Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-07-11
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.


INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.
RepOri and Resolutions Of the CiiiSenS Of I'll
| IdmS6urg, held at the Courthouse on the llM
Day 81 Jane, lS2S.
(coNCLUDEDo
! Let us now for moment pause, aud reason up
! on this case; as il has such immediate reference,
! both 10 what has already been aGvanced,S what is
still 10 follow suppose 10 this dsioined community
with no Comnegcc whatever, system oil itn-
provcmenis should be proposed, by which all these
districts should be connected together, and by
which an active Internal Commerce would be
tabhshcd. What would probably be the disposi-
ton OF these several sections ards each other:
The portions OF the district which from
crssity had been turned to the raising oil catte,
wood AMI wine, would be entirely opposed to i'm
proyement. The cattle district would say, the live
stock OF the humid pastures will be driven into our
market, and we cannot stand the competition. The
inhabitaDt of the woodland would say, The timber
iiom the Inountsns will render useless forest
and therefore proper regard to our Interests re =
qures that we should not favor this perniciOus
scheme. The voice OF the cutivator OF the vine
would, likewise, be raised against IT. lie would
dread the cheap winea which might be sent down
from the arid hills. On the hills themselves, the
opposition would be still louder. Almost the whole
al this district, for want OF Commerce, would be
devoted TO the raising of the necessary quantity Of
corn little would be devoted to the raising OF the
vine, for which il is so peculiarly adapted; tor,
this district would be excessively poor and could
HnpIu 10 Wiie IL bCliie a
luxury. An overwhelming majority would con-
sis OF poor farmers, all opposed the scheme of
Improvement, because they would dread the influx
| Of from the district. Tell them
/ they might change their occupations, and they
would answer, this has been the calling of our
fathers and grandtathcrs this the mode III which
they have TILED the soil. Thcy would not change
/ mat which time and custom have consecrated :
they would look for nothing less than inevitable
, ruin from the scheme. q change of occupation
would seem to them like a change OF country. and
loss of happiness and no doubt woall To- ready 20
vent their wailing', in the language Of the Ro-
! man Bard:
NJ pitis zines et duleis, liaquinus sfys;
| NJ Pst'aiI usiInn..--
| Shall we examine into the motives which would
influence those in favor of the system, shall
md they proceed from the narrow views
The grain growing portion of the corn district
the viDtner of the vine district; the country OF pas
ture and Of wool would be favourable, because
/ they would not see any reason for change OF
their products, but great extension OF The market
Now, then, L is easy TO that the great majority
! of The people would he wholly influenced by
considerations OF the present moment. Change
carries great terror along with it and II is there
fore dreaded.
let ussuppose, that a commuuir alton is establish
cd among al! these districts and that active and
easy correspondence springs UP. What would be
the result: In the language Of the same author,
! " The country OF good land, will soon be made to
produce much as posSible and will send il
10 the country of vineyards, which will produce
as much wine az can be sold Bob viii supply the
country OF pasturage, in which the animals wilt
multiply IN proportion 10 the uarAe, and men in
proportion TO the Of subsistence hcii this
market would procure for them ] hose three
countries united would feed in the mountains the
most rugged industrious iniIabitahtsby whom they
will he furnished with wood and metals. Thry
would increase the quantity Of flax and hemp III
/ the North, 10 send linen cloth into the Soulh;
which last would Increase their silks and oils to paw
for them The smallest local advantages would he
turned 10 profit. district OF Ants, would furnish
gun Hints TO all the rest, and its inhabitants would
live OH the produce OF this supply. Another OF
rocks alone will send mill stones into several Pro
vinccs. "A little spot of sand will produce madder
Tor all the dyeIs. Some fields, OF a certain kind Of
clay, viii furnish earth for all ths Poueries. The
inhabitants OF the coast will TO bounds TO fish
ing, being able 10 send their sailed fish into the IN
terror. New Kinds OF industry will be seen G"is-
ing every where, not only Tor tue exchange Of
commodities, but also by the communication OF
knowledge; for, il no country produces all things
none invents all things. When there is coumu-
ncation, what is known in place is known ev-
cry where; and il Is much easier 10 learn, even
to perfect, than TO invent besides, ID is Commerce
itself, which inspires the desire Of invcntiug Here.
then, Is the same France lately 20 INDECENT and un-
inhabited, hlled with numerous and well prcvid-
cd population All this is solely owing 20 the better
employment OF every local adpanta &C. aud Of the
( faculties Of every individual
In this case, then, the greatest advantage would
accrue TO all; and that, too, by change of cult
Walton. The case put, may be considered an cx.
IRENE one. but still the principle holds true
OF all. In the put, in consequence Of the
want OF Foreign Commerce, die inhabitants o. tie
various districts, would be forced immediately 10
change their ullage; and, aitho the change is
greatly to their advantage, yet the old mode of
cultivation could not be carried on But, in the
case OF the Internal Improvements OF Virginia we
have already sem, that even u the Agricultural
should continue 10 prOtuce precisely the same
commodities still he would be greatly benefited.
We now proceed to point out the changes which
may he expected to take place in the Industry OF
the Lower Country, after the contemplated i'm
proyements shall have been made And l>t,7e will
mention those which are always consequent on the
growth of large !Owus; aud IDLY, those which Az.
brought about by the increased activity Of trade.
and ready marked for all kinds OF produce
round large ilJurisiug town, the country viii be
iuuni 10 divide itself into Zoncs whose cultivation
VII bc found 10 correspond, Ia great measure, &c
q degree oil proximity 10 the town. CO c0u 81, thc
vaJed capacities Of the soil, win prevent any pio
OF those zones from producing alone that commod-
NY, which suits IFS grade OF conf !uty 10 the town
still each zone will bc characterized. The frs 8,
nearest viii produce principally the dcstruct-
iblc commodities. aud which viii not bear traus yor.
taiion; ri, The most hnlky in proportion TO value,
&C. the last, that which IS most valuable in proper
ton to weight, and will consequently bear trans
{ poatsiion 10 the greatest distance.
The first zone, then, will generally be most 70
maIkablc for vegetables, which are necessary lOi
tire town anil arc too dcsjructibie 10 bear trsnspor
tation from - distance. The second, perhaps will
consist OF hay too bulky for distant Transportation
yet not odestfuChble vegetables and therefore
lTased littls farther OF thlrs corn; fourth wheat
atd tilfI, tobacco, sc. We may not perhaps have
properly Characterized the zones. but accuracy in
this particular j. not At all material in the results
the principle is ~ that need b.. attended TO-