Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-02-15
SPECTATOR.
-STAUMTON-
THURSDAY, FEB. 10, 1888.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.


@The following article, from the
Baltimore American, on a question
which now engages the attention o.
the people of Virginia, will be read
with interest:
eve have already adverted TO the ad.
vantages attendant on State action where
works Of internal improvement are to
be prosecuted. 1t was then stated in
amount, that in our opinion stock
companies were two limited and par
tial in their operations, and too circum>
scribed in point of means, TO carry out
the policy TO its fullest and most profita.
BILE extent. For the purpose of sustain
ing our views we cited the examples of
New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and
other States. in which internal improve,
ments form part Of the State policy.
and endeavored to prove by the success
which has accompanied their efforts, that
the system should legitimately come I'm.
der government charge. The Report
of the Board of Public Works in Ohio
has arrived very OPPORTUNITY, giving a
full statement of the condition of the ca.
nails, rail roads, &c. of that Common.
wealth, and showing an increase ofprofit
during the year 1887, Of about 40 per
cent over that OF the preceding wear.
1t will be borne in mind that, during
the time named, the country at large
has labored under the severest pecuniary
difficulties, and that the works in ques.
ton are incomplete, and consequently
are net so profitable as they will be
when finished Notwithstanding all
which the interest derived to the State
has been over four per cert. We may
be told that four per cent is but small
return upon capital which might be more
protitsbly employed on other objects,
and were such returns made 10 private
stock companies there would be some
proPriety in the objection. When how>
ever 1t is considered that the improve
,nents are the property of the State, and
that Independently of this nonied re.
turn we must take into view the in :.
creased value Of property, it will be
conceded that the capital could not
have been so benefcially laid out any
other way. If under all the existing
difficulties the public works of Ohio
have returned in their unfinished condi-
ton over four per cent. it certainly is
fair to suppose that, when the compu.
nications shall have been cempl.ted and
the structures shall have acquired the
stability which time will bestow, the
nett profit can not fall short of six per
cent. Admitting then that when fin
ished the improvements of Ohio will
give six per cent we shall find that State
III possession of the greatest facilities of
INSTRUMENTATION, for which she will
have paid in fact nothing. Nor does
the advantage stop here. Every acre
OF ground in the vicinity of which these
improvements may pass has been ;reb-
led or quadrupled in value every bush
ell @! grain will have increased in worth
by the difference between the expense
oil ordinary transportation and carriage
by canal or rail road, and a vast amount
of mineral and other wealth, which
would otherwise have remained utterly
valueleSs, will have been brought into
active use. Here then we find State
made manifold richer without a dollars
outlay eventually. Had the improve
ments of Ohio been left to individual
enterprise, what would in all proba.
billty have been the result. Such Dor
tons alone would have been underta.
ken as might have promised large profits
whilst others of greater public jmpor-
lance would have been neglected; and
instead Of large commonwe cath. inter.
Sected in every direction by channels Of
transportation, we should have seen A
canal here and rail read there ofa few
miles IN extent, just as might have suit
ed the convenience of particular dis
tric;s or interested individuals.
Were VIC SO disposed we MIGHT On
still further, and chow that the same i'm.
provementswhich are here limited TO a re-.
venueofsix per cent,wilI in all probability
yield double that sum, g. that Ohio instead
OF being obliged to tax her citizens for
Tor the support Of her government, will
receive in the form Of tolls, large Dor
ton Of which are paid by citizens Of
other States, more than enough to de-
Tray her currentexpenseS
1t is not our intention to interfere
with existing charters in our own State,
where such matters have heretofore
been abandoned almost entirely TO the
care OF private enterprise, but we do not
hesitate to assert that the true policy OF
Maryland is TO make her internal i'm
Pravements government concern. and
mat were this the case we shonld in a
! few years behold Der treasury fIled %