Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-03-09


National road 268 miles to Washington city. For
the same reasons that travelling from the westward
would pursue this Route, 80 also would trade The
road, strikes the State of Ohio, ~ most favorable
point mid way between the Nationa! road and the !
mouth of the Big Kcnawha in central direction,
where trade Is at stand whether to go, to the
northward by Pittsburg and the Lakes, or to the
southwark along the Mississippi. No injurious COM
petition lines of communication is to be apprehende
Experience has fully shown, that the western coun
try Is great aud ineXhaustible storchouse, of un
wrought maeriai-of uudeveloped resources-and the
outlets you provide for its treasures the great
is the supply. Ishall say nothing of the adyanta-
ges which would be conferred on that part of Vir-
gnia through which the road is intended to pass
There arc some gentlemen. who think there is no
obligation the State generally contribute to the
prosperity of any particular section of it There are
even some who believe that the Improvement of
part does not necessarily benefit the whole In one
point OF view, the wisdom of this policy must be adj
mited, think, by all. If this road, by giyino n
stimulus toindustry and increasing the products of
the district, immediately interested shall add to its
wealth-to the value of its lands and the amount OF
Its taxable property, 1t is obvious that it must pay
greater revenue than at present The expenses of
the government being uniform. Just i'll proportion as
you derive greater share of The revenue from any
one district you diminish the amount drawn from
others, and thus relieve them of the burthcn of
alton.
Such are some of the reasons that are slppcsted
by general survey of the topography of the coun-
try, and they must be sufficient, l should think to
satisfy every one that this road, would be great
thoroughfare both for travelling and trade from the
west and that the tolls would justify the expcDdi-
turc But we have other and more trusty evidence
to rely upon. In pursuance of resolution of the
General Assembly passed in 1928, the present chief
engineer, surveyed the route of the proposed road.-
He estimated the entire distance at 2I0 miles.
hat road varying from twelve to eighteen feet
III width. with well regulated ferries instead of brdg
es, would meet the present necessities of the coun-
try and would cost in all 66ooo-,he part, between
Winchester and Romncy 40 miles in length, costing
$500 per mile and the residue S27O per mile He
declares his full conviction that the tolls would more
than pay the interest on the expenditure and that it
is work great utility and necessity. This report
may be found in the l0:h Annual Report ofthe Bo ard
of Public Works, page goo, and in the 12th Annual
Report is an additional report, and also resolution
of the Board on the subject and extracts from the
Messages of Governors Tyler and G,,cs-Governor
Tyler, IN his message, recommended the immediate
construction of this road the expense othe state as
did also Governor Giles, i'll two successive MESA
ges.-Ihe Board public works, in response 10 res
outons, respectively, ofhe House of Delegates and
the Senate, have twice expressed opinion to the
same effect. The Bill before you, has been drawn
with great care and i'll strict conformity to the es-
Inmates of the Chief Engineer. 1t authorizes loan
500, 600, the interest which is to be paid out of
tolls collected on the road, and far as thew NAV
prove insufficient, out of any portion of the income Of
the fund for Internal improvements not otherwise
appropriated. The President and Directors of the
James River Company are to superintend the work
and their duties may be discharged without much
additional iabour at the time they are actino on tho
james river subject. They are to require the Enpin
Ger 10 make an accurate location OF the road and
return to them maps and drawings designating
each minute section, with the probable cost and
mode Of construction They appoint superintendent
10 make contracts and the execution
Gates arc TO he erected and tolls levied compile
ted in sections and the paid quarterly
into the proceedings to be reported ann
ally to the Board of Public Works be by them before
the General Assembly If gentlemen satisfied Of the
will
be found urexceponable
enertaina decided objection The public mind is sironely
PrePosessed-i may say,-Pejudiccd in favour joint
ever persisted in by people am in saving so
by the abundant experience of Conveniently ihe
und for internal Improvement established in 1916 and
consisted originally of what called spermanent f,nd
bank stock and Joint stock the H.
The proceeds of this fund.- have turn, funded and are
now called the "dspnsab'e fund amounting 1851 $50
The Whole fund.- pernanent and 'sposable" amounts to
S210O59l l1of this, the 5000 59I III has been in
vested IN joint stock companies for the benefit roads and
navigation OF these investments yields income
while $5259H II has never yielded Even the
productive investments of S8O65O yield an annual prof,
of only SiO3 SO The really productive part the fund
consists Of bank stock loans Five sixs of all the money
invested in joint stock companies, wholly to the fund
and the remaining onc-six gives but ucouserable in
aerest.
$50 much for experiment 1t would seem to me- that reason
and reflection might have lead predecessors anticipate
such result The union between the State and Stockholders
an unnatural one, and only calculated to Edvd
usl eupdy he means of prof,ns by public prodsay The
commonwealth pays two-hfts bounty what is called,
.nd'ud'a! enterprise and receives nothing return Not on
the money lost but 1t is perncousy The Stock
holders are clothed with power the public through all
time to e right levy tolls is right Of local tax
ailon Taxation one of the attributes of sovereignty ch
ought 10 reside only IN The governmenD the
OF the people Yet here it given up individuals W no may
exercise forever without abatement The COMPANY
acquires vested rights which you touch When road
or canal FIRST opened the receipts of tolls small hence
the necessity and usual practice of fixing high tolls in
ordH to ensure respectable profit the expenditure Yet in
process OF time as the Improvement produces desired effect
in opening of trade aordng more extended
accomnodaonte gross receipts propoonably
ana then the ratio OF tools might very properly be reduced
let you cannot do 1t has become vested right and am
odious monopoly is created. Do instances. The
James River Company incorporated in 1884 with the ex
elusive privilege OF navigating that verln 1915 when The
State determined on the perfect improvement of the navi
CATION could only procure surrender of the rights of that
company, by an arrangement pay them twelve per cen,
unt 1897 and 10 per cent forever after The stock which
originally cost $780, has risen $500 per The Dismal
swamp company incorporated under tho regal govern
ment The stock cost at first l00o and sells at 81 400
per share yielding an annual profit of 20 per cent
In all such cases artificial and Fictitious value is given 10
property by your legislation and just proportion as the
ssckhoers are enabled to and nus
pro 10 that extent do Cypress the community in gene