Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-01-16

amend the 18th section BY striking out all down To
he word direct, inclusive and inserting "When
he sum of one million OF dollars shall have been
actually paid in, and two millions secured 10 BE-
,aid in, in The manner prescribed in the llh Sec
ion, the Board of Public Works may, il they
leem ii advisable to do so, subscribe fol far.
her amount Of The stock OF the company, not ex
:ecding two fiiths of the amount actually 50 paid
n and secured as aforesaid; and The Legislature
eserves to itself the right 10 make such farther
subscription TO The stock of the said company as
I may deem wise hereafter; provided, that such
subscription. if made, shall be made before the
whole capital stock is taken by others.
MIR. LYONS said he was too much ndisposed
o venture upon tull discussion OF The merits Of
he bill; ne could only make 4 brief statement Of
he objects and provisions Of the bill. He hoped
% be able al future day 10 address the House on
This bill which he regarded as of the utmost i'm
portance 10 The State. He could not believe that
Virginia was destined 10 continue as an excres
sence on the body oflhe Union, an impossible bar
rier to all Improvement. New York and other
northern cities were competing with each other
for the commerce OF The Lakes and The western
rivers, by means OF their railroads and canals
The question for our consideration was, whether
we should remain inactive until The power OF mo-
ton shall have been lost forever until other
States have awaited themselves ofour advantages.
II there was mol sufficient capital in the Slate Tor
the construction ofthe necessary works, we should
moi refuse 10 avail ourselves Of The capital OF
others. One OF the most important acls OF
Government was 10 provide the necessary
roads for the transportation Of produce 10 mar
ket The aid Of The Stale was asked for this
work; yet he believed tina, it could be
carried ON without the assistance of Govern
ment. He desired 10 read certain documents in
support Of his views. Ile could demonstrate that
The very best investment the State could make
would be TO construct this road entirely on stare
account As an instance Of profitable invest
ments i'm railroads. he mentioned The great west
ern Railroad in Massachusetts When The peo-
pie of The North were once satisfied OF the bene-
fits TO be derived from road il was Immediately
prosecuted with vigor TO It's completion. The
great Western Railroad was constantly increasing
in its amount OF transportation OF passengers and
produce, and al present pays six per cent interest
upon its cost. Ii was constructed from the point
on the river, al which the produce is accumulated
Tor transportation, and although it is brought into
with the navisah,e river, II transports
an immense amount OF produce. II such be The
result OF this road, what might we not expect
from continuous Railroad from Richmond TO
Guyandotte connecting The Ohio River with the
finest harbors on the sea-board OF Virginia. Va
rious objections were urged against this enter
prise. Some insisted upon the impossbility OF
obtaining the capital; others were prejudiced
agains, Mr. Clarke, gentleman from New York.
who had taken much interest in The passage OF
this bill. MIR. Clarke had been introduced 10 him
as highly intelligent and worthy gentleman
Their views corresponded as 10 the advantages Of
this work, and they were confirmed by the OPT
nionsof many Of the most intelligent and prudent
gentlemen OF this city. They had held several
conferences with Mr.. Clarke on this subject, and
a, xaht eood
MIR. Clarke's bill. He has had but little agency
in its provisions. The citizens of Richmond, in
lerested in this matter, would regard the passage
Of this bill as the dawn of prosperity TO the City
and TO the State. If the City of New York could
be transferred 10 this place, would not the whole
State be benefued7 The opinion had been ex-
pressed TO him by gentleman Of great scientific
attainments and practical experience, that If the
State did not furnish any portion Of the capital for
this work, the whole of il would be subscribed BY
individuals. Great interest seemed 10 be felt in
the success OF this work by gentlemen al the
North. He would read TO The House the result OF
investments in various works al the North:
In Nep York, there were tbs miles Of Canal,
The cost of which was $4,000, QUO dollars, and the
nett revenue 6a per cent There were 54s miles OF
Railroad in the same State, the cost of which was
IL 100000 dollars, and the revenue 7O3 per cent.
In Ohio, there were 1877 miles Of Canal: cost
per mile 10000 dollars revenue 2.26 per cent.
In PENNSYLVANIA, there were 347 miles OF
Canal cost per mile 4l,000 dollars revenue
| SO per cent. There were 10 miles OF Railroad:
cost 81 600 dollars; revenue 4.G2 per cent.
In Nep England, there were ll9 miles OF Ca
nal : cost per mile 10000 dollars; revenue per
cent. There were S54 miles of Railroad: cost
per mile 36,323; revenue I per cent.
Should this bill pass, private enterprise would
pliah hot ho Ctato hos
and perhaps would never achieve.
Mr. HARVIE moved 10 amend the bill, by
substituting, for the section which authorized the
Board Of Public Works to subscribe Tor two-fifths
Of the capital stock invested in the road cars, and
fixtures, The following
"The Legislature reserves 10 itself the right 10
subscribe for farther amount Of the stock OF
he company, not exceeding two-fitlhs oil The
amount actually SO paid in and secured as aiore-
said and also such further subscription 70 the
stock Of said company as il may deem wise mere
after, provided that such subscription, IL made,
shall be made before the whole capital stock is
taken by Others"
He desired that the control should not be vested
in the Board Of Public Works. but in The Legis-
lature. The Board hereafter might think Il ad-
visabe TO subscribe to this work, when the Legis-
lature might regard it as extremely impolilic.
Mr.. STROTHER said The only question pre-
senled was, whether the Legislature would trans
fer 10 the Board Of Public Works the power TO
subscribe one million Of dollars, even though
The Legislature al the time OF The subscription
should dsappIove Of it. After this work was
once commenced il might involve the State in
The expenditure OF millions. Without express
ing an opinion as TO the advantages or practi-
cability Of the Road, he must oppose the bill un-
less the amendments proposed By the gentleman
from Amelia were adopted. The Legislature
should reserve to itself the future control over the
whole subject
Mr. SCOTT concurred in opinion with the
gentle men from Amelia and Rappahannock, and
he also conceded with the gentleman from The
city of Richmond as TO the great advantages 10
be derived from such an improvement. Ihe on
" question was, whether the Stale should or
should moi subscribe. This wasa question Tor
he Legislature 10 decide, and the discretion
should not be delegated TO the Board OF pnohc
Works There was an ambiguity in The bill al
present respecting The subscription on the part
Of The Board 10 lwo-fitths, &c, which ne wished
10 avoid by an amendment. The gentleman
from the city Of Richmond expressed the Cpl
MON that individuals would subscribe The
entire amount OF the capital il The State
refused to lend its aid The State should
not subscribe 10 any improvements unless Inc
subscription on the part of the State should be
necessary in order TO insure its construction, II
hey could be accomplished by individuals alone
/ was much better not 10 assist them by apPlo-
,riaions. The facility afforded by an act Of in
corporation should alone be granted. He did not
object 10 the provision in the bill respecting Legs
alive aid, provided il was leftdiscreionary 10 in-
ure Legislatures 10 decide as to the aappropria-
ion. With this amendment he would vote Tor
he bill, otherwise he must oppose it.
NJ rIdpVIE xnlaiped his amendment as
all the gentleman from Fauquier de-
sired
Mr.. LYONS was too unwel TO enter the lists
with so many antagonists. He did not concur
With the gentleman from Fauquicr, as TO the propri-
Ely of legislative aid being afforded only in cases
where individual enterprise could not accomplish
a particular improvement. Il was the duty OF
he State TO construc, great public works, provided
he means were within its reach; and il could on
y be excused from this duty because it had not
he means. To concede that the work could be
accomplished by private enterprise, would afford
he best guaranty of its advantages. He beIiev-
ID, that il the whole Of this work were accom-