Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-02-26
ROADS, AND CANALS.

ROADS. AND CANALS.
Retort of the Committee on Roads and
Canals, in the House Of Representa-
tues, January 2, 1922.
accompanying the bill now pending in that
House
The Committee on Roads and Canals
report:
That they have considered the general
subject submitted to their charge, and
also the specific objects of internal i'm
provements which have been referred to
them.
In relation to the subject, under its ge-
neral head, they believe it will not be
controverted, that, after the formation of
good government, it is the next inter-
internal policy as will enable the people
TO enjoy, as soon as practicable, all the
natural advantages belonging to the
country in which they live. Labor is
justly considered to be the wealth OF ana
ton; productions of every description
and all things valuable, are produced by
1t; and the whole operation OF a society
OF people, as regards their political eco
nomy and social intercourse, consists IN
obtaining what are usually called first
materials: in the conversion and fashion
ing of these for use; and the transporta-
ton of the raw manufactured articles
to the places where they are finally want
ed. The transportation necessarily forms
a heavy charge on the fund of labor, and,
in proportion to the reduction of labor,
in this respect, will be the gain of ma
ton, as the parts saved can be employed
to advantage in other objects.
The great extension of our territory,
and its various attitudes, Astounding in
almost every species of products, will al
ways render the expense oftraHsportatlon
an object OF great national importance.
Although artificial works may not, for
a while, afford pro6t to the undertakers,
still they will be beneficial to the COM
muniiy at large, not only by the increas-
ed value they will give to productions at
distance from market, but, also by an
increase in the quantity of productions
in consequence of the additional excite
ment to enterprise, and the general diff
fusion of industry.
The utility of good roads and canals
has been tested by long experience in
other countries. In China it is said that,
by means of their water carriage, their
home market is nearly equal to the whole
market in Europe. Satisfactory evidence
Of the immense advantages to be derived
from canals, is likewise furnished from
almost every part of Europe, and parti-
cularly in England, where they have been
extended, within the last fifty years, in
every direction, supplying the demands
Of one place by the resources ofanother,
and SO extensively spreading industry, as
to enable them to supply their own wants,
and to furnish vast exports to exchange
for the wealth of other countries.
1t must be a source of qualification to
every American, when he reflects that
his own country possesses advantages, in
this respect, not inferior to that Of any
other on the globe; and that there is
none that presents higher inducements
for the Legislative aid Of its councils, or
where there is greater certainty OF being
repaid for any expenses which their pa
triotism may bestow.
From well regulated system of in
ternal commerce in the United States,
by the means of good roads and canals,
the happicst consequences may be ex-
pected to flow. We enjoy almost every
variety of climate, and possess populous
cities, and condensed settlements, as well
as vast tracts Of country thinly inhabited.
A regular trade in the exchange of ma
nufactured articles for raw materials
would take place, and the nation receive,
within itself, the whole benefit that IS
usually gained between old and new
countries. 1t is admitted, by the ablcst
writers on political economy, that the
most important branch of the commerce
of any nation is that which is carried on
between the inhabitants OF the towns and
those of the country; customers become
acquainted with each other, and less risk
is generally incurred.
It is also essential to the prosperity of
a nation to obtain all the labor it can from
its members and, as 1t is composed of
people possessing various talents and In
clination, every reasonable encourage
ment should be given to each branch OF
national industry, as a means OF calling
into activity the different qualifications OF
men: and besides, from frequency OF
intercourse among the citizens living
in different parts Of the country close
and profitable connections would be form
ed, which would have tendency to pro