Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-02-14
EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE


EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE.
RICHMOND, Feb. 9, 1899.
The Leg stature has &C ted deniriveIy upon no sub
ject OF ecner al Importance for several days past II
is not however, always most busiIy or most advanta-
geously engaged, when the reports Of the proceed
ings spread over the widest surface.
The bill making additional subscription to she
James River and kanawha Company, and autllori
zing il 10 procurca loan, on its own credit the ul,i
maze payment of which to be guaranteed by the Com
monweah, is made the Order of the Day for Tues
d.; next, when, presume, the ball of debate will be
in motion, with an occasional tersc and pointed
argument, we shall have weak washy, cverlast-
ing flood" OF figures and fustan. There seems to be
doubt entertained that the prayer the Company
will be accedsd to, though the opposition is now |
think, much stronger and more active than it was al
the commencement Of the session. Some gentlemen,
understand who have been heretofore opposed to an
extensive system Of improvement, will vote for the
bill, not because their views of that policy have
changed, blu, because they argue that the State is so
deeply committed, and has 50 large a sum involved in
this particular scheme, that il would be more mpol-
itic TO stop than TO go on.
The fate Of the Southwestern Rail Road bill
though, in my humble Judgment, it is far more i'm
portant, and will prove to be infinitely mere prof.
table scheme, than the kanaw ba Improvement, is
more doubtful. The printed Report Of the Board
of Public Works was handed to the members yes
terday, embracing among other documents, the An
nua Report of Mr.. Crozet, the Principal Engineer.
whose opinion IN relation to the ultimate value OF this
Road, even regarded as a mere question Of finance,
leaving out ofyiew entirely all the incidental and col
lateral benefits growing out OF an improvement pene
tratng region Of county, possessing resources
boundIess as they varied and which has hereto
fore been as completely locked out from market as
though it walled in BY lmpenctrable mountains,
is calculated TO exert favorable influence upon the
judgments ofmembers heretofore undecided as TO
their course and whose ndet son may have been the
result of a wise caution, lest, in voting for this
scheme, they should saddle the State with debt
which would entail an oppressive tax upon unborn
generations.-Mr. Cioze after adver'ins 10 his excur
sion. last summer to the North and South, for the
purpose of visiting some of the principal improve
mcnls, says:
Every where the utmost activity is displayed TO
deveope the and extend the influence OF the
respective States uavcrsed by The numerous works in
progress. 1t WINS more particularly in the Southern
States that | was struck with extent OF enerprze
of which the accounts that had reachedm had given
me but imperfect idea. Numerous lines Of Rail
Roads will in few years lntcrsec' The Southern
States in every direction and increase simultaneous
~ their resources and enterprise. Six main impor
portant lines from Charleston Augusta, Savannah,
Pensacola and Mobile, by Montgomery, (Alabama)
New Orleans and Cincinnati, converge towards
Knoxville, and these will become tributaries of the
single and unrvalled stem which Virginia extend
towards that town. The travelling and business tina,
may be expected on this stem is incalculable. 4
melt Of 90 per cent is the rery lopet estimate
can make jor This line. Accustomed as we have un.
fortunately been heretofore to Improbable improve
ments. many will perhaps be scep,icaI, and deem G.
this anticipation exaggerated but time Will
prove it to be extremely moderate glance at the
map will show that this lire will secure, besides an
active Interchange of commodities, nearly all tho
land travelling from Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mis-
sssipi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee
while the Kanawla route will exercise its influence
on the central States kentucky, Ohio, &C. These
two lines, uniting in the heart Of Virginia and con
neced by her numerous branches to her principal
towns will undoubtedly raise her to degree OF COM
mercia importance that belongs naturally to hercen-
trial position. Let these great avenues be opened
and capital the offspring of business, will soon find
its way and accumulate in her seapo'is, build up her
towns and infuse new life the whole oil her ter
ritory, Then wc shall see The fund for internal i'm
provement in prosperous and healthfnl condition.
relieved Of its charges aud amply adequate by its re-
venue alone to the further prosecution OF all The Sc
condary improvements without either loans or taxa
ton"
! am well aware that the idea OF appropriatng ten
millions of dollars to the purpose of internal improve
ment is well calculated to alarm those who have not
Thoroughly examined the subject, and who, looking
alone a, the past experience of Virginia and natural
" enough nerrug what uiu be from what has been
see in the perspective for them aud for their chi
,lren, the appalling vision Of ax-co''ecors' DRAINING
their purses of the fruits Of their honest industry
believed that this vision would ever be converted
into reality--nay, i'll were not as Thoroughly CO.."
WINGED, as am of my identity that. so Tar iro"
being realized il will be. dreams are sa'd 10 be en-
,ireIy and certainly reversed-l should set my 'ae
-. a,c, ,r,;ne, ali snch hr mes and Win all I'll