The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-12-31
Fro,n tAe sagannah Repu1Iiean.


INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS IN GEORGIA. The
first cost ofthe great Erie Canal and its branch
es, was in round numbers Sl2,57O,OOe. This
Canal is owned by the State of New York, and
managed bv Commissioners appointed for that
purpose. Its navigation is closed by ice at least
five months of the year, and yet so extensive is
the business transacted on it, that it is now be-
ing enlarged at an additional expense, estimated
| by their Engineers at S12 ZOO, 0O0-and the New
York correspondent of the National Intellge ncsr
writes; but few days since, that the business
of the Canal is increasing rapidly, that the pro-
pssed Enlargement estimated to cost twelve mil
! lions more is demanded immediately at whatev-
| er cost; and that lfit were now completed, the
amount of tolls, beside paying the interest on
the debt still due and the debt about to be in
CURED, would in a short space of time extin-
guish the principal. We remember to have
read the annual report of the Canal Commits
sions about year since, in which they state that
some of the DO Ids of the State bearing an inter
est of per cent were sold in 1922, and were
PAYABLE in London in lS45. The Commission
| ers having abundant funds on hand from the
receipts of the Canal, were anxious to anticipate
the payment of these bonds in 1898, but the
capitalists who made the loan, refused to take
the money and give up the bonds until they
should fall due. This is a striking commentary
on the system of making loans abroad for OBJ
iects of this nature, particularly when we can
pronounce with perfect Certainty that signal
success will follow close upon an outlay of this
| kind.
We regard the entire success of the State
Road as perfectly certaix That of the New
York Caaal was problematical-highly SO. The
Erie Canal cost, say $4,000, 000-and is closed
| five menths of the wear. The State Rail Road
which is as important to the interests of Geer-
gia as the Grand Canal is to New York, is to
cost by the late report of the Commissioners,
the very moderate sum of S3,000,OO0. What
gives the State Of Georgia an immense advan-
tage is thas private companies are constructing
more than twice much of this great line of in
accommodation as she is. This condition Of
things gives to the State an assurance of imme-
date Iincome from her expenditure which she
would not otherwise have
1t gives to the State the advantage OF internal
communication during every season of the year
from the Atlantic to the Tennessee liver, with
only am expenditure of $4,000, 900 on her part,
this sum being necessary to construct a road CO.
vering one hundred and thirty-five miles of the
whole distance, the chasm being filed up by
the Savannah and Macon, the Macon and For
syth, and Forsyth and De Kalb Rail Roads
We do not believe the immense advantage to the
State in this regard has been sufficiently thought
of or commented on. Certain il is that the State
does not seem to have rendered to these works
any acknowledgment of the vast assistance she
is to derive from them, for their repeated appli-
cations for aid have been disregarded.
Thanks however, to the energy and prudence
displayed in the management of the affairs of
these private companies, they can do without aid
from the State, and they are going straight for
ward, over hill and over valley and river, and
will clasp together with bands of iron, all the
vast interests of this State.
The effects of the New York Canal distanced
all calculation. New names were discovered
ard worked, new sources of industry were devel-
oped, villages and even cities sprang up where
but short time before was heard the woodlands
axe and the cry ofwild beasts.
The realization of its benefits has been more
like fancy than like sound, undisputable facts
1t was as though the times of the enchanters had
come again, when under the magic wand of some
potent sorcerer, the gloom of the silent recesses
of the woods, gives place to brightness and beau
ty, and the rocks and caverns and streams are
changed to palaces and gothic halls and muir
muring fountains. The effect in proportion to
our population and resources, will not be the
less surprising in our own State. Our railroads
when half constructed, begin to yield prodigious
profits. The small fractional parts are being
rapidly filed up, and in May, 1912, the whole
line of rail road from Savannah to Ross Land
ing, which fifteen miles beyond the Northwest
ern boundary of Georgia, will be in full opera
ton. We learn that the contracts Just offered
on the Hnnnisneu portion OF tne savannah ana
Macon rail road, i. between the Oconee and
Ocmulgee have been sought with the utmost a
vidity-that immense number of proposals
have been handed in. This looks well. We
only regret that the Directors of this road have
not resolved to complete the work by the first
of January, 1S42, instead of the first of May,
1912.
The well known maxim Hrestina lente, p is well
enough applied to human affairs generally-but
speed, rapidity of execution, on the safe basis
already established, and immediate fruition ought
to be now the watchwords. We publish again
paragraph in the Republican ofyesterday NOR
ming, which exhibils the rate of progress of the
line Of road beyond Macon. Its announce
ment which ought to be celebrated by the firing
of cannsn, which in times of more prosperity
than the present, would wake up the slumbeiing
energies ofevery section of this State like the
sound of trumpet. This declaration is for our
selves, for the interest of Savannah, and of that
great geographical centre OF our State, Macon.
1t is not for any of our affectionate sympathsing
cities-out of the State of Georgia. Heaven
forbid that we should plant longer and make
any more rail roads for their benefit.
A New LoAN.--The Secretary of the n
monwealth has issued notice, announcing that
in pursuance of an act of the Legislature, pro-