Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-01-16

iadapted itself TO this state OF facts; dispensing
with the serylc - of certain officers VINO had be
come useless and dismissIng, as far as practicable
the contractors for whom pay had been pr1'i
dcd Ia the present state OF enacimenfs
your committee conceive, that il requires nothing
bat an Improvement IN the stock markent 10 re-
new operations the public works on the old
plan of Simultaneous prosecution OF all the
works. By the laws now IN force, the original
appropriations remain on the different works, and
the Board Ut Internal Improvements are invested
with fnil authority TO make requisitions on Inc
Fund Commissioners TO meet those apProPr:ai IONS
Your committee can scarcely CONCEIVE greater
political calamity than the happening OF such an
event. The only means which suggest itseii to
YOUR committee, BY which 50 great an eF!I may
be nverted, is the plan proposed by which Por-
ton of the unCXpcnded appropriations IS diverted
from the works on which those appropriations now
are and applied to the two Of the works which nro
likely to prove most productive. By this means
whenever operations are renewed, two works
may be completed and Il large interest detached
from the System Of Internal Improvements
Your committee, after considering the resources
of the State, (both present aud prospective) CON
slider it certain, that the State credit will revive
IN the course of few years, that bonds may be
sold on terms advantageous to the State as Tor
merly; on the happening OF which event, the eXis-
ting laws direct prosecution OF the works TO the
appropriations. But your committee hope that
the experience OF the last few years, has taught
us the necessity Of irating the energies of
the State n single object instead of practising
on that system of wild enterprise by which
every thing Is begun and nothing Completed
Your committee are deeply impressed with the
belief, that the completion of these works are as
much as the State can accomplish, aud that these
works are not likely for some years alter they
shall have been flushed, to yield sufficient profit
to keep down the interest on the cost Of their con
struction. But. on tho other hand, your commit
tee see the necessity of divcrting the existing ap
which m bio q those
which practicable; from works which are
useless TO those which are comparatively useful.
The expediency OF thus divcrting these apPropr-
atoms will be seen, by rejecting, that under the
existing laws large amount OF tho nncEpended
appropriations must be applied to works which
arc but slightly advanced; and if expended On
these works, would leave them IN a condition as
re The firsf and second classes Of The bill here
with reported.
Your committee have though, i, best to d.
vert the appropriations from the works named IN
the third class, in the bill herewith reportcd,}
and apply 81 mach thereof "a may be necessary
to the completion Of the works named IN the first
and second classes, and tn leave the works IN the
third class to be provided for by future Legislation,
if II should be thought eXPcdient.
Your committee feel deeply impressed, howev-
or, with the opiai1n that it IS expedicnt fpr the
State forthwith to sarrcadcr, on the best terms
practicable, the unfinished portions OF the works
named III the third class to such companies IS may
be formed for their completion, rcservlng 70 her
self the completed parts OF those WORKS. Your
committee would have no objection to The sale OF
the finished portions of those works, It the rur-
chusers thereof could be relieved from the incum
brance GA them imposed by the act Of lS3o.--
The profits ot the works, by the terms OF iaat ac,
pledged for the payment oi the public debit
Unless that Incumbrance be removed, Il sale oi
the finished portions of those works wuHid be I'M
practicable. The work named in the first clase.
besides being cheaper Ots importance consider
ed.) than any other work named IN the system,
Is IN such situation, that ii would cost the State
nearly as much to abandon as to complete 1t;
large portion of the line above Brooiivllle is in
unfinished condition. and the lettings made on it
can only be annued by the payment of heavy
damages 10 contractors. \ great number OF farms
have been materially injured, your com
mitiee have been informed, by the work which
has been commenced, &c.
To abandon this work IN its present condition
would be 10 lose not only what has been e1pen-
ded, but to incur great additional expense pay
ments which would have to be made to the persons
whose farm. in jured by il. Should the State
continue the work, the benefits conferred BY i! on
those persons would be held as compensation for
the injury sustained and in most cases these nd-
vantaIes would he considered as adequate com
pensation.
The same reasoning will apply 70 the work
named III the second class of the bill herewith
reported, but with diminished force, your com
miitee are constrained to admit. 1t would be
difficult for the State to abandon this work with
out incurrng expense nearly great as by
completing it, The present contractors on the
work have refused to suspend their operations,
and the State has power to compel them 20 sur
render their contracts. Your committee do not
expect this work To yield the interests which the
State must pay the whole cost OF its coastruc
ton Nor have thev been able 10 convince them
selves tina, The work will ever yield al annual
sum suficien, to keep down the interest on the
Int, hon 1hn
losses which the State viii have 70 make good TO
the contractors ana landed proprietors, IN the e.
vent of the work being wholly abandoned, are Ia
ken into consideration. majority of your com
mittee Of opinion that The prosecution Of this
work rs far rs Indianapolis. would be perhaps
less ruinous than its total abandonment. And the
whole committee concur in the opinion that i.
would be better for the State to apply so much as