Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-12-20


Road from the direction OF TenresSec towards Ialpcrs
Ferry should be- Laid ne the heavy trade of
transportation, would come off upon our line, and
should thus Ice rennnera:cd in the export for what we
might lose in the import trade
In parallel line of Rail roads should attempt compe-
ttion ON our Southern border will be- defeated by the
unavoidable diversion Of the trade as IL would approach
the in that directions and the cheapness
oil transportation on n canal Of enlarged Dimensions
through the central parts Of the State Nature has Oh
t. the central advantages great that needs
no monopoly clause in its charter prItec, il from
peuton: Nor even in war, will there be danger OF
suspension OF profits in much by the protection of
the cross fire at the Rip Raps and Old Point Comfort the
trade may pass safely by tine way of the Dismal Swamp
Canal the Albemare Sound and the Inlet of Ocracocke
where from the nature of the coast and the stormy cha
of the sea- hostile fleet can venture 10 remain
tor the purpose ofbockadc. Thus. while all other lines
leading from the interior the may be interrupt
ed IT not Theoretically scaled by hostile squadrons that
OF the James and kanawha, would enjoy the singular
privilege of being ever open and active both peace
and i'm war.
The exposition already given, place the ca
pita OF this company the footing of an excellent in
vestnent, looking with eye directed sngly TO the
mere profit OF the stock itself But how greatly is the
value of this investment advanced when we look 10 The
collateral bcucs which are to he gained upon the one
hand, or lost upon the other Leaving out OF the est.
mate, the political effects of the tendency
to unite the east and the west check emigration aug
mcnt population and increase relative weight i'm the
councils of the Unon-dear they must be to every cit
zen OF the State what immense has the city
upon this question ia economical point of view Should
the charter he saved in The compass of few short years
real estate and commercial and manuac turing capital
would all be doubled in value fit should be lost
fearful decline in all the of prosperity would
speedily come over the city Of Richmond Every man
who nbours, every who holds dollars worth of
real estate other property, deeply interested the
present question. The in the value of real estate
in the most commercial parts of the city, would soon be
an high IA 100 per cent and in the lots upon the
outskirts of the city it would probably fall short of
1000 per cent Under the act of 18th Feb, 1917 the
total value of land including buildings and town proper
w. Hcnco county, was asscsseda SS O34, 772 65 The
total value OF similar property in the % counties bor-
dering upon the proposed line of Improvement
scsscd Mt 500 S7 ll 3d. and the total value of similar
property III the whole State at S206 OOO
600. (See statement of James +. Heath, ESQ., Au-
ditor OF Public Accounts2 1t appears by
OF New York, in the years 1924, and Io:,2 that
real estate doubled in value, not only i'm the CITY
but throughout the State, within eight years from the pc
rod ofthc completion of her canals To say nothing of
the country the line, of the State at large and
looking sngy TO the county of Henrico and the city of
chmond is there not every prospect of similar effects
and of consequent appreciation in real estate and town
property To the amount Of least fifteen millions ofdol
lars Add this the vast addition to her commercial
capital sustaining the import and export trade million
OF people, doubling every ten years, in the west the
augmentation of her manufacturing capital supported bv
an unboundcd water power, by nexhaustibe supplies Of
coal and iron of raw materials and cheap the
increasing gains of her numerous artzans; the rapid
growth of her commercial marine; the prosperity of all
orders ana descriptions OF czens word her speedy
march TO the rank of imperial CITY, with its domes
swelling to the Clouds and its spires piercing the
heavensand it true that all this splendid train of
blessings will be chcaply purchased by the subscripton
OF little more than million of dollars which will i'm
itself be one of the best OF all possible vcstments
MIR Cabell said he had exhausted much time i'm en-
deavoring TO prove the immense value of the proposed
subscription that he would be compelled to omit much
OF what he wished to of the losses which would re-
suit If that subscription should not be made
To is mind no proposition could be mere clear than
that with the loss OF the charter, the improvement would
go down lie knew that confident enthusiasts
still were heard to say that fths charter should fail the
State rally to the support of this Improvement
Van hope idle and fatal usion After the State decided
nff Tho rEga I'll
no less than four successive and well sustaned efforts
were made to embark her again in the execution of the
scheme at the sessions of lS}4 1861 ISs-I 1912
AT the ocsson of 1901, loan of 50 600 600 was pro-
posed, and iii its progress in the House 18th of the loan
was apporoned to the central line, and the other three
tourtn3 to the other portions of the State Ultimately
the bill fell amidst the contention about the division of
the loan On that occasion in the Legislature Penn
sylvania in the year 1896 the Charlottesville conven
ton in the year 1923 the policy of ntratino the dis
possible resources of the State, consecutive order ON
hrst one and then another great object at time, fell be-
fore the more popular system of simultaneous appropra
ton In different parts of the State. Such will be the re-
suit whenever the question may be again tried The bor
der influence in its relation to central interests of the
state, have grown and strengthened with the progress of
intermediate time. II the central line upon company ac
count should cost eight millions upon State account il
would probably cost not less than twelve nons and fit
be- true that for every dollar spent the centre at least
three will be given to the extremes the system would
inevitably end in an aggregate debt of fifty millions
OF dollars Seeing this To- be the result of the system
the people OF the State would not bear it, the proba-
bility OF this result is rendered still clear by the
expose OF the nnanccB oil the State and
lie policy, ncucaed in the Governors recent message
18th ali proper respect for the opinions Of theirs Mr.
said, that experience of more than 20 years i'm the Lee
gslature of the State had convinced him that il
was vain to expect the adoption steady adhesion
to any plan for executing the connection OF the East
ern and Western Waters on public account lie
cSsed that he did not desire to the angry state
OF feeling between the centre and the extremes pToduc
ed by the former experiment Of the State; from the
sequences OF which, we were happily recovered.
The present charter botomed upon a system upon
which rested nearly every important work in Great
Britain, and tie greater part Of those in the IT, States
Let be brought under reconsideration when and where
may, Will be found TO provide equitably for oil the
great interests involved, and To constitute happy
promise between the separate systems and avoe views
OF the eastern and western parts of the State lie ear
nesty hoped that the labors Of long years would
not he leveled in the dust, and former contention
and discord return again.
Nothing could be clear his mind than that the
loss OF the present charter instead of giving the
on State account would end in directing trade of the
west INTO another channel and different outlet to the
sea The same active and enterprsing rival which had
heretofore sought To obtain lien upon the
west and had twice failed by the casting vote of the
Speaker Of the Senate standing ready to step in
with another petition this charter should be
lcveled in the dust
Without farther preface comment he would present
10 the meeting evidence OF the highest order upon this
part OF the subject, which he would commend TO the
grave confederation Of the citizens of Richmond as Is
flying the anticpatons which lie had ventured to ex
press.
Extracts from the Appendix to the Report made to the
House OF Representatives, April 18th 1884 by MIR
Mercer, as Chairman of the Committee on Roads and
Canals, to which referred the memorials of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and Of the Baltimore and
ONO Rail Road Companies well numerous petit
tons from the inhabitants Of Virginia, Maryland and
fennsylyania, praying for additional subscription
by the United States 20 the capital stock of the Chesa
Exfr.