Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-02-01
REPORT
OfMe Committee Of Roads and Internal
Navigation on the subject Of
Ia.

hoi t'Sa''oh' W "nom was referred
so much of the Governors Message AS
relates to the subject of Internal Inn.
provemept. have had the same under
consideration, and beg leave to submit
the following report.
They have considered The subject in
variety OF aspects, and whilst thew are
duly sensible of the many inheren, diff.
culties which belong to it under any
circumstances, and OF the still greater
obstacles which sectional feeling ard
local interests present 10 the adoption OF
an expanded and statesmanlike system
OF improvement, they are nevertheless
encouraged by the manifestations of pub.
lie sentiment i'll favor of some such
scheme, TO hope that it will not be found
impracticable for wise and patriotic
legislature to devise plan which will
commend itself to the enlightened self
interest of every portion of the Common
wealth.
The subject has been considered by
your committee under three distinct
heads, viz:
LIST. In reference to the works which
ought to be constructed.
2nd. Upon what principles they
should be undertaken.
Bird. In reference to the fund from
which the cost should be defrayed.
The first branch of the subiec. is one
ofpeculiar difficulty, and it has received
at the hands of your committee the mos,
deliberate examination. They were a.
ware, that in Order to insure the success
OF any scheme worthy of the great State
Of Virginia, and calculated 10 deyelop
her almost boundless resources, it was
necessary to reconcile variety of ap-
parently conflicting interests, to max e
1t sufficiently extensive to command a
general support. and yet, at the same
time, TO avoid encumbering it with too
many local and secondary works. Your
committee have endeavored to attain this
object, by combining their recommends,
tons to works OF general and acknow-
lodged utility, and by having proper
regard 20 the equal distribution Of them
among the various sections of the State.
Most OF the works proposed may be re.
garded as man stems upon which lateral
and auxiliary Improvements can be
readily engTafted, and which are sua-
cePtible OF such farther extension, at a
future day, as the wants and resources
of the State may justify. Wherever
your committee have departed from this
principle, it will be found that the ex-
eePtions are fully sanctioned by justice
and sound policy.
With this preliminary statement of
the general principles which have in
fiuenced your committee, they respect
fully recommend the construction of the
following works:
LIST. a railroad commencing at suita-
BILE point on the Tennessee line. and ex.
tending eastwaEdly TO Evansham in the
county OF Wythe. Thus far this road
will be common to all the routes upon
which it is proposed to construct rail-
roads connecting with other lines of inn
Provement--and your committee re-
commend that this part of the line be
made exclusively on State account
From Evansham, eastwardly, several
routes are con1emplated--one uniting
with the James river improvement at a
suitable point. and the other extending
20 Danviiie on the Roanoke. Both
these routes possess many advantages,
and pass through wealthy districts OF
country. Your committee think that
both lines ought TO be constructed. For
this purpose they would recommend
that companies be incorporated, in pur-
suance of The provisions of the general
railroad law, with the exception that in
consideration Of the deep interest which
the State has in their completion, she
ought to become a subscriber for three
ttths OF the whole amount of the cap
ital stock ofboth companies.
1t these improvements are constructed
your committee are led from the ex-
perience OF other States, to believe, that
IN few years results will be accomplish
ed, which the most vivid Imagination
can scarcely conceive. Penetrating as
they will one OF the richest portions of
our State-passing directly through the
coal, iron, lead, gypsum and salt regions,
wh're all the necessaries of life are a.
bundant and Cheap-where every noun.
tain IS pregnant with mineral wealth.
every hill is clothed with spontaneous
Vefdure-and every valley supplies wa
ter power sufficient to propel the mos,
extensive machinery manufactures
oil every description must spring up rap.
idly, and yield their tribute 10 swell
the tide of prosperity which must flow
throughout our land. Nor will we be de-
pendent on the resources ofour own State
alone. h. H. ,rI