Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1831-12-02


! Your Memorialsis avail themselves of the
present occasion, 10 make an earnest appeal
| To the Legislature on behalf OF the great in
:ercsIs &C Internal Improvement, because The
! general opinions and feelings of their fellow
citizens seem to bc at this time peculiarly IA
vourahlc 10 undertakings of this kind, and
tipou plans worthy OF the former character
OF the site, which, if cherished, must con-
! tribute largely in giving her an elevated
rank. From LynchLurg TO the south wes-
! tern boundary, Il very animated effort is
making to accommodate the trade OF that
| important portion of Tho cofnponwc alth, as
we'll as the commerce ofEast Tennessee and
! North Alabama, by a railroad leading Ia
James river, a work of great interest, and
Justly ineriting the support which ii receives,
and the public patrons &c which lis friends
expect
! On our own northern border, the zeal und
resources ofour fellow citizens arc in reCui-
/ s;tion to create railroad FROM " inchcSier
/ 10 the Potomac. The Chesapeake and Ohio
! Canal continues To cali forth unremitted OK
| ertlons, in fastening that important line OF
| intercourse 10 It's ultimate destination, and
ENill, IN lis progress, confer great and lasting
advantages ON the entire North and North
west sections OF the STATE, enti,ling this work
10 the most favourable consideration of the
Legislature. The central counties OF the
/ Shenandoah Valley, have been earnestly en-
ployed in attempts 10 give effect TO the act Of
last winter, having for its object the con-
struction OF railroad frosn S,aurton 10 the
Potomac, measure of great interest 10 the
commonw ealth, as il looks to the opening of
new and important markets to large por-
tioniof her agricultural and manufactured
products; and il it has not succeeded 10 the
I for m - al,
the failure may, be traced 10 tho refusal cf the
Legislature 10 extend the line, which would
have secured Elarge commerce from the
West, and given ample and certain returns
TO investments.
In the Eastern division, public spirit is
apparently ele"ating It's tone, and rallying
the enterprise OF the country in favor Of its
improvement by roads and canals The great
value OF the Dismal Swamp Canal, the en-
couraging commencement Of the Petersburg
railroad, the completion OF the lower sec
ton OF the Rappahannocl; Canal with the
movements the last summer al Richmond
Lynchburg and other places, strongly en-
courage the hope that the representatives Of
the people Of that part ofthe commonwealth,
VIII CO. operate IN maturing and carrying into
effect, tho liberal and patriotic views OF tlra
Constituent body.
In contsra plating This general revival OF n
spirit SO favorable, and Of effects so important
10 the march Of Virginia in attaining the ell
evated rank which She ought TO hold, YOUR
Memorialists confidently anticipate, tlat,
when she enters upon an enlarged and liberal
system of public improvements, the great
artery o! the commonwealth, the line passing
mainly along the yallies Of her two noblest
rivers will receive her earliest care. The
James and hanawha rivers, since the first
explorations of thu American wilderness.
have constantly attracted public attention as
presenting the most eligible route for com
mercial purposes across the great a palachi-
an range. The surveys of Alexander and
Of Moore, Of Cro2et and Of Mcneil, all at
test the superior facilities and advantages of
this line, and clearly demonstrate the impor-
lance OF its improvement while the highly
improved channels CT intercourse already o.
pen 10 the w estern trade, or in course of
execution FOR its accommodation, clearly in
dictate the necessity Of giving 10 the Virginia
line, equal, if not superior attractions, To en-
sure reasonable success in the connection
which she must encounter.
With these convictions strongly impress
ed upon their minds, your MemoriaIists car
nestly invoke the General Assembly 10 re-
sumo the work on the long contemplated line
from the<ide water of the James river 10 the
Ohio, 7Snd that its execution may include tho
deepening of the present James river canal,
tho continuance of that species cf improve
mcnt, and Of adequate width and depth, to
LynChhurg or Coyington, and a permanent
line Of rail-w from the W estern termina-
ton Of the canal, to the Ohio river unless il
should be found more eligible to unite the
rail road with the Great X anawha river, and
improve the navigation Of that stream so rs 10
render il safe and convenient for steamboats,
at all seasons.
This measure, 50 daeFly connected with
the best interests of Virginia has ever been
regarded as properly & appropriately State
work, and is certainly worthy of the imme-
date care, and constant attention of the ro-
personalities Of the people Your Memo
rialists, therefore, most earnestly hope that If
will be executed by the resources Of the com
NOR wealth, and under the direction of the
Government Should this long cherished
expectation however, be disappointed by
refusal OF the Legislature to provide tho ne
cessary funds, and to direct the execution of
the work, your Memorialists think that the
hopes Of the country ought not 10 expire, but
that an appeal should be made TO private en-
terprize and capital. The certainty Of ample
returns, by moderate tolls on the amount of
the investment, tho extent Of unemployed
capital, both in Europe and America, await
ing opportunities for safe and profitable en-
! ploy ment, with the boii spirit of enterprze
which distinguishes orr CountTymen all u
mite in warranting the conclusion, that by
/ granting a charter with adequate provisions
and yielding the entire line 10 Individual re-
sources, aided by the commonwealth to the
, usual extent, the execution of the worI,
/ al ~