei im ihis meiaaec, or HAT
the 60 ,pefaiicn 81 capitalists may be
ttra@n 90 ;.,s' ;.ld as Inns WOf%, b com-
b;nng g rsGre luu}atd.aie ANA profitable
employment al capital with lis cAcvu-
jInu.
IKE advantages of the proposed i'm.
rro.cmeiIt have been 50 fully, frequently
and ably Developed, that il woui.i bctres-
passing cG the patience of the legislature
10 aliemeti again. Newili merely state
II as our opinion, that this 10 .iie best
chann; ! OF Communications l,ciWe cen the
eastern and western states: That BESIDES
the advantages which great part of our
stale will derive FROM those improvements,
!! may reasonably be eXpet!ei that CON
siderable proportion of the commerce of
the western states aud territories will flow
through this chanuel, aud that il does not
compori with tile wisdom or policy Of
This stale, - suffer ali Immensely lIcra-
tive commerce 10 he diverted from her,
by the vasl expenditures of Il sister state,
and 6g iht application of a fond Il rived
from the magnanlmliy of Virginia; " here
II can be onioy a by either an expendi-
ture That wculd not be attended with in
convenience 10 cur citizens, or 5y uniting
with the work proposed, Il more immedi-
ale lucrative employment of capital in d
1orm combining The prcsen, interests of
the contributors with The future welfare
and prosperity OF the mnionN ealh.
The president and directors Of the
board OF pGb'ic works, have thus stated
TO Tie Legislature aii Lac information they
possess, on the subject Of the different
improvements which are making in the
state, and in wLicl, the fund under their
rnanS cement is interested. They have
also brought 10 as ylew, the steps which
haye been taken or are in progress, 10 es-
una!e The praeticabiiiiy and expencc of
other enterprises which have been sug-
gested by the w.dts or wishes Of different
PORTIONS OF the commonwealth Tie in
formation contained in tile various surveys
and reports which the engineer may make
from time 10 time, will be highly useful,
even II no steps are immediately taken TO
carry those plans into effect. i'he docu-
ments connected with these enquiries,
viii be deposited amongst the archives of
The board If puhhc works. and can be re-
sorted 10 Whenever it shall De eXpedient
TO attempt the execution of them. 1t is
most obvious that the amount OF the funds
for internal improvement, will not permit
their being employed at once, in all, or
indeed in a large portion of the different
objects OF public utility, TO which the at
tention of the board has been or NAV be
called. Those funds will be best admin
istered by their application in the first in
stance, to objects OF such primary impOr-
tauce as wall render tie most service, and
promote the advantage of a larger num-
Der OF the people OF the state than any
other. Things ofmnor Importance, must
he postponed in their execution. As one
object is accomplished, the part of the
fund appropriated 10 ii will be liberated,
and can be applied 10 tie next subjects,
which may be deemed most interesting to
TIC 1t VIII DC soi Tic WIS
dom Of the legislature, 10 direct how the
fund shall be applied. Nor can il be con-
ceivel, that there are any of their dates
which viii be attended with greater plea
sure i'll the discharge, than those which
are directed 10 tie Improvement OF the
commerce and agriculture ofonr country !;
the increase Of the comforts and prCspe-
rity Of the people, and 10 strengthening
The ties o. unioa and affection, winch bind
together ile different portions of this
commonwealth. la The performance of
this great ama good work, the functions
OF this board are entTeiy subordinate and
ministerial; they consist for the most
pasi, in nurinring tie fund entrusted TO
their care, under the control Of the AS
selubiY, SO as 20 make If most productive,
and Ia Collecting me;hOdIziny and pre-
selting to the Legislature. such necessary
f5ctS aud information OD specific subject
OF p93iic improvement, as are essential
To All enlightened decision on them. The
president and directors can have no 9th
er interests OH this subject, than those
which are in common 10 them, with eve
~ other citizen of the community, in
proportion 10 the stake, which they have
in tile public happiness, nor aHy other
wish, than that they may be enabl d 10
facilitate by their labors, the execution
of the high duties, which the Legislature
viii have 10 discharge.
Ail which is respectfully submitted.
JAMES =. PRESTON, PreJideat
--------..--=-z---- % I,fsv