Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-03-06
corr MUNrcETIOM.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.


visiting neighbour lately during the extremely
cold season which is just part, found him occu-
pieu IN Writing the following suggestions on the
management OF our funds for the internal improve
'.eh' OF our country and as his modesiy torbIds
us sri'dine 10 the press any Of his lucubTaions,
prevailed on him 10 allow 10 submit theta 10 the
fuo.Ic eye through the medium OF our press. The
Wti'er Is a plain farmer but one of natures sier-
iDS productions; he pursues the even tenor OF his
way through life, 30, minslins with tie busle OF
PUBIC s'aiiohs-but always keeping IN of OBJ
se'Fauon upon the proce edings oi the gov ssaueni
ana sHordi:'s substantial light 20 bis neighbours b.
me just reflections the operations of the State
4hey are entitled "llin,s worthy the CON idera-
non oil The people of Virginia. and Of the lesisla-
lure now in session.
governor I, Ter in his message TO the Virginia
Assembly says. =. have communicated he report
OF the Principal Engineer on The further in prove
'nent OF the james River rom i, yuu will learn,
maj The sum OF "a $50, 900 will be required TO
compete the canal as originally contemplated from
Maideh's Adventure Falls 10 Covington' and also
tue governor informs that the work 10 the for
'hsr place has cost Ssl,250, 600, making the ex-
pendiiure required Oh the navigation of James NJ
ver from Rirhmoad 10 Covington to amour, 10
SIN million oil dollars. Tie interest on this sum
AT per cent amounts 10 $3.50 600 annually
now, ielow-ciilzen-, how do you think that the
none! VIII be raised to pay this debt with its in
'eFe'': Look liue further into the message and
yon Vii see fsom the following extract, now
'hen there has heeh expended on the improv em.ent
already & $50 Goa, all OF which has beea rro-
cured on loan, aud forms an outstanding debt
against the State" Tie interest on thar deb,
amounts annually 10 he sum Of S7l ,613 80 cen s.
IN order TO meet the ntere-, we are 20 lock 10
me tolls "ow receivable, which. since the mposi-
lion OF an Increased toll on TOBACCO (of SIS cents
on earh h sshead) may be estimated at "a 800
W n!'h alter deduciIng the expenses, reps r., sc.
and lie yearly divide d seven humid, d hares to
'he Iorner rropreior-, leaves s s 600 10 be ap
Pied TO the payment of the interest On the Loan
above then there remains un paid the sum of S53.
1f5 5O cents, which is made charseabls on The
ldnd iof internal Improvement. Here then is q
de0t ,phich Is Onty TO be discharged 6y resort
10, or increase oftaTes Here then we see that the
peope are To be taxed to pay The deb OF ,250,-
WV and be inieres on the same, except so uuch
AS may be pr ducsd IN aid, by the tolls receivable
from the J'ines River Canal, which are now este
mated at $4,000 nelt On this subject let a..
look a tn report of Thomas Moore, il JANUARY
J 1919, and o which the Governor allu,.es in hi.
message Moore alter expressing himself in tie
Almost co hdence, In bis repor, says Snpucs
thsi We irS the FIRST nineteen miles surn Ri hn,oad
when VIII include he whole OF he Coal Trade-
For canal from Sabbots Island do,vny.ar,Is ~
miles at g geo per mile Sl2 ono
One mile OF d, 10 the upper arch 5000
Extension OF the upper canal, , miles
| at SO COO per mile 10 OOO
Foar locks al S7,u00 each $4,000
! Two locks and one dam l6 OuO
| Improving lower canal bridges 5000
| Contingencies, Engineers expense 10
per cent, 1900
! Continuing the imrrov ement to lynch
turg 1870 miles further estimated
az 79I,I95
SS76,o75
! Toll iiom The coal trade $50 OOO
Upper river transportation on
! the above $50 miles 10000
! 2iO .000.''
Here then we see how these visionary schemes
nave been verified The coal trade which Moore
estimated al sixty Thousand ,iol.srs, is not adyaac.
ell one cent from what it then wa.-and after hav
ing mcse than doubled The toll on tobacco, The
proceeds OF the tot on Lanes river are pfecisel
what they were in the year 1873, say forty thou
sand dolisr' So that it is evident that the produc,
transported on that river is much less now than il
was at the lime when Moore ma .e his reyoit. No,
do see any prospect OF increase OF produce
for transportation, until we can oL.ain fair r,;c,
for our brradstut!,.
The estimate nj Moore having prove so lIuso.
ry, j, should excite didence IN recar, 20 III,
more recent estimates not that mean 10 depre.
ciaie The Character OF the presen, Engineer o
whom the governor speaks highly, and
doubt not, with justice. But all experience hs.
show n, from the foundation of our government
tbt estimates always fall short of actual tx.
pendilures, and In majority OF cases Is hen es,i-
males have been resored TO, experience bs.
shewn the necessity Of doubling them TO complett
the designated work. Let u resort to a more i,,s
standard, The expense OF TN. the canal TO Mai.
den's Adventure; and taking Tie expense by iii,
mile, Of executing this ork, and appi, ing 10 g. cl
mile Of the unexeculed work the same ratio of ex.
pendiure, we shall obtain the following result:
This section OF about 25 miles has caused ar
expenditure Of one million two hundred and fit,
thousand dollars, cost of $50 900 per mile. Th,
distance 10 Coving;oo is 245 miles. This a
$4,000 per mile. will require II 100 900, which
is double the estimate OF the present Engineer
and near seven times the amount Of hat Of tb,
former.
Having got TO The close Of my neighbours re-
flections,a nearly TO the end OF my sheet Of pa
Ter, shall stop and conclude By suggesting 10 ia,
, Legislature the propneiy Of deep consideration
, before they saddle The resources Of Virginia now
depressed by tariffs and in prospect Of greater de
preston by an approaching non-inietcourse will
some Of our best foreign customers, with debt O.
%l2, 900 600. GROTITJs
ssses 49, 80
NIM ETEEWTH CoWGaEss.
SECOND SESSION.
Il WEDNESDAY,, FEBRUARY 49,
srssFa