Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-03-22

."a' iosu, V,UOU barrels oil Hour. Be
tore the road was constructed. the far
mers OF that vicinity had to pay for the
carriage OF each barrel of -four. 81 90:
now the price OF transportation 10 the
Baltimore market is so cents per barrel.
So that there is saved to the farmers Of
Frederick county and its vicinity, "a
annual amount OF $500. 600. And such
has been the rise in the value of pr oper.y
that a stakeholder in the company, who
owned small farm near the Railroad.
had declared that, il he never received
cent oil dividend, he was largely the
gamer by the lessened cost OF getting his
produce to market. and in the facility
afforded him of disposing OF every arti-
Gle OF surplus he could produce. Nor is
this all. The cost of merchandise con-
sumed by the people contiguous to the
road lis less by the difference between the
former &the present charges OF transport
tation. Here then said Mr.. S, is an exams
pie derived from our own experience ::
Let gentlemen apply thiscase to the VIII ole
commonwealth; let them suppose the
like Improvements to be introduced and
the like benefits to be derived to the
citizens OF the State generally by diffu-
siVe system Of Internal Improvements,
and they will see in all the clearness OF
noon day light. the genial results OF al
extended plan OF Internal Improvement.
Again, said Mr. S. some such system
as that recommended by the committee,
Is necessary TO keep our population ad-
vancing. There is drain operating
upon us, which is fast weakening the
political power of the State, and consul
ming her strength. Her sons neglected
oy an unparental government, are wen
ding their way by thousands upon thou
sands. from the land of their fathers
that land too, TO make it a paradise. wan
ting nothing but market-to bury their
bones in the land Of strangers. believe
IN my soul. Mr.Speak.r, said Mr. S, that
this emigration is caused by the contrac
ted policy OF the State on the subject OF
internal Improvement Man, Sir, is
not prone by nature to desert the land of
his fathers. All the instincts Of our ma.
ture are against it. Associations, strong
as the heart can make them, and fresh
as memory's self can keep them, bind
US to the green spot of our nativity-:o
the scenes OF schoolboy sport and halcyon
days. lrepeat it Sir, it is your unkind.
unnatural. impolitic. cruel, inhuman pol
ICY that estrsnges your citizens from
you, and drives them from the graves of
their ancestors 10 the wild forests ofthe
west. Connect the East and the w est
| ~ I'll IL,
mote sections OF the State closer to you
by these binding ties-givs the West
market-revive the East BY the benefi-
cent ou'peuring into her lap of your
rich Valley and Western regions-Do
this, and Virginians will no longer vans
der from the dear land of their birth to
fancied Elysiums in the West.
AS population is an important eleme n,
said MIR 5. in the national prosperity,
will trouble the House with a few facts
on this point, that should arrest its atten-
ton. According 10 the census OF 1880,
the population of the % Western coun.
ties was 8 TO the square mile, while that
of the Middle counties, with about the
same areS, was 81, and that of the tide
water region, with one third the area of
the Middle or Western counties, was 30
to the square mile. Here the result is
exhibited, that density of population is
In proportion to convenience to market.
The smallest section of the State being
most convenient to market, ha. the lar
gest population. The portion next
most convenient has the next greatest :;
while that section which is most mac
cessible to the marts Of the country. has
the least.
There are other facts which will strike
us with surprise. While the popuIa
ton Of New York. though 10 1890. not
more than half that of Virginia, had
quintuPled itself in 40 years, and Penn
sylvania had quadrupled hers, that of
Virginia had increased but about3OO, 600
IN that long space Of time Pennsylva.
MA has Increased million, New York
nearly two millions, while Virginia had
not advanced as much in 40 years as
New York or Pennsylvania had 10 10
will not pretend said Mr.. S. 10 a.;rib-
ute the rapid increase Of t he Northern
sisters over Virginia to the exclusive in.
huence OF their systems of Internal I'm
proveEent. My object is to remind
gentlemen OF the true condition of the
Slate in order that they may look about
Tor some recupeSative policy to work,
her redemption by stimulating her dor
mant powers into action. Yet it cannot
be denied. that the effect OF Internal
improvement is to accelerate popula-