Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-01-07

tho country through which II passes as well as 10 tbose
sectons the stale with wbicht is connected,
In the present improved state of the knowledge o
making roads, the part proposed to be extended can
ce accomplished at much smaller cxpencc than was
required Tor the first section the route IL has been
ooccedto the proposed plan of extending the road
'i"' .ne uctua eNpences oil construction always
cecds the estimates ofthc engineers. This may have
oecn the case in many Instances but In the presen.
CASE there seems to be evory II believe that
the sum of fifty thousand dollars viii be sufficient TO
me- me- az inc eNpences IN the completion OF The work
MS inference vaS drapn from the knowledge he had
oil similar enterprise which had been for some time
IN progress IN ms own ncirlborhOod. In the COM
nehceinent oil that undertaking, contracts were uni
'or'ny MADE at the rate OF five Thousand dollars per
HnIc' lGe last ten mics OF this road, PASSING over
grounds by no means favorable tor its execl-
,ion' thon those for which five thousaud dollars mile
hou oeta PAID had been contracted ior and executed
=, the rate of two Thousand dollars Der mile
ii Is not expected that the actual cost OF the con-
eniplated road, viii exceed the proposed sum of y
thousand dollars, but probably fail somewhat short Of
H. AIR. MENNIs had in his possession letter from
we pfnclpal Engineer OF the State, from which it
would appear, that that gentleman believed the above
estinete, to be fair Win YOU give this conle-
man credit for his Intelligence on matters of th;,
nature Though, perhaps the House ought not TO
yicid ,heir assent TO any opinions this subject I'M
less good reasons assigned for them lie would
ASA, II IT was IN order that tho letter should be read
by the clerk, and the House must iudrc for them
selves, Of its claims to c-cdhility.
IL had beed snid, that, the proposed project, was
rot one of general Importance Should rot that
work, which would d,!,ISc Is benefits from the bor-
dcrs OF kentucky, to the city OF Richmond be consd
cred as one 81 general utility and Importance to tho
state; In dltuslng !s advantages perhaps more will
fau 70 the share or the city oi Richmond, and the
country adJnccnt thereto, than 20 Kcnawha and its
neighbouring districts. The increase in the vain, Of
property, which would result from the completion of
this work adds 10 The Inducements for the reflection
OF the country near to, and especially the city of
richmond II Is desired, that this city should rival
New ork, IN extent and prosperity and be the great
emporium OF the commerce of the west rs well rs
that OF tn" cast, 1t only be effected hv opcnipg
theSe great channels of communications with the
distant portions of the State. I'm advancing the
wealth. and increase Of the city of Richmond will II
not also promote that of al the SURROUNDING, country
another obJectna which has been made to grant
the aud solicited from the commonwealth is that the
people OF Tins section OF the State are always asking
And why rs this' IL IL not because dcnf,n has been
so constantly turned to their petitions, II i onl b
opportunity that they hope TO obtain the assis-
tancc, their strong necessities demand If thcv
nave become sturdy bcggars, it is because they have
been continually refused the boon tlcy cri,ved-and
tley ask with bad grace because tlcy are paupcrs
Il you would have them TO remain So denv tbe ria;po
grant they ask from the treasury; refuse this GRANT and
you decree their country desert forever But give
Vhein the means OF becoming rich, and they will be-
come So Give them access To market, for The bulky
productions OF their country, and they will cease to
De paupers, and Cease to be mportunate and in be-
coming wealthy, their prosperity will be reflected
back upon yourselves.
Here the clerk read the letter of the priucnal En-
gineer, which supported the correctness of the est
mates, made by Mr.. MENNIs in the course of the ar
gument
Mr.. MrNoR had supposed that this bill was dead
and buried and the House had COTTON rid of it forever
but like Banquos ghost, it had risen anain nushino ne
from our stools and business. He trusted that tho
vote OF tins House. would once mere, Law IT, where il
would remain to the end of time
Mr.. Minor said he entirely opposed TO the no
ton before the Houses he could not consent TO chance
the great principles, upon which the fund of internal
, Improvement was founded, the policy of which was
that where parties wanted its assistance they must
lrst help themselves 1t had he believed never been
departed FROM except in the case of the James River
Company and 1t was scarcely necessary for him 10 in
form the House. that this departure had resulted in
reducing that fund almost TO bankruptcy There was
no maxim III matters of business better worthy Of ac-
cepaton than this, that when individuals want bene-
hts, they must work for them The assistance of this
fund should only be applied to those who give prac
ca Illustration of this rule, where the interest of the
State and that of the individual would be identified
The only inducement which he could have to rran,
the and which had been called for from this fund
would he the prospect of its affOrdnr profitable re-
turn by us tols-but this there was certainly no rc,
sou TO expect. The House cannot be rnacoraiuted
with the manner in which these enterprises are con.
Quoted, when taken under the public care.
The kenaVha road cost the Public Treasury 81 90
come derived from the tolls was less than per cent.
What sort of policy vas that which would induce
the state to borrow money ut per cent to construct
road, the tolls from which would yield only per
cent? Sir, Eve once commence this road. ve must
20 on with 1t, cost what it may. There will be no
point from which it can be said we will retire from
the enterprise short ofthe absolute extinction of the
fund And Tthis application is granted, will not 9th
roads and canals he ready to come forward and do
mand similar protection And how can they consis
tenty and equitaby be denied; He would prophecy
that If this application to the Treasury was granted
there would be no limit TO the demands upon IL from
other sections Of the State, which would be desrous
OF making themselves rich at the public expense and
which could only terminate in the destruction of the
fund for internal improvement.
II has been said that fifty Thousand dollars will bc am
ply sufficient for the accomplishment Of the contein-
plated work. Mr. Minor doubted the correctness of
this cstinate-he doubted whether that sum would be
more than enough to pay for tho land which would he
condemned for the location ofihe road. when il once
touched the rich bottoms of the Xcuawha IL ,cos in,