Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-12-26


~ IN ats Character, has again failed; which
seems To enjoin IL unon tho Stale TO accom-.
P"sh upon her own resources and rem
the rich reward in the receipt OF the profit,
oil the tolls, which, in few years. viii NOR,
ihan equal the total revenue of the Govern.
nen'' aud will enable tile General As,cmbl,
10 abolish every tax.
The Canal of New York yields now nearly
million OF dollars annually % the State:
though for several months in the wear !, !.
wholly closed by the ice and inclemency n,
the winter, IN Inconvenience we rarely ever
'eei on this line; besides its being the shor,e,,
route 10 mat rich country, to obtain the pro.
uuets oil which, our sister States have alr.a.
dy expended sums Of money, more than sui.
hcien, To have accomplished the object by
our route
The country lying to the Southwest il Of
such growing importance, and the trade with
inc Hs'cr States m that direction OF such in
crcasiug value, that n RAILROAD from som.
POINT on the river James TO the Tcunos.ee
Inc II earnestly recommended. Though the
number OF tons annually transmitted upou
lhIs road may not equal that To The Ohio
river, yet the products will be of So much
greater value, that the commerce Of the State
will not be less benefited.
Is commerce we need.-Commcrro will
enrich any country, though ,be soil be ipdir.
,erent; but when both fertility OF soil and
oesk commerce is had. by timely aud Judi
tesuIs"ons ard improvements, the
prosperity at our citizens u secured LsxonJ
interruption; since no outlet To the sea from
so extensive an interior will be - short as on,
own. New channels Of commeroe are sought
only oecausc the old do not afford the AIDE.
Guatc supplies-and IL is well known 10 the
mercantile world, that the more abundant
and certain the supply in commerce, the
more certain the market-and generally
anording more advanced price. These
improvements would enable the State 10 oc.
ouPy the Hour markets 1T an earlier period
man any other OF The grain-growing States,
from the early haryests; and would also
bring into culture much fine soil, we'll adapt.
cd to the growth Of Tobacco. Il cannot
nave escaped the observation OF any. that IN.
inequality OF the wealth of the different pa,t,
oil the Slate, Is the result Of a conticuity 10
market, afforded by Nature, in giving the one
0cautiiulbays and rivers open 10 the sen. and
suited TO vessels engaged in the trade of the
ocean, whilst the other contributes little. from
he expense Oh sending their products to mar
ket, IN The present condition OF the roads.
Nothing can more clearly demonstrate the
certain results which must ensue from the
completion Of those works, than what IL eli
known, from the effects which have been
produced, upon long line of railroad.
already completed by the enterprisins siii-
.ons OF petersburg, from that place 10 Wei
don, distance Of Fifty nine miles That work
was undertaken and finished in a shorter
space OF Time than almost any other, and the
~hoie amount oil subscription paid up n
promptly as ccsired. Steam-cars are dali,
employed to transport the product, of the
Country near this road, which is now The
grand railroad Of tho State. Lands are
brought into cultivation, and fields, which
heretofore have been abandoned as worth
icss' are beginning to contribute something
10 enlarge The trade sad comforts of The peo
PIE, oy better system Of culture encouraa-
ed by the facilities OF that road. Formerly
days, and IN the soft weather OF the earIy
spring, week was consumed in carving
their tobacco and cotton TO market, with ali
inc concomitant expenses OF hands, horses
and wagons, which Is nov performed 10 6o.r
or fire hours.
The enterprise of Portsmouth bo, been
awakened to her interest, aud a railroad has
oeen determined upon from that place TO the
same point where the Petersburg railroad
terminates; and many miles Of road, as we
are informed, are in a state OF rapid improve
ment. and will doubtless share your favor
and attention
on FORMER occasion, I brought 10 the
notice OF tho General Assembly, Tho isapar-
e.
ourS, which lime has more strongly demon.
strated to be necessary. by wsIl-con.,ruc,.
ed railroad, the entire communication thro,
the state presently, by uniting it with the
Petersburg railroad, would be made com
Piete, and can be done ut \ small expense
Ihe ground over which the road 10 Frede
ricksourg must pass, is we'll adapted TO an
Improvement Of lh,s kind, and will require
but TITLE excavation, aud that IN n soil not At
all diihcult to remove, and may in few
years, be- ready for the transportation of com
nioditcs aud of persons.
This improvement il viewed ~ Of great
Importance IN the completion Of the chain Of
improvements through the lower country
when despatch y often Of so much conse-
quence, aud ~ Snr, almost indispensable. iu
he preseHt advanced and improved condition
oil the country: nor will u be Of less imuor
lance to accomplish such a work from the
southern termination Of the Petersburg rail
road 10 The passage Of the Roanoke river.
through the Blue Ridge Of mountains.
The Nodh-Nestcrn Turnpike road, which
was authorised n DO constructed, Is in pro-
sress, and promises % be extensively useful,
as its friends expected. The entire locates,
+ OF u has been finished, and sevcnty-four
miles ofthe distance has been Put under con-
trset Tor its construction. twcnty.four mile,
7 Of which has becn completed IN a style high
" gratifying 70 is friends aud the public
generally. There are msny other works
which promise 20 be extensively useful.
~hieh will claim portion Of your foslcrin Z
care, and viii doubles, receive the attention
due them. The condition of those works
generally IN which the State has an interest.
will b. made more fully known 20 you by the
report the Board Of Pubic Works, which
"ul shortly be laid before you.
I whist on this subject, viii suggest the
ptoPriety 81 some enaetments. ~ ennhie the
Board Of Public Works q fulfil tie intention,
OF ihe t'snersi i''embly, by clothing Il with
some dr. retionary power over the subject
81 subscription, and - exclude az companies
from participating 10 the benefits 81 a sub.
scripiion oy the sisie, without having Que ol
the Engineers IN the service Of the state
hrst % view and ioca ate tie coniompis lated road
and furnish an estimate of The expense q ~
conjunction. Nor ought the collection al