Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-04-03
L.rTER.Y:7L IMPROVEMENTS.

ISTER.N.3L INPROI E.IE.i Is.
Although the present Legislature have laid oyerthe two
mos, nporlant o the State the Central Com
municaIIon aud the Southwestern Railroad, until the
session. yet must do justice TO tie present They
have not been idle IN their generaon nor has their labor
been umavailing The following is coup dGI of the
contributions they have already made 10 the Internal
Improvement Of Viruinia-Other bills their pas
sage and upon the whole the amount of subscription
on The part Of the C0mmnnw wealth will scarcely fall
short of . millions. But the spirit is up and The
mex, IL gsature will it march onwurds with
era,ed veloclty-Well, mote bo. 1t is high time for
the Old Dominion to rouse from her slnubers. If she
has any pride PATRIOTISM land who doubts her posses-
sion Of both these passons she must be upand ADDING
or else she will be woiuy ouistrIPPed by half dozen
of her sisers--by New York, and Pennsylvania, and
Ohio, and Maryland, and the rising young giants Of the
Northwest.
Look al The Empire State! We have before US the
Report of Mr.. Rugges OF the City of n YORK; from the
stsndinr Committee of WAYS and Means presented to
the LEGISLATURE on the 18th uI, We read this eloquen,
production with species OF establishment and admra
lion II appears that the Grand Canal was begun with
difficulty and prosecuted amid torrents OF ridcule and
oloony" II appears that in 1891 flour years after the
canals had been commenced, the comptroller of this
State in obedience TO resolution Of the legislature,
pared un estimate of their prospective revenues III
winch he stated that for the ten years next succeeding
their completion, the tolls would amount annually to
hundred aud iiy thousand dollars, The amount which
was actually received during tina, period Of years
exceeded ten millions OF dollars 1t has oustripl all
other calculations. Governor Morris predicted in his
memorial that the amount If produce brought down
would exceed annually $4,000 ons-ln 1856, il ex.
ceeded COG 900"
I" The total amount borrowed 10 construct the canals
was 81 G72 7c2 Of which amount ,32G 295 has been
paid directly TO the public creditors and certificates of
stock have been cancelled to that extent '-'''lhe
missoners have thus reduced the amount 10 50 AZ
so ,la, little more than 7tis of the original
remains unpaid II is probable that the holders of some
portion least Of that remnant of the debt who reside
principally in fore IN countries may neglect or refuse to
receive payment until the year ls43 and the money
must consequently remain invested, for their benefit in
the hands of the commissioners What astonishing
improvement!
Contributions already made by tic Legislature, Cat the
uresent Session:)
Falmouth and Alexandra Rnad Sl0O,OOO
Portsmouth and Roanoke Railroad I5O0Oo
Louisa Railroad 1000
Saun,on and Parkersburg Road 100000
Saunton and Winchester 2OOOO0
Winchester to Mar,ins5urg $4,000
Road from Smyth G. II. to the Plaster Banks 5000
From Beverly, by way Of Morganown, 10 the
PENNSYLVANIA line 10000
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Ojo ago
Loan to Winchester and Potomac Railroad
Company 10000
Loan TO the Richmond and Petersburg Rail.
road Company $4,000
Loan for the construction of Road from The
mouth of Fishing Creek. by way of Nor
gantown, 10 the Maryland lire 10000