Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-12-23


The road from Srauntcn 4 Scousville passed
through fertile valley and would accommodate
The trade on both sides The mountains 4, ira
ver>ed lie finest wheat region in the Stale and
would afford & outlet 10 large amount u produce
1t was proposed 10 complete This improvement,
on the Joint stock system; lwO-illihs Of The so,l
being subscribed rs The State, and three fil'hs liz
individuals. This principle had been adopted
as far back as 1916. Some improvement Of this
road had already been made. TIE bill under
consideration authorised the company 10 increase
their capital stock b. the additional sum OF 81 ~
600, to be raised by subscription in shares OF 81
each, ard provided tia, when three i'!lhs Of The
whole numrcr of shares shall have been sub
scrbed by individuals, the Board Of Public Work
shall subscribe, on behalf Of The State. for The
remaining two iilts; i. also authorized The Board
10 borrow on I, e crcd! OF the Stale, not exceed
ing So, 000 pcr annum, ant no! exceeding IN
all SO, 0C0 for the purpose o! paying The STATE
substitution; The road wax u be Constructed on
the cheapest plan. The whole amount would
no, be required al once and no portion would be
paid By the Stale until The individual stockholders
had subscribed their proportion. The money
would not be required until they were ready Il
use it, The Legislature had rejected bill
which was based upon such principles and he
hoped The present application would meet with
a favorable reception from The House
Mr.. DANIEL wished 10 hear additional rea-
sons for The passage Of tic bill. What vas the
system Of legislation they were about 10 adopt !
This bill was but the pioneer OF other bills. lie
was opposed 10 all such appropriations for I'M
provemtn,s. The friends of every work had
promised that they would produce six FER cent. in
ierest Seven millions had been already appro-
pria,ed: The dividends on which during The whole
period, from The commencement 10 The present
lime, bad amounted 10 cnly G30 600 dollars. The
interest on ven millions for one year was 40
900 dollars, about two.thiriS of The entire divi-
den1S This road was desig ned as frederic the
James River and Kanawha Canal-that YAM
pire, which, for years had been preyins upon
the vi,als Of the State.
Mr. BROADUS was surprised To hear the
gentleman ask for reasons, and al the same time
declare that no reasons cond induce him 10 su>-
tain The bill. II he were 10 INFORM The gentleman
that the TOAD would be a profitable investment, ms
answer would he, that such promises had never
been realized; il he demonstrated that Il would
bring an immense amount Of prodGce 10 The
James River and kanawha Canal, the gentle
man would object, that il was chefi>hinS yam
pre which was proving upon the vtalS Of Vir-
sinia. Had not the State embarked in this cen
tral Improvement, and you'd not the gentleman
do all in his power 10 render il profitable 10 the
Stale 7 lie saw no force in the objections OF he
gentleman, who seemed opposed 10 The whole svs-
lem Of Improvements, reason or no reason. lie
was not himself committed 10 every scheme OF
improvement; vet whenever il was clearly de-
monstTable that any work yeas expedien and
proper, il should command his support. This
work would connect the East with the Valley
and identity in iniercs, and feeling The people on
both sides OF the mountains They should be
,tn ~ lsrp p Il. tpti
10 the East or 10 The West u the MounlainS.-
Whenever he could accommodate any section or
community without injury 10 The State, he WAS
ready 10 give them bis aid.
Mr.. SHEPARD moved 10 lay the bill upon
the table until The 9TH Of January next. The at
,cntiun Of the House Tor several days past hal
been devoted 10 The consideration OF another bill
He was predisposed 10 vote for the bill, but could
mol say whether, on is final passage, he would sus-
tain or oppose it. The House required more lime
for the Investigation Of lis merits. II passed al
this time, it would be dead letter until The Sc
nate leassembird.
Mr.. SOUT[lALL said, there was no neccssi-
" for posponcment. The bill had been printed
eight or ten days since, and ample time had been
afforded for the investigation OF lis merits or de-
merits The House was now full, but six m, m
bcrs being absent from the city. When was there
a larger attendance
Mr.. SHEPARD had supposed that The prop"-
>i,ion o postpone would have been acceptable 10
III, friends Of the measure Since they objected,
he would withdraw his motion.
Mir. YERBY would join issue with Tie GEN
,ieman from Culpcrer, on the merits oil TINS hil!
Some wears since This wors had been commenced
on lh- Joint stock system. a mud Turnpike was
hen constructed; and now ihey p!oposc'' TO beau
tily and adorn it. For several sessions this sub
iect had been before the House Last year an
application was made Tor $4,000, winch wa>
objected! noW they ask for an appropriation Ia
Nc Adaipizc this road. They rcprc.ont !, a al
odd, ,rolirahlc; what claims then had II ovef
other works? II was used extensively al present,
and served as feeder 10 the canal Is improve
ment nigh, increase The tolls on The canal; bur,
would in The same proportion diminish those on
The Valley Turnpike. Ii passed through The
richest section oicounry and therefore required No
aid from the State.
Mir SOUTfIALL did not wish 10 trouble the
House Oh subject which was 50 well Understood
The bill. and the road and the country were all
50 well known, that they were their own
best advocates. Since gentlemen had asked
for reasons he would cndeavor 10 add a
few TO the cogen, arguments presented by
the gentleman from Culreref. Tie had no
hope, no. not even the shadow ui the shade
Of hope, that he could make Il favorable I'M
pression upon the gentlemen from Northampton
and Prince George. lie had as well appea TO
The pillars around him. They had fixed idea
on The subject OF Improvements as ilnmovahle q,
the mountains through which this road would
pass. The gentleman from Prince George sure
IL had not examined this subject, or lie would
have based his opposition upon other Sronnis.-
He sal i, had yielded nothing, and would be IN
unavoidable investment. Had ne examined the
reports on the subject He was surprised 10
hear him object TO this work, because il was a
feeder 10 The James River Canal. Gentlemen
had voted away The money of the State, ioI years,
for The construction OF this central improvement,
and for lis completion 10 The Ohio; ana was u ne
mart OF statesman, looking Ia the ihtct-
es,s at the whole Commonwealth, thus Ia dam
The main work, and destroy lis tributaries ;
Shall the impression go abroad, that the main
work is to be abandoned 10 lis fate, and
no tributary be permitted 10 pour into ii the
l;i.sustainng current He would enquire
of the gentleman whether his people were oppos.
ed ia all local improvements Was there no, a
railroad from City Point, in The county 81 Prince
Geolge, 10 Petersburg lie supposed The gentle
mans predecessor had vo.ed for this work.
He was ready . proclaim himself The repre-
sentative Of Virginia, and not merely the cee-
cate from the county OF Albemar'e. lie was IN
favor of every appropriation which was calcula-
,ed 10 better the fortunes OF Virginia. In lslG
the principle bad been established, that whenever
Individuals would subscribe lhree.ili!hS for any
work. the State would subscribe twoiiiIhs. To-
diyiduals could do nothing, however, until they
knew whether The State was willing 10 subscribe
some wears since this work was undertaken OF
The Join, stock system, the Stale subscribing so
O0I) and individuals $50, 900. An with all The
La, oh ~. ~ l.Ys l.1, .,gl
j, hal paid per cent. until ii was injured By The
rivalry O! The Valley road. llthose who are pool
ask for legislative aid, the reply is, yonr country
is TOO poor-tbere can be no profits on such a
road II the application come from rich coun'
nv tho answer i. ready: You are rich enough Il
cnns,ruc, your own roads. This was very con.
yenicnt reasoning ioi those who were disposed L
lock up The Treasury alike TO The rich and 'hF
moor. Those who pay 100000 annually inlt
vour Treasury are surely well entitled % roaC
10 market. The State subscribed Lhfee-iliths 10
. ,.,,,;op ~ tha Nollev TurpniLp