Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-03-11
LYaerIuusG, MARCH 1890.
INTERNAL lMpRovEMENTs-Ho.
PeHas1rqnia Canals. &c.

Is possible, to that Of Perrsy ii'na' where II The
prospects have been less Liliant it is TO be a'tribu'
ted mainly TO the adoption, until within a recent
PERIOD Of the system OF blending State ami indi-
yiiua interests, in the vain and futile hope, HAT the
sseaoity Of The latter would lie an ample guarantee
for The safety OF boh-a system WIN has been so
wasteul and pernclous in Virginia as well as III
/ Pennsylvania. Under the operation Of this system,
millions squandeied upon local works OF but
little importance in themselves, and which have been
utterly profiless 10 the State and to the stockhol-
lefs But even after the change Of Ibis system, s.
diversified ale the interests of Penusy wanna, AMI 50
Jealous has each section been Of the others lest the
march OF improvement should not move with equal
pace in all alike, that instead Of concentrating their
energies and resources one or two leading works
before embaikag IN others OF MINOR importance
there has been period hen she was employed Ia
constructing few than fom six 10 ten lines OF in-
pioyement AT the same iime--somc OF them comra-
iatsey yalueess, and Others absolutely so, but the
hields OF each Of which 1t Necessary 10 concll-
taie in order the completion OF schemes Of
real utility Thus have the productive works oil that
State, Instead Of yielding revenue TO tic treasury,
been taxed 10 make the Deficiencies Of the unpro-
duetive and this Circumstance aloue is atlrbuta-
lie that tie exhibit Of its annual income from this
source bears small proportion TO the amount in-
vested. 1t is obvious, therefore, from this SLIGHT
| glance at the cause of the apparently embarrassed
condition of the Penusy lyana improvements that
no inlete dawn iron herill-disesed and prodi-
gally conducted system ought 10 operate uniavora-
bly, 10 N expansive, provided II be Wis y framed,
system Of internal improvement in this State. Ger
family it fair 10 luier, from the market vliue Of
hsr stock, en- mdSsc, III her unfinished as"cll as IN
her flushed works, What will be tie probable value o.
the stocks he'd by Virginia, when The works TO Which
they belong shIl have been completed. Tie only
just principle If COMPARISON to ascertain the value
Of such Of the P,nns, lyanla stocks ale held IN
/ lines already completed aud 1t is to be regretted
that the Of doing This are not aitalnabIe as
there can be good reason to apprehend that the
result, in relation to those works, the profits Of
which cannot be sseerIancd, would not be equal
" rs favorable as tie three whc h follow, viz
l. The main line of canal and railway from
Philadelphia 10 Pntsburg which cost l2,35e,0oo.
yieded in 1896, (the latest return within our ieach)
per cent. on It's cost, besides deGayng all expenses
for repairs, supervision, &c.
.. The Sehuylk,ll navigation oompany's works,
lOS nlllCS III ehSlh, lIouuCeu los III lCo', kuP 10
the 3Ojh of November of that Year, amounting TO
Soto al 50-equyaentto 10 per cent. on S5,G9l,-
4l5, though The improvement, ct is beleyed) did
not cost more than So coo, O0o-Gcaty 20 per cent.
ON the
8 In the report Of the Pennsylvania canal com
mlssioncrs ior the year eudng October LIST, 1883 II
is stated that the nett income on The Columbia and
Philadelphia road, was $29782 81, being abou
@ per cent. on the original cost, which, IN conse-
quence OF the rugged country through which it pas
SIS, requiring an inclined plane, upwards oil
$4,000 per mile.
But. in aseertainng the actual result OF the inter
nal Improvement policy in Pennsylvania, and the eff
tects wnehlt has produced upon public sentiment,
should not have regard exclusively, chieI-
~ 10 the financial Prof Of an unfinished system, but
take into consideration also the spirit NANTES ed by
her official agents, recently elected and rejecting
popular opinion, under the operation of seemingly
unpioduetlsc and oppressive policy. Fof this rur-
pose the reports Of her canal commissioners the
messages OF her governors, and the action oil her le-
gisative bodcs have all been consulted; and, ,cih
roice they urge ontcard co'nse II their sys.
tenn really ruluoGs ii IS represented TO be by
the opponents of internal Improvements in Of
her sister States who certainly are much less con-
vsisant with the facts and less qualified to Judge of
5 then bearings, would seem be the pant Of pru-
dence and wisdom TO cut suddenly shoft. and to
provide for tic speedy liquidation Of the debt alrea-
, dy contracted, instead OF hccdlessy augmenting its
, amount, with the certainty that they preparing
the way fof the total bankruptcy Of the treasury,
and the most grinding exaclions, for long series OF
years, from the people. But, so far from medating
a retreat from dangerous position, they manifest
determination to pcseYere uniatein-ly in the same
policy, and seem not less confident now than at any
preceding period, that they will certainly realize
from it certain and solid advantages. 1t may be as
sumcd, with tho utmost confidence, indeed, that
could TIE legislature OF Pennsylvania, by the same
edict, extingush her pbblic debt and oblierate all
tn, proud monuments of her skill and enterprise,
she would unhesatlngly spurn the suggestion. Nay,
were that debt thrice multiplied, she would still
pause, before she would pronounce the sentence,
dy which her valleys should be condemned to then
rrmeva wilderness, and her nch minerals be again
locked up IN the bosom Of her mountain soudcs.
Ter State Treasurer, in his annual report Of 1897,
says, the public improvements by canals and rsIl-
roads bill fair, by the gradual increase of TOLLS 10 gre
reasonable return tor he amount inrcsted; and, al.
though the deb, appears to be large, yet when VIC
take into consideration the vast increase those i'm
rrovements have given the resources Of the State
the OF tolls received nnuar, and the gene