Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-02-02

0 the last but for al rime which. "Iih the
ans mdncn's, embraced appropriations for works
amounting 10 million Of t"srs ard Involving an
Ultimate expenditure Of probably Ave millions more.
In 1850, tbs subject investigated by the Commit
tee OF Ways and Means, and report submitted by one
Of s membes, Mr.. Saith Of Name on the 10Th of
February That report states that there was even at
that ume "a real necessity for hesitation If not of actual
REFORM in the further prrsf cuUn Of pubic works upon
The same system which had Of late Ears chained un-
der The Government; that they made subsfrvrnt
q" the purposes Of the dvidua wealth end profit of
the agents and contractors Immediately Concerned -
that the appropriations for year. for each sue
ceedrG year, IN mGEy exceeded the whole of the
original siimat" thai many ot the works huIt
agaIn. aEd that others before they COM
pried On the 3!s Of January ls37 the same gentle.
made another port from the Committee OF Wavs
and Means referring 10 the former as expIsna Of
the unpnductvs, yei growing expenditures OF The Go.
verDmert upon aFsoTs aud rivers and pressre
rious doubts Of he policy OF following this branch of
the public unless certain and eff
Gent aud economical system for conducting it could be
devised The opinion of the committee had no, been
changed by "ihe experience OF another year.; and The
reports adds, lhot, w!h"ut some curament by Com
OF the class Of works already projected recipients
of its bounty, and without decisive limitation Of
appropriations 10 works that may justly be denomnated
of the first magnitude and OF mpcrlous necessity too,
it requires spirit Of prophecy to predict that the ope.
rat ons Of the civil engineer department will, in very
few years rival in expenditures and numerical strength
of agents aud operatives the military and naval service
OF the Government, and constitute more alarming
branch Of public patronage Than is 10 be found esewh here
in the Government From the prcular nature Of their
expenditures, upilOn, tayOrsm and peCulaIlon may
/ b. rrGucsd 10 stem successfully them than
in almost any other branch OF the civil administration
II such the opinion Of the Committee OF Ways
and Means in 1897, il certainly cannot be changed by
examining into the present condition OF these improve
mens.
After an experiment Of thirteen years on the l03
works for which appropriations have been made, the
"i;uwng is the result:
Never commenced
Abandoned
Suspended
May perhaps be completed with existing opPrcpria
tons ID
Completed 20
Not completed bl
Total l03
Some Of the works nave been bull, over twice, and
the twenty completed cost but SiO9l7e 25 leaving all
the expensive works yet To be finished and al expense
which cannot even br Estimated.
Suc! is the result If us Federal system Of improv.
ing our harhurs rivers and creeks and building piers for
our CITIES, towns and villages; and such the prospect
before Us The Time has ceIaIny arrived when ii be-
comes necessary 10 inquire whether all these expendi'
lures belong Federal legISa,ion; and to examine
which # made permanent, entirely change
the character Of our Government.
The utility Of such Improvements. generally, is not
denied, and is not the question The true inquiry is,
under VIA, authority aud at whose expense they should
bp constructed: II 1t is desirable 10 make lTdclous
election of fuhic works; economy IN expen.
Gure; do justice 10 those who contribute TO their
consliuclon and 10 ensure their completion in some
reasonable time we should certainly conine Fede.
raj State, county and municipal authorities within their
appropriate spheres of action " have conided 10 the
Federal Government the high duty Of experimenting
the OF works for National defence. BY
inle r ring with State county city and village improve
mems only sgircs It's common obligation the
fLeracy, but msmanagfs ana reatts the prGsecu-
of their works As we lave seen, 1t .Xtruvoganty
wastes the public money, IN many instances, on works
! ,hagv
character strictly local; and IN almost every case the
work would have been constructed with more economy
and despatch under the superIneuGence OF State
ard local authorities unCer the still vgIlaut d.
/ rCc'iGn OF private enterprise.
| These approximations lave been, and must continue
be, very unequal among The States. The Unrnn has
common interest in but tew OF them II may have in
those running through or in the neIghbohood Of our
rublic lands which add value 10 the property.
But certainly unjust 10 apply the money collected
in States 10 local Improvements IN distant
quarter Of the Unnn simply because they appersn 10
The CONNIE o the country. ii every Improvement
Of ha burs rivers and creeks and the building Of piers,
is TO be considered national in lis character and benefits,
nppendsge Ia commerce. il is difficult 10 define
any hnt watc yer to the jurisdiction OF The Federal
! Government, or 10 say In what purpose the common
fund Of the Union may not be applied The distribution
made during The last thirteen years among the States,
proves, incunlcsia5!y the H. Justice OF these expend
rur.s Tie whole amount appropriated and invested is
~ 800 Geo dollars. al which 5,l9OUUO dollars has en-
granted a district of country hundred and
imy miles from the Capitol Wllhou, inqurng into The
Importance of the works pl,ron2ed by the Fecera Co.
vernmtnt sufficient Ia remark that most OF The STATES
have been at the same Time, employing their own money
aud credit Improvements Infinitely more useful and
profitable ard better calculated TO extend the
ri the Union. Some q" the States have not participated
all these Federal appropriations while four States
ONLY may he charged with COO dollars out OF the
II 800 600 dollars aud some OF the expensive works
remain 10 be completed ~ these States II IT intend
make this systc IN permanent, justice requires that
ms bp
This system permanent, must olso very prove
seriously detrimental 10 our naval and military esab.
lIshuenls, and defeat The main object OF Cone6era
ton. Such improvements, though generally merely To-
cal, supported in both fl"uses by a combination of
votes which their preference. over all other ex
penditures however important the latter m.y be 10 the
defence Of the country. With an experience oil o"iy
| 10 years we have already draft of near Two millions
annually upon the Treasury for such improvements
Should continue TO increase them appropriations for
national defence will become OF secondary importance,
and hi be reduced increase the expenditures for
districts Neither the condition of our
finances nor The of The world warrants ap
pylng he public money 10 objects not connected with
onr cannon defence The countries neighbor-
hood have been disturbed but without anticipating any
change in our pacific relations with iur nations, We
have other motives for dIvertiDg the common fund,
provided for our national defence, into new chaunels-
| The tor fcations have finished are unarmed, and
the recent improvements In steam batteries Iehoer IL
certain that very important revolution Is ABOUT 10 DC
effected not only in habor and coast defence, but in
the whole system of maritime war Oiher nations have
already suppred themselves with sleam-haeries, and
shall negIec, one of highest duties IT we DO not en-
poy our frs, surplus money on similar OBJECTS While
| uch 10 our condition on maritime border, vast
Western frontiers wholly unprotected The condition
f the States on this side OF the Mississippi required the
,pmova of the Indians beyond that Jyrr and the tribes
| will Coon he all in the same region Of country Ac.
,doq 10 estimates Of the Indian bureau the last
session the number who had and were soon TO be
moved from the east 10 the west Of the Mississippi in
GLIDING those previously there, 3324!ls, of whom
&c 400 estimated 10 be warriors. Most Of hese be-
long distant tribes, but it is supposed that large body
nigh, Unite and make our frontier settlements
| We are certainly bound by The highest obligations 10
project the States our borders from an enemy whom
have been compelled to place their neighborhOnd
| ~ ~ q aty We