Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-02-28

INTERNAL IMPROvEMENT.-No. ..

small portion OF these stocks will probably be wholly
unproductiye, and that few others will yield less
than per cent, il is confidently believed, nom The
best sources of information 10 which access can be
had that the most extensive and important line OF
improvement in winch the commonwealth IS inter
ested will, completed, pay into the rca-
sury sum adequate TO meet the interest oil The a.
mount invested, and ultimately to redeem the princi-
pal That portion Of the James River and kanawha
Improvement, between Richmond and Lynchburg,
which is expected 10 be opened for navigation in the
autumn of the present, year, will Immediately pay
partial dividend to the state and to the stockholders
though, with the present amount OF tonnage. aone
equal to per upon the expenditure but
cannot be reasonably supposed that the increased
facilities Of transportation will not III once lead to an
augmented tonnage, which will thereafter steadily in
crease. Such a supposilion would be at war with
the history of all similar works; and, unless 1t can
be shown that in reference this canal, there exist
peculiar circumstances, VIII lch Place 1t beyond the
range Of comparison with like lines Of improvement
elsewhere, the assumption will be promptly and just
~ dlscreded. Nor can 1t be reasonably doubted,
that this line peneiracs still farther INTO the into
rior, il will continue to invite such accessons ofrade
from the country within its reach, and which is
wholly or partially excluded from market by the
heavy charges Transportation, maintain the
ratio between the expenditure and the revenue.
When is rccollected, too, that the rail road by
winch it is proposed to the canal with the
western waters, will occupy route, which is even
great thorough-iale, III all seasons of the year
thronged with travellers. and that it will pass
the mineral springs Of Virginia, the growing celebrity
of which is yearly attracting larger and larger crowds
of visitors, which will be indefinitely increased
the facilities Of access them enlai ged, it is
tanly sober calculation which anticipates from its
receipts fund, fully adequate, like that OF the
line with which 1t will be connected, to pay the in-
terest on the sum necessary for its constructions and,
within reasonable period, to liquida;e the principal
] also.
1t would be supercrogatoty to reiterate here whai
has already been often enforced upon public at
tenon, that over the isal lines Of mprov tend
ing the point in the ich vallles OF the west,
the James River ard kanawha line possesses decided
advantages particularly in this, that it is less cir
cuitous and shorter route to market and that II is
situated in a warmer latitude. ensurng the transmits
sion OF articles rapidly, and for less price than
upon other routes, and unobsnucted passage
winter These two prominent points OF superiority
OF our over rival lines, alone, should satisfy the
most noreduous in relation to the ultimate value OF
its stock, which il is perfectly safe TO assume will be
permanently at par, when the work shn be completed,
and the long cherished hope of many of Nirgiua's
most iIlustrous sons. who not permitted
to see its consummaon, shall be realized by the
connection Of the eastern and the western waters.
The only works in which the commonwealth holds
stocks that will probably be eventually either
wholly partially unpfoductve, local in their
character, and comparatively nnimportant in refer
ence 10 the sums appropriated each, though tie
aggregate amount is large such originated
and have grown upwth the so-called Joint stock sys-
tenn, which, instead of throwing around the invest
ments Of the commonwealth those guarantees against
unwse expenditure and ultimate loss, which was as
sumed by It's projectors to be the necessary conse
qucnce OF making them dependent upon the wiling
ness OF individuals to incur similar risks, ther saga
city being deemed snflicient protection of their
own interests) has involved both them and the
in projects, some of them oliltle value, and ohe,s
wholly visionary, and encountered both with debt
which mustbe paid by other means than by the re-
venue TO be derived from these works themselves
For the correctness oflhs statement, we appeal 10
tic reports, annually submitted to the legislature Of
+ Virginia, by the board OF public works. in which the
instructive fac is disclosed, that Of the millions of
dollars appropriated, year after year under tins in
efficient and deceptive system, much the larger por-
ton has been expended upon works, which, while
they have yielded return to the exchcquei of the
state, have been, in instances bnrlhensome ra-
ther than beneficial to the neighborhoods, the con-
venience of which they designed to promote
/ lfthese squandered millions, nstead Of being thus
scattered, IN small sums, throughout tue state, had
been concentrated upon great lines of Improvement
If al the commencement of this deceptive and mis-
chevous system, by which the energies of the com
monw ealth have been paralyzed and her resources
FILTERED away.--lhe whole amount thus worse than
line from Richmond TO the Ohio, or from James
River to the Tennessee line, what different aspect
woudnow be presented, in the prosperity of the
vast regions of country which il would have penetra-
ted,as well as in the condition Of our treasury which
instead otbeing exhausted, would have possessed
abundant means 10 have extended the benefits ofim-
pfovement to other regions ofthe state without rigid
calculation OF their ability reimburse the interest
OF the appropriations from the public treasury.
tlRE.-A fire broke out about o clock on Mon |
day morning. in an old Kitchen on the lot of Mr. |
Jehu w lllams, This place. and belo,e tho N,,,s