Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-02-01

dertsken, your committee have ALREADY in.
d'csIed The opinion that many of the improve.
menls should be prosecuted exclusiyel, on
State account. They ure aware. tbs, this
recommendation is in conflict with wba, is
generally regarded as The settled system of
Virginia, and they also believe, tina, i, is G.
qually opposed To the deeply seated premdi
ces OF large portion o! the community. Blu,
your committee, confidirg in the correctness
OF their views, have no fear as 10 the result.
They believe, that in State like Virginia.
whose Typographical features are SO d,versi,
ned, there is no general principle which can
be inheXibiy adhered 10, without working
injustice, and ii is therefore the mart of wis,
dom TO modify and combine different princi
pies, according To the circum stances of mar.
ucuar cases IL on the one hand, YOU odop,
the State principle, you are often led into
partial and improvident expenditures of the
public treasure, and you lose all the advanta-
yes resulting from the vigilance of private
interest. III, on the other hand, YOU confine
your operations 20 the three fifth principle,
you lose the energy of concentrated uction
and you cnnhne your improve ments entirely
TO the wealthy sections of the State, where
the accumulation of capital renders il easy
TO procure the individual subscriptions. Ii
opinion, they would, as general rule, re.
commend the State principle in the construc.
lion oil all works OF magnitude and ack nowl.
edged utility, and the ihree-ffth principle in
works OF local character. But there are
many cases which would require that these
general rules should be modified in their an.
plication.
As the first and most triumphant evidence
of the relative advantage of the State princi-
pie over the joint stock or three. fifth prnci.
pie, IN relation TO works OF primary impor-
lance. your committee would respectfully re.
Ter the Legislature TO the systems of improve
ment in New York, Pennsylvania and Obi.
o, which have been made, almost entirely.
on State account, and contrast their present
prosperous condition with the crippled, in
eihcient and unprUduclive ystem of Virgin
Id. We there see the public works prosecu.
ted with energy and economy, and yielding
pruhls which are sufficient not only 10 keen
down the interest on the cost reconstruction.
hut promising in few years 10 reimburse
The principle, and ultimately to relieve the
people ol those States from The burtben of
taxation.
In addition 20 the reasons already urged
against the three-ffth system, as an invaria.
ole rule OF appropriation, your committee
would mention ITS tendency To minister 10 the
cupidity oil the wealthy sections of the State
at The expense Of those which are less favor
ed, end the strong temptation which il holds
out 10 rival interests 10 embark in works
which are prosecuted, not with a view TO
the accommodation of the public, nor in
reference 10 the direct profits to be derived
IN the form of dividends upon The stock, but
Tor the purpose OF breaking down a rival
commercial depot, by withdrawing from it
the trade which is the aIiment of its pros
perity. Experience has shewn, !hut when,
ever the th.ee>fifth principle is established,
| a right is virtually conferred upon every
part OF the Stale TO require subscription
OF two fifhs OF The stock of any contempla-
led improvement, whenever the condition
precedent Of an individual subseriptiun of
three fifihs is fulfilled In this way the
State is often made 10 contribute to several
Improvements in The same direction, when
one would have been entirely sufficient and
her own works are thus brought into direct
competition with each other, and by the mnl,
tipiicatIon OF officers, agents, &c, on the va.
ilaus lines, ell Tue proceeds are absorbed in
the management OF the works, and no .even-
ue 10 received from them into the Treasury.
In The mean time, other sections Of The State
which are destitute of the capital necessary
Tor subscription of two tiuhs are entirely
neglected. Under the State system this
could never occur; for The Legislature would
never authorize the construction Of "a work
the object or effect of which would he 10 de-
s'rOy another previously made, and due
regard would always be paid to the wants
and interests OF every part of The State.
For these and other reasons which il is
81. 4
that justice and sound policy alike require
departure IN many instances from the princi>
pie on which most of the Virginia works
have heretofore been undertaken
The following statement Will exhibit The
estimated cost Of the various improvements
| which have been recommended by your
committee:
Railroad from Tennessee line to
Evansham, $1,000 900
Parkersburg and Stanton road, 1000
Stanton and James river turnpike, 200 900
Valley turnpike, 500 900
Northwestern Improvements, 100000
Improvement Of James river below
Richmond, 100, 900
$4,000
Add 10 this sum three fiflhs of
the sum necessary toextend
the railroad to DanviIle-
whole capital, S2,500,OO0, 10000
Amount Of State subscription
| to road from Evansbam 10
| James river-whole capital,
92,000,00 1900 900
! -, zoo, 900
Aggregate amount 10 be raised by --
the State, S5,1lp 600
For The purpose Of Constructing The above
/ mentioned works, your committee would
| ru,pub that tba ~ ID. L..