, 1841-01-30

have had under consideration that PARTON
of tbs Governors Message which relate,
TO the subject Of Internal Improvement
and have requested ne 10 make the follow.
ing
REPORT:
Your committee deem in inexpedient and
impolitic for the State of Missouri TO embark
IN general system of Internal Improve.
inents 1T this time.
At the last session of the Legislature, an
act establishing 4 general system of Internal
improvements, was passed; Ly which a
board of Internal Improvements, was estab.
lished. with power 10 appoint an Engineer
10 survey the Usage riveI. Grand river, Salt
river, and Merimack river, and a Route for
Il railway from ST. Louis 10 the Iron Noun
tain.
Neither the Engineer. nor the board of
Internal Improvements have made Il report
10 this House: but the Information which
your committee obtains from that part of the
Governors message, referring Ia tie report
made 10 him. shows the estimated amounts
which will be required for the several sur
veys authorised 10 he made under the above
recited acts. ltmav be well TO ramark here.
that estimates OF this character, seldom ever
fail TO fall greatly below the actual cost OF an
Improvement.
The Usage river. if properly improved.
would afford 4 more general ADVANTAGE 10
the State. than either of the other objects
surveyed; but it is estimated that 10 make it
navigable 4 distance of two hundred and
thirty miles, for steam boats of one hundrcL
tons burden, would cost the sum oitwo hun
dred thousand dollars. This sum is not ex-
t%ravagantly large. compared with the value
al the improvements: but il IS much lar-er
than the state ought 10 appropriate now.
considering the condition Of our Treasury.
North Grand river is the object next in
consideration. and lis importance claims the
attention OF your committee. This stream
may be improved a distance ofSixiy miles.
tor, seemingly a small sum. as estimated By
the surveyor. We are advised that the sum
of twenty thousand dollars. would be ade-
quate 10 effect this improvement, and that
the additional facilities afforded bv the i'm
prove. nent would. in no great while. re-
munerate the people. for the cxnpns"s incur-
red; hat the condition of OFT finances. for
lids the idea Of any appropriation II this
time.
Salt river is the next object. Tire cost of
improving tbs. would. in al probability. hc
much greater than the advantages 70 lie de-
rived from tie warh. The estimated cost.
10 make it na"iCabie bv locks and dams
the only mode in which it can be improv-
Cd for vessels Of any size. four hundred
thousand dollars.
The Me!!mac river wou,d required SIM
TOO large. even TO entertain 4 hoTc Of an
appropriation for lis improvement. IN fIct.
1t is doubtful whether il can ever be ~ias2.o:-
ej.
The survey for i rail road from 81. Louis
&c the iron Mountain has received the con-
slderatlon of your committee. The cost q!
this road would be so immense. th1lnO one.
IN The opinion Of your committee, can seri-
ouslv entertain. or hold the idea. that iie
State of Missouri. ought. 1T this time. under
any circumstances, TO embark with Il cnmpa-
ny or corporation, in 50 wild and so cxtrava-
CANT an enterprise. To make Ills road.
would require an amount which would in
crease taxation to an extent too burthen-
some for the people t. bear. Oar best adj
vice seems TO be, that it would reGrIre three
millions of dollars. or abnu: hat sum.
The spirit for Internal Improvements. has
FOR the last ten or twelve wears. assimilated
mora the character ola Wild and dangerous
mania, than that Of discreet and cn!:r,.tcncd
legislation. While this system is. on the
enc hand. entitled 10 the steady support ana
fostering care Of the Legislature, when war
rantcd by the population. commerce and
wealth Of a country. it should on the other
hand. under different and opposite circum<fan-
ces, be studious'y avoided IS 4 fundan"nfa!
error, carrying in is train the most disas,
trouS consequences.
For the truth Of this position, it is but
necessary 10 recur to the history Of some of
our sister states fora few wears past. Let
as then consult their history. anh gather Wis
do:a from tleir experience. The States of
Illinois. Indiana and Kentucky. but Il few
years since, embarked in this system, with
d degree Of enthusiasm which would have in :
sured success for any undertaking not radi- :
ca!!y wrong. State scrip was issued 10 :
amounts, and agents dispatched 10
markets. to dispose of the same to
the highest bidder. The experiment was
made under circumstances as favorable as
i