Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1830-01-12

The unf1nlSDed ana referred business OF
the last session will naturally engage your
earliest attention. 1t is not for the Execu-
tive, unfortunately, to urge the influence of
personal sentiment upon coordinate De-
partment of the Government. That meas
ure of duty may already have been discharg-
ed, which consists in distinct and respon-
sible avowal of official opinion, and a res
pectful recommendation to Legislative ac-
ton. Yet until decisions are had, it will
not be deemed indecorous, and existing
circumstances may render it proper, to re-
cur to important subjects ofprevious discus
sion. Ofthe matters of prominent concern,
that of the Railways will press with almost
engrossing interest. With a reference,
therefore. to former communications to the
Legislature, and especially to that which
had the honour to address to your consider
alton at the commencement of the political
year, for the general views, which continue
confidently to entertain of the interest Of
the State, in the effectual encouragement of
those enterprises, which are adapted to fa-
cilitate INSTRUMENTATION and relieve the
community from the excessive expense and
tedious labour of the present mode of land
Transportation, beg leave to repeat the
recommendation, that some decisive meas
ures should promptly be taken, to give to
the country, at no distant day, such improve
ment. A cautious, but faithful policy has
hitherto wisely required time for investiga-
ton. twas manifestly proper that diigent
and critical inquiry into the character of
schemes of novel experiment should first
satisfy the minds of those. who were ap-
pealed to for their sanction in adopting
them. A reasonable opportunity, it would
seem, mas now been allowed, for this pur-
pose. The country has been explored, sur
veys have been returned, plans Of construc-
ton and estimates of expense submitted,
upon all the routes that have been proposed,
for the pubick accommodation and the en-
terprizing and liberal spirit of individuals,
and of voluntary associations OF citizens,
have added to the means of Intelligence,
which the government have empoye until
the mass of testimony has been furnished to
the occasion and the advantageso of Railroads
which if it fails to unite all in designating
the preferable courses for theirlocation, will
yet induce in every one, a desire for their
enjoyment. The astonishing results OF re-
cent scientific experiments in Europe, In
the application of Steam to produce NOV
ing power, by which time, and distance, and
weight are alike overcome, toa degree al
most incredible, may we'll inspire conf
dence in this manner of conveyance, which
neither the incredulty of the timid, nor the
obstinacy of the prejudiced can longer re-
sist. 1t has been said, with probable cor
rectness, that the newly invented Steam
Carriages, which are designed for use, be-
tween Manchester and Liverpool, will bring
those places, though more than thirty miles
remote from each other, nearer together,
in social and commercial point Of view,
than the extremes of London now are. The
expense Of travelling by them, it is calculat-
ed, will be reduced three fourths, and the
time two thirds, while the accommodation to
the passenger is far superiour to that offered
by stage coaches. The saving of cost in
the transportation of heavy merchandise is
estimated to be even still greater.
The progress, too, which has been made
in our own country, in the execution ofthose
stupendous works in which several of the
States are engaged, has evinced, that there
are few obstacles in nature too formidable
for persevering industry and labour sue
cessfully to remove. Surely, after the ex-
perience which has been had, no well in
formed man will question the practicability
of laying Railroads over the toughest places
of our Commonwealth, nor will any be found
to deny their advantages, if means can but
well be provided for their accomplishment.
This is truly the point of greatest difficult
ty. The declension of important branches
of business, and the general pressure of
personal embarrassment, it may justly be
feared, will discourage individual subscrip-
tons to these objects, and there can be little
hope, that, except upon short routes, and
for the advancement of local purposes, any
Road will, at present, be undertaken, with
out pledge of pecuniary aid from the Gov
eminent. Large disbursements will be re-
quired to execute either of the projects
which are now before the publick, and how
ever strong may be the promise of eventual
remuneration from indirect and consequent
tial benefits to the community, capitalists
have been too often and too seriously ad-
monished, that even the greatest publick
improvement is not always ar assurance of
private profit, to be induced, on their own
account and risk exclusively, to make the
necessary investments. There should be
no false anticipations on this subject. If it
is deemed by the Legislature of Importance
to the prosperity of the State, either as a
means of increasing trade or preserving
what is now enjoyed, of encouraging more
dense population, or furnishing employment
to that which may remain, of giving greater
relative influence to our political condition
or securing its present weight, of advancing
the arts, diffusing the blessings of knowl-
edge, and multiplying the sources of social
happiness, that improved modes of commu-
nication between the capital of this and 9TH
er States, and through different sections of
the interiour of our State, should speedily
be possessed, the assistance of the Govern
ment, Ia some manner and to some ertent, in
aid of individual enterprise and exertion,
must be given to the work. hesitate not
to say that, without this, nothing of moment
will be seasonably accomplished. Neither
Railroad to Providence, nor Albany, nor
even that more recently proposed, to Brat
tleborough, which, from the geography,