Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-06-15

its intrinsic difficulties as to tic mign'hcence
and durable character of the plan proposed tor
It's accomplishment This will appear by
comparison with other estimates, msde oy eA-
perlenced Engineers, for the tFst seC1lon' @s
far as tue coal mines at Cumberland
The first survey and estimate OF
this section was made by Thomas
Moore, Esq. Oh eft Engineer ct Viz
einia, who, according to the plan
t tnsn p ,h,s city to Cumberland at Si.1l4sOo
The next estimate was made IN
1892. by MessFs. Moses I Hunter,
William f. f. Mas,n, WIN. Nsylor,
Athan Fenwick, and Iii Williams,
Esars. commissioners appointed Tor
that purpose, by the States OF Nir-
ginla and Maryland, aided by Mess
Moore and Briggs, as Engineers
they estimated the cost OF tins sec
ton at oA''o''
Gen. Abner Lacock, late sena.
tor in Congress, aided by David
.Shriver, Esq. who had an intimate
knowledge OF the SUBJECT. (whose
Investigations and writings on the
subject are hereto snnexed,) formed
AN estimate, anil offered, IN connec.
tlon with other responsible men, 70
undertake its construction. tor ~, 5OU,0oO
YET the cost OF this seton. according to the
will exceed eight millions Of doll RS. And
when lt is considered that this work 10 not ia
tended for the present age merely, but IS IN
tendgd to last for ages to come, and give vent
TO the commerce between tue Atlantic and
Western States. when their population may
have increased to tentold. the plan perhaps
will not be regarded as extraVagan', and the
more especially, when we also consider that this
canal IS Intended to open communication
L. n,Ia
equal in extent To voyage across the Atlantic,
and that, ia pertarmlng this voyage, 1t wiil re-
-1uire -asarly the same expense with a vessel OF
-fifty as With une OF an hundred tons; aud to
this consideration in favor the plan proposed,
the committee would add another, which
should not be overlooked that the Quantity Of
water required to fill "a pck to pass boat OF
fifty tons Vill MOI be materially increased to
pass one of double the burthen.
GENERAL REMARkS--tir. Gsllatin, in
his report on the subject OF general system
OF internal Improvement, made m obedience To
a resolution Of the Senate. in 1903 s4ys:-'rhe
early aid of the Federal Government is recon
Inended by still more important Considerations
The inconveniences, complaints, and dangers,
which may result from vast extent Of terrific
~, can no otherwise be radically removed or
prevented, than by opening speedy and easy
communications through all IT'S parts. Coca
roads and canals Will shorten distances faclli-
tate commercial and personal intercourse, and
!. unite by u still more intimate community of IN
terest III most remote qlarreFs # the United |
STATES No other single operation within the |
power OF government can more efFectually tend |
to strengthen and perpetuate that union which |
secures external independence, domestic peace |
and internal liberty
The committee concurrng in these views 0f
that distinguished AMI enlightened statesman, |
Feioice in the contemplation of the period as not
Ear distant, when, from the operation Of causes
which are both active aud powerful, must soon
make it he interest OF tins government to adopt
a general system of internal improvements, hav-
ing for It's object the construction Of such roads |
and canals as may he necessary and proper 20 |
carry into effect THEE OF the powers express
iy conferred upon Congress by the constitution,
Wiz:
l. The power to regulate commerce among |
the several States to which belongs all com
mercial roads and canals
2. sThe power to establish post offices and
post roads, TO which spperta aims all roads tor
The transportation OF the mail. and
3. 'rhe power TO provide for the comnon
Defence &c which carries with it the right to
construct such roads and canals, as may be me
cessary and proper tor the national defence.'
The active and efficient causes, which, in the |
Judgment of the committee, Will soon lead to |
the sdoption of this system are,
lst The speedy extlngulshment Of the na- |
tional debt which. according to the report of |
the committee OF ways and means made during |
1he present session, Il appears that by the an |
nual application ct the surplus revenue, the |
whole of the redeemable portion of the nation. |
al debt, Except the three per cents. and bank |
stock,) may be discharged by the 1st day of
July, 1929, leaving surpus at the close of that |
year in the Treasury, OF Sl0,652, 528 90, viii III,
added to the estimated surplus of 1880, will
give 10 that year a surplus beyond all the or
binary expenditures, OF 1859, 528 60, and an
annual surplus thereafter of Si50OU,O0O. APP
plcsble to objects of internal improvements, b,
in such manner as Congress msy direct; and
this result, II appears, Will be produced with /
out making any allowance tor an increase of
revenue from the increasing wealth and -opu-
latlon, and OF course, increasing consumption
, OF the country, winch - the source of reVe.
nue., or for any increase from the increased sale
az the public lands; and also, without allowing
for any Clu1'nutIon OF expenditure from the in.
svtaDle reduction OF the pension list, now
amounting annually to near million aud half
of dollars, or tor diminished expenditure on
che public building and Notifications, now near
j. completed, or the expiration in 1927, OF the
act appropratng So, 900 annually for the gra-
dual increase of the Navy.
"a. The next cause which will lead, in the
judgment Of the committee, to a speedy adop-
ton OF a general sy stem OF internal improve
nents, is TO be found in the great success which
has every where attended their accomplish.
ment, and the immense profits aud advantages
derived from them, wherever they have been
adopted.