Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-08-19
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FRIDAY MORNING, AUGUsr 10. 1aas

Of fllf
Oh Inc Chckahominy River, will presen, 70
Tue Legislature subject well worthy of its scr;o,
consideration To facilitate the intercourse bet,veo,
diifei ent sections of the State bv the construction; 81
Roads and Canals, and by clearing distractions in our
water courses, should be favorite object of National
Policy system of Internal improvements. iudi-
ciousy devised and properly executed produces conse
quences CT the most beneficial and important kind II
kni's more closely and firmly together the binds Of
'oc'e'} 1t develops powers of industry, that 0oul,
Otherwise have remained inactive and dormant. !, If
lords facilities for Transporting many agricultural
uucts TO market, which at home would have been
IT gives value to commodities, which would havc
oeen useless; l; calls forth the resources of tie
try 1T saves labour and EXPENSE and the surest and
most certain means rapidly advancing the wealth and
prosperity of the people
In relation 20 the Chckahominv River n,,,,;,,, :;
more evident than the advantages which would result
TO the neghbouriug country from deepening the Stream
and removing the distractions its Navigation. which
proceed almost entirely from trees tlat have either
been elled or blown down. around which the sand and
mud have accumulated From the b-,ad of t;5o r,,o.
to the highest point of practicable navigation is dis
lance OF 30 miles This section of the River runs
through valley one mile in width one half of which
Is,
cultivated and during the summer and fall months
not even be traversed on horseback or on foot Nv
clearing and deepening the Stream aud throwing I'm a.,
erbanknent on each side nearly 90 SQUARE miles or ,s
rich and fertile land any the world would be re-
claimed, and the adjoining farms, which the damnnoss
oil The swamp and the noxious exaatons arising from
the decomposition of vast quantities of vegetable mat
ter render complete hospital during the greater nor
ton of the year, would become healthy
The sum required, to accomplish an object Of such
importance to those who arc contiguous TO tho homie e
this river, would be, according 10 renort made h
Mr. Moore to the Legislature in 1921 only S69 100
and even this estimate is ead by competent udqes TO
be too high If the General Assembly did not feel any
disposition to make appropriation from tie fund for
internal Improvement, for this purpose yet we can see
no objection 10 the passage ola law authorizing the re-
1u'site amount to be raised by Lottery This course
has been pursued former occasions; is policy fiat
is adopted by all sister States and no good reason
can be assigned, why should not resort TO IT, The
money that Is invested foreign otterics By the people
OF Virginia. an one e. would 20 tina sum- and
no law, winch the ingenuity of the Legislature can de-
Vlse niictng the severcs and iarshc5 of penalties
viii deter men from purchasing lottery tickets The
hope OF drawing prize, and of obtaining wc9lth sud,
denly, without either labour industry, or economy,
presents temptation too seducng and powerful to be
resisted.
To he Senate and House Of Representatives. Of the Com
nont0eaiDs Of Pirginia.
Tho undersigned petitioners, inhabitants and land
owners on Chickpboniny River, and its tributary
streams. in tho Counties of Charles Cty Now Kent
Hanover and iIenrico, humbly rcprcsent-Thaf some
years since your petitioners informed Joint re-
solution passed both Houses of the General Assembly
directing the Engineer employed by the Commonwealth
TO survey the River aforesaid aud asceran the practical.
billy of improving the navigation thereof.
Your petitioners trusting the time this movement
was made by their Representatives 10 participate some
of the benefits resulting from the fund raised for Inter
nal Improvement, have patiently waited under the
Just expectation that SO important measure would not
be suffered 10 slumber, aud especially after the report
made by Thomas Moore Principal Engineer TO t,e
Board OF Public Works, dated the LIST day of January
62I,-refcrence being had thereto viii more fully an.
pear:Your petitioners believe few If any ip,,cafo,,s
have been made to TIC Legislature for portion of this
fund iraugbt with more substantial grounds and whilst
they dIscaim making it upon abstract principles tbcy
cherish the hope their views viii be met by the people
/ OF this Commonwealth in corresponding spirit and
That the wisdom and bcray of tlcr Representa- es
will be guarantee tie success Of their PRAYER
Eour petitioners believe The Improvement Of this River
ia belong exclusively to TIE Government Of their Coun
try and from the liberal policy which has hitherto char
actcTized IFS energy. reasonable expectation might be
entertained dat would share its turn with other wa
ter courses Of like character. But your petitioners
Than Improving tho Navigation ofit-tbey consider the
health and reclaimng much of their lands, as const
tnting portion of their interest, and would wilngl,
contribute equivalent in that proportion which i
might bear to the other objects which the undertaking
might embrace.
With these views they would beg leave TO draw ti,
attention of the Legislature of both Houses 10 some
tue details contained in the Report alluded to, as af
fordug dttn By which to charge the land with scpa
rate and distinct tax from the lands of the State of Vr
gina:The Engineer estimates the gross amount Of th
I, expense of Improving the Navigation, and recaimnl
the lands from LoaD's'Bridge ut tic head Of de-wate
to the Meadow Bridges, distance Of 40 miles, con
tanning 20 square miles 1880 acres Of land, a
, S69,12O.
, Your petitioners humby conceive, and hope when al
the circumstances taken into consideration, thei
interest will not be estimated at a higher rate than on
fourth Of the expense and would suggest that te land
be included high up the said River as Bowels Bridge
on the stage road leading from fredericksburg 10 tn
"a City Of Richmond They believe from long acquain
lance with the River, many if not all the advantages
Navigation might be usefuy extended to that point
c feel confident no portion Of the line mentioned Iva
lands Of more fertile quality than those which lie bC