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

mind that hsr territory Is peculiarly situated. She had al.
ready tnrnpiked nearly all her roads aud erected perma.
nent bridges over her streams, when the ADVANTAGES of ca
W a ana railroads were proven by practical experience.
one iost no time IN making the few canals which she
wanted: From her principal seaport town. Boston, she
mas projected the following eight important rail. roads -
-" 70 Worcester-2d. to the river Hudson-3l. 10 the
connecticut river-4th. to Providence, by Paw,ucke,-
9TH. TO Taunton-Gh. TO Lowell-7h. to Lake Ontario in
New f9rk-ani Stb. TO the boundary line Of the
stare oil New York. Some OF these rail roads, have
understood, have been Completed, and all of them will bc.
Ills useless TO say any thing of the COS, of them; Tor the
enterprisiDg AMI consolidated people Of th., State. when
they determine upon such schemes. do not count ,he costs
so much as the advantages and profits.
The young State OF Ohio has nearly completed two limos
Oh canai communication between tic river Ohio. and the
lakes. For this purpose. they negotiated foreign loans in
nVe years, to the anTint ot $4,000, 900, and borrowed vl,o
the school fund OF $l69, 100. To pay the interest "a This
deot; they impose . direct tax Of Two mills on the dollars
worth OF property in tie State, iuicpr nlent OF the receipts
Tor 'oiis' sales oil public lands and donations. In 1881, the
u'ec' taxes Tor all purposes amounted 10 an avcrag. of 62
GEMS only on every lnhabitant of the State. Blu, her LIE.
g'sia'ure consists vi but SO senators, and ~ REPRESENTATIVE.
they receive but SIS a day, and do not sit more Than one.
,ourm OF the year, as some other Legislatures do. The
Legislators OF Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts.
Go"nccncu'' (scnalors So, and representatives only,SI 501
Neh"cky anu Indiana receive b, ttcO dollars a day. In
Rhode Island and Vermont, they get but a dollar and a
haiI. Most OF the other States pay only SD.
hiit why should ! enumerite the gigantic inprovemen.s
.u' nave ooeh completed. and are in progress in other
otatess Enough have been mentioned 10 show n own
supiheness, aud TO make Us ashamed OF IT,. Whoeveris
''pu"ih'ed WIN the topography and soil OF Yirainia. or
whi examine the map ateujivciy, must sec that mo- State
IN mo Union stands more in need of good roads and canals.
he mineral and agricultural resources oi Tho St,,c ~.
been but partially developed lorthe want of these essential
'acIiiues. And our Legislators have not The Spi,i, TO adop,
me proper measures, or even TO lay projects before the
people Tor their consideration ani Appreciation. IL il mt
Tor me, VI L were competent to the task. to- sny. what mar.
n,'i'ar measures ought 10 be adopted. know that some.
th'ng more than hos hcen, ought to hc dune-,hat we OUGHT
TO SINK 'hnt miserable spirit ot locai Jealousy and rivalry.
TIA has so constantly d,-ieaf Is ned the hes nau lots an,onr
US we ought to stop that current oil eimirraiion. that l.
draining us ct our hearts blood; and there is no Other way
81 dolug II, but, by bringing the hidden resources of the
stale Into active operation; by showing TO our people that
their industry will find as ample a reward here - m
whsre else, and that we lack only a little Industry and
phIi's-,dking TO make Us thriving aud happy. lii NOT bet.
Ter TO Involve tho State la debt, than have the price OF our
lands reduced 10 lit;lc or nothing, and TO lose sa many of
our valuable citizens annuaIIy' ltnust he contested, ii,at
something ought 10 be done by those who mean to bury
Their bones in the soil OF the Oil Dominion.
The interests OF several grand divisions of Tho S,o,c
seem TO conflict; but in reality, there is not as much in this
tdca, as certain demagogucs would have us believe. ne
i'll relation 10 one or Two particular sections. there bc rc,ly
n dissimiiarity Of interests, that ought 10 b.. counterbsl,nc,d
ny a courteous attention 10 the wants, aud a generous re.
eiprocity OF good feeling and action. 1t il not in the ma.
lure oil things, that the operations OF government should
T T, WIN exact equality on all ,ie citizens of the country.
ihis Is lot the case IN every respect with the local or
.'hshceS ana regulations OF incorporated towns and villages.
ANU ~ every gooi mas some attendant evil, we ought TO
fe'ohciie ourselves TO tri1ing inequalities, for the common
sood' under The confident assurance that in some form or
other, we shall be compensated for it.
| grant tha, many, very many, laws have been passed
touching the subject OF internal improvements; but too ma
ny OF them have been like other la ws in the statute. book
S'"pH"i" Whhs where nature ana circumstances have
said uiere never shall be towns. Several spirited comma.
mes nave been organized, aud have completed or are We,
engaged III ;hc construction OF valuable roads. We, the
Stale has done very little compared with the wants of the
country. We have no large capitalists among us-on
The contrary, our people are generally in debt, and in.
dividnai enterprise cannot be relied upon to do what ought
to be done.
The James River and Kauawha scheme, so vitally i'm
Por'aht' may iaii unless we now pu, our shoulders 10 the
wheel. WIN not tho Banks now subscribe their half mil.
lion each! And why should they no,3 A very large
amount, considering the poverty OF our people, has been
subscribed by individuals and by persons, too, who may
oe teS"rhfa "a among the most prudent and intelligent
portion OF our population. What better evidence can he
required OF the general confidence in the practicahility.
usefulness, and profit, OF the schemes. The cbarter
mas been so drawn that il ensures the payment OF the
amount OF private subscriptions by making tic whole IS.
tate o, the Subscriber bound for it. The State, therefore.
can run no risk in raising the necessary sum and embark.
ihg1i IN a work whore her partners ae sure TO fulfil their
pact of the eng ageinent. THIS Improvement ought To be
regarded as national 20 the whole State-and il orgi,t IN
be made At all events.
itoccnrs TO me, 'hatit would be good policy in Virginia
TO Undertake but onc great work at a time, aud appTy ali
her resources and energy TO. The Accomplishment OF tlat
before any other lie undcitaken. Most Of the ADVANTAGES
oi ms course will present lhemselces TO The mind of tbe
ih,e''gehi reader without my attempting 10 point Them
out. uENpW