Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1838-09-24
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

Richmond Enquirer is about 10 take up this too
much and too-long neglected subiect--n relation 4
which II possesses the power to do much good b,
enlightenin. the public mind, and discussing /
OF those lreludices, the offspring CT pnsmony an,
ignorance, which have SO long clogged The wheels o
enterprise in the Old Dominion. and 10 the existence
OF which we may attribute her rapid dcclension ii
population, wealth aud power. We promise, on thi'
great aud vital question, to be its faithful, though
humble ally-equallng it in zeal at least, however
Ian 1t may oatstrlpus in ability. And fit can sue
coed IN arousiug the people of Virginia to just ap-
probation Of the manifold advantages which will iuev
tabiy result from bold though prudent,-an extern
si'e though weII-di.ested system OF improvement -;
system which will strike through the centre Of the
Stste, touching the Mississippi and the Ohio her
Western borders, and connecting with other line,
which reach onward to the Gull OF Mexico, while IL,
Eastern erninu, shall be laved by the waters of the
Atlantic 1t will have achieved for ITSELF rcnown lar
more envnbe and enduring than the fame of u
Party Leader, however brilliant, aud even though
the measures of that Party as wise aud saluIa-
~ as we believe those Of which the Enquirer
the indirect but not less real advocate will prove
pcrnlclous and destructive. But enough ofthls.
tact from an able and lucid Report made TO the
Legislature OF New lotk at is last session, which
cannot lll 10 produce conviction III the mind of eve
~ nun who will give 1t careful and dispassionate
perusal, that, IN no other wav, the resources of
a Commonwealth be SO certainly or SO speedily de
veloped its treasury enriched, its territory popua-
ted, and Us people reiiefed from tdratioa as by sys
ten oil luternal Improvements, which, in addition 10
furnishing It's own citizens with good and cheap
road To market, shall also draw within its bounda.
RES the trade ofohef sections. which seeks more
cncultous aud more expensive outlets. Indeed, we
may boldly assert, that in no other way these
benefcent results be produced. II we neglect or
refuse to improve natural advantages whist sur
rounding States governed by wiser counscls aud IN
hueneed by juster aud more prudent policy,
bark encrgetically in tins work, the inevitable conse-
quence viii be, that TO tie extent to which these
opposite systems of policy prevail will be the dis
parity, the wide and constantly increasing disparity
between their growth in all tie clemens which con.
situte the wealth Of States and the prosperity and
comfort olther citizens. This is no idle theory,
spun III The brain of speculative theorists It's sober
history; history written in works instead II words:
AMI Virgin and New ork are the examples which
we cite to demonstrate its accuracy, and to exem-
pity The lesson which II teaches to all who have eyes
to see, or cas TO hear, OF heatts to und rstaud.
There were etoahcts aud prophets of evil in New
York IN 1877, as well as in Virginia now, who hest
taed TO encounter the debt which WAS necessary TO
construct a canal from the Ocean to the Lakes-but
where are those ctoahcls aud prophets now They
are slcnccd b.. the splendid result, which the Report
published hs morning trumphanlly announces,
and TO which VIC earnestly invoke the attention Of
our readers. But aretold that virginia il NOT so
fIvoraby situated as New York. Granted: but
does that fact prove that she will not be amply ieim
bmsed for any debt, however seemingly great which
the CONSTRUCTION of central line Of communication
from the Atlantic to the Western waters may render
necessary Let this be demonstrated Ly any fair
estimate Of cost and receipts aud we, for one viii con
Ncnt to abaudon the policy for 1t were more fool
lsh aud absurd TO saddle the State with heavy debt
IN an elton TO deycope Which she does not
possess, or 10 draw within her limits trade which she
cannot reach, or reaching to which she offer
ds strong inducements as Others ggling for the
same pllze, than is, when these results are attain
able, 10 neglect the means by which only they can
be secured. We go farther: Fit cannot be demon
of these works i'll addition TO the indirect advantages
which will result from them, in the enhancement Of
the value ofour lands and in the redemption OF a
vast region OF the State Astounding in mineral and
agricultural wealth lom the curse of unproduc-
Observation-Disclosures even greater than those Inch
more direct and palpable,wc say if it cannot be
demonstrated that, in addition to these the direct
profit, of the SYSTEM REGARDED as mere money ma
king scheme, will more than repay the cost OF CON
struction; then rtnoneeH. How are to do thus
by fair estimates Of the amount Of tldsel aud trans
poratlon which will flow upon them, as they
constructed. These estimates have been made,
inpusned nor lave those who ma de them been ac-
cused of giving too wild aplay to the INA gn nation
Indeed, it is generally conceded that obey underrate
rather than oycrrate the value of the works view ed
ing by the uniform excess of the actual result in this
particular, beyond the sanguine and seemingly ex-
travagant estimates elsewhere, do not doubt that
they moderated. lfthis be So, how is il posi-
BILE to doubt that the tolls will pay tho of CON
structlon! Look again at the Report to which We
have before REFERRED and how calculation was
oulstrippedby the reality in New 1ork-bow the
friend. well the foes of that great work were as
founded by results which the most dreamy cnrhus-
asst had dared to predict. And although ne
have no great commercial city on the Atlantic, yet
we have the means in our hands of building IN one