The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-06-03

pressing interest VIII De pIeseHIeu TO your az
tention, and On these | shall speak in terms of
plainness and directness, and with much
brevity, as the occasion may justify.
The last Legislature, by the adoption of sun
dry resolutions, submitted to the DECISION of
the people, through their returns to the present
General Court, the disposition which should be
made of important propositions for public inn
provements, by RAIL ROADS through the Com
monweaIth You now bring with you, Gen
tlemen, the expression of their opinions, SO far
as they have been obtained, on this subject. If
favorable to the encouragement of the contem-
plated enterprises, or either of them, an early
decision upon the manner of their accomplish
ment, will hasten their anticipated benefits, by
season. |, therefore, now earnestly invite
you to the discussion, and TO a knowledge and
comparison of the sentiments of each other,
and mutual communication OF those of yoHr
respective constituents. That the great work
of Il Rail Road from Boston to the Hudson
River, facilitating communication between the
commercial capital of this State and the lead
ing highway and thorough,fars from the i'm
mense regions of the North and West to the
commercial capital of the Union, is an event
to be realized in the progress OF time, no one
who has the slightest acquaintance with the
geography of the country, and the advance of
population, with the increased and multiplied
IL.
reasonably doubt. If we are yet unpnpared
for the undertaking, generation not remote,
will assuredly effect ii. But we may 1t least
accelerate the work by an examination of the
objections which discourage its commencement.
Inquiry and investigation will remove obstacles,
which prejudice, from the novelty Of this spe-
cies of Improvement, has hitherto opposed, and
give that confidence in its success. which will
ultimately either impsl by sense g.. public
duty 90 influence BY motives of private inter-
est, to its execution
The first question to be resolved is, do the
proposed Rail Roads offer the best practicable
Improvement to the means of inter, commune
cation and another inquiry of not less com
plexity and difficulty, in what manner and
through what agency are they to be construct
ed
The Information, which has recently been
diffused through the community, of the facility
afforded to heavy transportation, and the ease
and rapidity given TO travel, by Rail Roads, has
added the convictions of experience to know-
edge of the laws of matter and of mechanical
power, in their favor. If there be any thing,
which is rendered certain by the testimony of
personal observation, and by series of expert
ments.p producing uniform results, it Is the fact
of the immense saving of labor and expense, by
the adoption Of this mode of conveyance. Rail
| ASoduo hdNO pCCOHS VI US6 III idllu,
ana their Introduction into this country, so far
as there has been opportunity for trid, has sat-
istied the most sanguinc expectations of their
utility, here. tits point now universally con-
coded, that wherever the business of any section
OF country embraces an extensive internal trade,
requiring the constant transportation, at all
seasons of the year, of merchandise and passen-
gers, Rail Road may be safely and advanta
geously determined on. The decision is wisely
made to depend, upon a comparison Of the prob
able extent of accommodation, with he estimat-
ed cost of construction. On this head, in ref
erence to the projects now before the Legsla-
ture, the best information which can be had
upon a preliminary examination has been al
ready obtained. The facts which admit Of pre-
else ascertainment, in distances inequalities OF
surface, preferences of location, materials, and
expense of assumed amounts of labor, are dis
| tinctly and confidently stated by different
Boards of Commissioners, and BY sS.I uII,, En- 4,
the Government, and who are officially respon.
sible for the accuracy of these details. What.
ever is beyond this must, at any time hereafter
as at the present, rest in the confidence Of per
sonal opinion. In works of magnitude. nc
greater assurance of success can ordinarily be
had in advance, than reasonable probability
The legislator who waits for more, will be in
danger of passing his life in fruitess INDIGESTION
and to the end of it, may see his country with
out progress in improvement Besides, in public
enterprises, the profitable investment of ca pital
is not the only motive to action. Indirect, con.
sequential, and widely dffused benefits, are
| ottcntimes more weighty considerations and
OF this character, it is readily conceded, must
be, In great degree, the inducements and ar
guments which should prevail with the Gov
| eminent to the encouragement of the proposed
undertakings. If there is any thing sound in
the maxims of political economy, if the coun-
sells of the wise and the conduct of the prudent
can avail any thing, they teach the Importance
| OF laclAtlng intercourse, reducing the cost oil
transportation, saving manual labor, opening
new avenues to trade, and new markets TO pro-
duce. Proitless, indeed, useless, and worse
than useless, were otherwise the researches
and, labors, and hitherto favored influences oil
those mighty spirits, who have led and are now
! directing governments and individuals to the
accomplishment of enterprises, elSelChere com.
pared with Whch all that is proposed here, is
truly bat nconsiderable. Is it credible. that
there is nothing Of public advantage in works ia
which several Of the most enlightened States Of
the Union are now applying the utmost of their
resources? Are the already constructed Canals
OF New York of no account, in the unprecedent-
ed growth and prosperity Of that powerful Com
monwcalth Is pennsylvania wasting on idle
to her projects of internal improvement Will
Ohio justly suffer the reproach of rash adven-
ture in her gigantic schemes for direct commu-
nication through the farthest west Or shall
Maryland, encouraged and sustained by the
councils Of the nation, in the amazing attempts
to span the lofty Allegheny, both by Canal and
Railway, in the achievements of persevering
Industry, afford no cOuntenance TO the purpose
of our limited endeavor These, and numer-
Gus other examples in our sister States, may
inspire us with confidence in the character of
works in which, after every precauton of pre-
vious inquiry and examination, with an assured
and provident forecast Of advantages, they have
so deeply and so nobly engaged.
But the question recurs, by whom shall the
proposed Rail Road in Massachusetts be ac-
complished? The Commissioners have recon-
mended, that it be done at the charge and on
account Of the State, and to this Legislature
referred, by your predecessors, the resnon.