Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-02-22

reward and the value of the lands along the road has
been augmented TO three four times The amount o. iS
cost.
Sir let me refer the House 10 the effect which this and
other roads have produced the value OF your water
ing places | we'll remember, MIR. Speaker, ina, SUM
twelve years ago, visitor al the While sulphur
in the middle oil August, and The NUMBER Oh
not exceed seventy five. During the past summer
was again visitor at the same place, ana wha wo''
derfu cllunge had taken place! Instead OF seVtny ni
there were seven hundred and fifty VISITORS aho
uscerluined from the register OF me previous a'
there had been thousand nine hunoreo V's'sofs "u!
inc the season Sir, might enforce my ieas on this
subject by a reference 10 the other mineral springs ou.
il is unnecessary To what are we 10 a,'riou.e '''s V
increase in the number OF rstors ana he consequent
vaps of The property? is 1t not mainly altouluoIe l"
the increased facilities of access TO men, whch nave
been afforded by the construction OF beler roanS-
Sir Jet not gentlemen unoerVaue lhis i'a''I''
VIRGINIA. would have been paid iour'iold Tor Tue con-
a,nc,ion of this road if il yielded her dollar
in the firm of dividend 1t has added millions 10 the
value of her reu property, and has increased the guam
tly of every kind Of taxable property believe wouia
hazard little in saying chat the the licenses OF
taverns and stores which have been called into existence
nv the construction of this road would pay two per cent
on its cost, But it has done moreIn nus ope"eei INV,
VIRGINIA trade which is one day to be- source OF I'M
me6se wealth to her. Sir, gentlemen may laiH " Tue
tobacco trade and the -four trade and the couon tfaoe
of Virginia. but, Sir, am very much mistaken II Inc
day is far distant when the SULPHUR WATER Trade
to Weld as large balance in their favor as either ct
hon And Sir il is trade which must benefit every
nnr,; Of ,he State md dTuse its advantages through
all classes of society from the wealthy merchant OF Itch
,nopd 10 the humbest tenant of a mountain howell
But, sir let ne ask gentlemen if they are correct IN
coninrg their views Of the profits on works OF In
terna 10 the present time and the eSsng
condition of things: Let them remember that our S'a'e
is comparatively its infancy Its population Is sparse
and its productions are extremely limited. There are,
therefore, few people TO travel on our roads, ana lst!e
produce 10 be transported from lace place. But when
population shall have become more dehSe-wiien ihe
al h,... h.an n1l cd
talent of The country snail nave oeeH ca'eu
into uctun-wheu production shall Tv b' en- stimulated
to its utmost limits ii nnt easy 10 see that Inc raVel
and transportation must increase, and win thehI Tue
profits the roads?
But Sir passing on to the repnTt Of the Committee,
what are 10 be the effects of the works which they re.
commend on the trade your COAL ron LEAD, gypsum
and salt, Sir there heart in this assembly which
did not hrnb with emotion the other day. when we list
ened the glowing and eloquent Descriptions OF the
mineral resources Of Virginia which we received from
our Accomplished eeoogisl? Was there man who did
no, feel mprlied by solemn sense OF duty TO contribute
his aid to bring them into nse:
Sir. without entering int" any investigation OF the
extent or value Of these resources their present con-
dnn, and The effects which might anticipate from
their thorough drvelnpemen-all OF which are themes
worthy of the Statesman and the Patriot let me call Inc
attention OF the House to one single iact whieh presents
the necessity of Internal improvements in the strong
est possible point Of view. II is this-WbIisl we pos
sess nexhaustibe mines Of iron ORE aud endless sta
Ia of coal and boundlrss furesls Of TIMBER within 10
miles OF the City of Richmond, owing 10 the want OF ac-
cess them the manufacturers OF iron IN tins place are
compelled send Mary land and Pennsylvania for
large quantity Of the material which is nonuiactur
ed here and in many instances is sent back III It's new
form md sold at profit! What commentary does THIS
single fact present upon the apathy of Virginia on the
subject of Internal Improvement Let gentlemen also
remember, that, in the prosecution OF ]ndlcons sys
tenn Of Internal Improvement, every additional work
udds TO the value of those already constructed BY way
of illustration lei us suppose the of canal fifty
in hrh DIS 6vp DPr s
Let then imagine tis canal In be extended hy miles
further, and that the transportation upon 1t Will also
yield five per cents it not easy TO perceive that the
unnage Of the second section passes through The first
section, the profits oil The FIST will be doubled:-ond if
you make another extension Of fifty miles, the profits
will be 10 per cent the first secon III per cent on
The second, and per cent. on The thiId.
THIS is the nvaralle effect OF every luGIclous sys.
TEN nf Improvement as experience has demonstrated
aud hence the necessity Of having long aud continued
lines Of cnmu ton instead of short local works
which present inducements the public to use them
fur the purposes Of vel But gentle
nrn say these works for the benefit of The West, and
il is wrong that The East should be taxed to make them
Sir. there never 4 untuunded idea Than Ills
These improvements belong neither to the East nor the
West The benefits resulting from them, common
to both sections They facilitate The intercourse between
The divisions Of The Stale, and they enable both TO
profit by The exchange OF their surplus products or,
of he West send you our agil cultural productions
and our stock, and receive in exchange your manu-
fucures and your merchandise. Both parties are bene
fitted hr the exchange. and every thing which dninshes
the of transportation, must increase Inc nolIlty
Of both 10 purchase O! The productions OF The
othe Sir, you might as well contend that The artery
which supplies 1T the members oil The human frame
with The vital fluid intended for the benehL OF lhat
member alone that road canal penetrating into
particular region, operated exclusively Tor the advan'
tacc OF that particular sectional interest Sir the ana
lcgy would be perfect it you were to compare The ope'
ration Of extended system of Internal improvements
upon the body polite, tn the circulation oil tie oio"o
No nj Ir1Dr N
may with great proprely, be regarded as the absorbens
which take up The minues PARTICLES OF wealth, anu pour
them the secondary lines, whence they are again
passed by Of large! channels into lle great heart
of the commercial system, whence they are in new
shape and by reversed operation, thrown out again
into circulation, dHusing life and health, and activity,
through the whole social organization!
come now, Mr.. Speaker, to lhe consideration OF The
last and most important point involved IN this discus.
sion | aude To the question, how is the cost OF the
proposed works TO be deruyed' Here. Sir, is the sum
bling block with many All are prepared 10 admit the
necessity of Internal Improvements IN some shape, but
the difficulty is about paying Tor them Many gentle
men say relnnve this difficulty, and we will unite hear.
ills with You. stand here, MIR Speaker, prepared to
meet the objections Of gentlemen on this point and
whilst | clam the iulii!nent Of their promise if ! re.
their doubts, will surrender this scheme IT fail
do Sir, have prepared some tables on this sub
iect, which shall presently submit to the House, and
invite the most rigid scrutiny OF them II there Is any
inaccuracy in them. wish il detected and exposed
have no interest different from that Of The Stale large,
and nm therefore much concerned to avoid all error
on This subject, as any other All desire is that
my views shall be fairly and cundidly considered. They
may be erroneous but have not yet been able TO detect
the error
There are two aspects in which the question of finance
may be cousidered-lst upnn the supposilion OF direct
appropriation Of the principal Of The surplus revenue OF
the u 5. depnse with Virginia, TO the purposes
Of Inter nal Improvement and secondly upon the hypo.
thesis Of loan.
Upon the first supposition, the subject is easily adjust
ed Let the millions Of surplus revenue be appro-
pra,ed to The Of the works which to b.
made on State account and let the charters Of the Dan
willie and Junction, and the Lynchburg and Tennessee
Railroads. be modified, in accordance with the sugges