Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-09-21

10 employ promptly aud vigorously resources 10 aug
nent vet fully and goriouy 'ae power ona pros
pery of the State Without tespass'ng up"" 'i'e pro
vince OF those whose duty is TO prescribe lhe pa'eu
lar details of those great measures OF poicy, ny which
our dormant energies may thus be reused nto SANITARY
and profitable acnu, the committee wouiu o'se''s s
Morally, that the works which Tor Inc W"
occupy the attention Of public authorities are
l. The railroads connecting the distant exlremiile oil
the State and the interior portions with each othef'
2 The Eric cana with its various tributaries
On the subject Of the pccy to be pursued by The
State in regard the construction Of railroads, differ
encss of opinion exist
On the one hand it is commended that these great
pucs of travel and communication which affect so init
ra;rly the convenience and welfare OF all people,
should be constructed and managed exclusively by pub
lie agents acting under public authority and The success
of those governments which have pursued tina. policy,
not only apenng The cost Ut transport but in avoid
ing the mischiefs Of monopoly has been adduced
why the State should possess and all times regu
late this important branch of our internal improvements
On the other hand il has been urged that the employ
men OF the great number of required 10 concuc
the manifold details of these crowded channels o trans
portaon, would throw into the hands Of tie State, an
undue amount Of power and patronage and 1t Is alleged
that this danger will be avoided, and the public convent
in other respects promoted by snrsng theif ina
nsgement to companies Of ndv duly incorporated
It IS also conended and especially by those "ho are
hsbualy sSeplcal TO The success OF our puoc wotks
that the value Of railroads has not yet been suhcieny
tested and that they will eventually fail TO yield results
sufficiently profitable to render il desirable for lie Stale
to construct them at the public expense.
The State has declined, hitherto TO construct rail.
roads its account but has preferred TO commit
that duty to incorporated companies; end has afforded
aid AT least in important instance, BY loan OF the
public credit taking security mortgage OF the work
If similar shall be pursued in respect TO all the
rail roads which may stand in need of public assistance
and the interest the stock 10 be thus loaned shall be
regularly met by the companies, the Treasury Will re
main wholly unaffected by such measures OF aid, and IN
fiscal point Of view, the State will experience neither
profit nor loss.
The Legislature has taken care, however, in the char
ters by which the railroad companies have been incor
poraied, The right ultimately 10 take those
works for public use, and the Stale may possibly eXrr
else this right at future period. The total cost Of
the leading lines will not fall short Of eighteen or twenty
millions OF dollars but the State will find no difficulty,
whenever it may fl 10 take these works. in making
such financial arrangements as the occasion may de.
Inard.
The sum which the Treasury will require for the Gu
mails now in progress will be:
l. For charging the Erie canal including
oamages,. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. Slo,UUU:UUU
2 For The Cenessee Valley and the Black
river canals, authorized 10 be construct
ed by laws passed in 1866 in addition
10 the amount Of $50 go 22, herenbe-
fore included part Of the Stale debt,
20, less than ..................... 100000