Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-05-17
FOR III ENQUIRER.

Nothing is more fallacious than the idea tha, improve
mehis IN The upper country will not benefit lower Virginia.
IL mas oeen IDLY suggested, that the great amount of agri
cultural and other productions which must seek a Tide
water market will reduce the prices of the produce raised
oe:ow by over,supplying the market. Precisely the con-
trary result viii be produced. Let us appeal TO the ties
In i1 !, R srH;aa".s aud to the language Of facts.
no" counts a population OF near go, 700. Let il be remem-
oereu mat baltimore was only laid out in 1880, and in
100 IL had only fifty houses. The turnpike roads and
othsr improvements which the public spirit of thai o,,.r
prising people projected, have brought 10 them an i'm.
meise commerce. and contributed in an important DEGREE
, o ms raPia increase OF numbers and to 4 much greater
".iease d prosperity aud wealth. The Cumberland
ROAD mas poured into the lap of Baltimore an Immense
amount d produce from tho interior of Pennsylvania and
please from the centre OF Pennsvlyan;a, owards The OIio
The Potomac, aud through the Valley Of Virginia. omit,
,no iehnessee' ana you see trains of heavily ladened
wagons piodd'ng their way to market. enquire % uhe,n
are you gong tcith your i0ad?" And the answer viii he
almost invariably the same" To Balfinore." Who oyer
ne"fu una t'is great influx OF agricultural productions les
IN M Va'ue OF the produce of Maryland? On the
contrary, II has given Lille and animation TO the whole
country; IL has increased the value OF property. and esta.
oiisi'ed a market, upon the uniformity and stability of
wolcn s9n'e reliance may be placed. In our ma,ket
towns In Virginia, the productions OF the f,rmer, excep, the
staple articles Tor export, are liable TO sudden ari vcxa-
nous fluctuations. Our towns have not sufficient uonu-
iauoh, capital and commerce. But these would soon su,ins
up I'D ample abundance, il objects of employment invited
uem. men, money and shipping have in all ages eagerly
songh, The productions OF industry. Within a very Short
inne' last year. the article OF Indian corn, so much culivat-
ed III lower Virginia for sale, has actually risen seventy. five
eeh'S III tHe Dai.@l, ana fallen the same amount i'm n weeks
uihe H. hichinond. Fluctuations like this DO not take
place IN large cities, where the arrival of a couple OF
Scoops can have no effect on the market. From C,c insta-
niii'y OF the markets OF Virginia, most of our citizen. be-
low the head of tide water, send their producc 10 The nsr
Set towns OF other States. This they can DO with great
'ac1h'y, by means of their fine navigable streams.
but does any sensible man in Maryland apprei,end. that
u me Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road should ever reach
INC oIiio' and HE productions of HAT fruitful region should
seek a vent at baltimore, IL will lessen the value OF his own
P ohucuons! Depend upon il, no such idle fears disturb
the iinaginations Of the Marylande.s. On the contrary
they Iuhy appreciate and look forward to the immen..
Dement'S they are to derive from that event, should it ever
happen.
The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, which uni,es
me delaware with the Chesapeake Bay, is only thirteen
ahu a haii miles long; and cost upwards of Two millions of
dollars. The United States subscribed $50 OoO-Prnn.
sylvania Sl0O, 000-Maryland $50, OOO-and Delaware
sL',ovu. individuals look The balance Of the stock. 1t
y a valuable work, and viii. increase in importance with
the growth and prosperity Of the country. During Ie
year. ending on The LIST June, 1881, $3.50 vessels passed
through It's locks, paying tolls 10 the amount OF S62, 223 10.
The population of Philadelphia in 1890 was ~ 500 I,
Is now upwards OF 10000, including the suburbs. Which
ae more Populous than The city proper. The canal navi-
ga''oh OIL 'he slate IN 1881 amounted to 72S miles, OF which
the State undertook a. the public expense. 1913 ~ mics
! u o valance was undertaken by private companies. TIE
whole amount expended by the State and by companies
from ~ 10 1878, on canals, rivers, tnrnpikcs. rail way
ana bridges Is more than f,cenfy ftco millions NJ doAgJs.
exclusive Oh The sums expended by counties on roads and
bridges. Since 1928 works have been nroicc,ed and .rc
r"pdu'y completing, estimated TO cost upwards of ttpeIrt
mitho's more making an expenditure Of Miyfy four mil
mons III ioriy years. On The Ist January, 1881, The state
W. 'c'" Improvements was SlZ,Ol2D2O. v ct al
tnis expenditure and this heavy amount Of debt did moi
a'arin me ludnstrions yeomaury Of PENNSYLVANIA. The
p. oPle $1,000 III need OF the Improvements, and their lie
glsid'ufe bad lie nerve TO undertake them Al, whatever
cost Ana the benefits they have conferred upon the
"ho'e o'a'e are incalcnlahle, and must continue To increase
faster lhan the increase Of population.
The little State OF New Jersey has NOT been inacive
several important rail roads have been undertaken. Tie
ynorT's canal, connecting the waters of the Delaware and
hudson, viii cost 81 100, 900. The Delaware and Raritsi
lanai uniting those rivers, sill cost a million and a half
inese WORKS are progressing with spirit, and The people
re IN nowise appalled, at tlo expense of their consirIc.
ton.
But the great Efforts Of New York are worthy of oul
special admiration. Her improvements have been so often
detaIed 70 The pNbiic, that il is unnecessary to detain tmc
reader ny a recapitulaion. Most Of her great and splen.
dd works have been completed al the public expense. and
are the property of the State. They have brought int,
use ana gwen value 10 an extensive and fertile region o.
country mat otiiefwlse might have remained for ages bu
.hIlIy inhabited by a few grazicrs. The wilderness hm,
Oeen made lhefaly 10 smile, aud nourisfing cities. towni
ana villages have sprung into existence within a few years
y rom lf0O TO 1880, The population OF the whole State in
creased from 3i0,l20 to 1913, sos. The city Of New
YORK. under the stimulating influence OF foreign and ihe
most extensive inland commerce, increased its population
since 1870, from 1913, 706 to 203, 0O7. In 1890 It's popuIa.
non was SS,l3l-being9 1850 less THAI Philadelphia at the
same time.
Massschusetts has been more attentive to improvements
thsn any other State in the Union. II will DO borne In