Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-12-08
be adopted, and these Improvements will then pro-
gress under advantages unknown TO similar

be adopted and these Improvements will then pro
gress under advantages unknown 10 simiia
works.
propose an expenditure of half million
year, only, 10 be divided between the two woIks
This divided expenditure will powerfully tent
to prevent an upward tendency in prices, and Sc
cure the construction of the roads upoti term
much below the experience OF the country. II
Two years the improvement from Cord onsVili'
will have reached The valley OF the Sher.andoaD
and in the same time the Southwest Raj lroad VII
have passed the coal and iron regions OF Bole
tour; and in The increasing revenues oi The Jane
River Canal, and the Louisa and Ffedericksbur.
Railroads, We should begin 10 reap some OF III
fruits of our enterprise. give il IS my OPINION
that the increase OF revenue which these improve
meuls would in different ways prcfluce would: al
Ter The outlay of TWO years pay tie interest upol
all the loans required Tor their prosecution.
propose to provide for the expenditure whici
| have suggested by an annual appropr'ano,l
from the Treasury oil TWO hundred lhousanu ooi
lars, and an issue oil Stale bonds for The balance
The Treasury can easily be prl into condition y
meet this demand upon it, Without some extra
ordinary charge upon the Treasury, we shall nav
a surplus on the first OF October next, oil up
wards OF $50 OOO which slight increase OF TAX
alton on certain subjects, which have heTeloior
mentioned, would swell 10 $780, 1000, and thu
place our Treasury in condition 10 meet This new
Ieouisilon. The bonds would present no uiili
cuIly. Our Slate credi, is in The best condition
and our bonds could be easily disposed Of al par
and under favorable circumstances al prem uui
10 foreign purchasers. But | have no idea 0
giving Them that destination, They are iavo
rite investment with our ielow-cilzens, VINO al
already own more than half OF our present oeo'
believe that we have floating money capha
among us which would greedily absorb The who'
issue. And as this money would not be destroy
ed by being used, but would healthily stimulate
production, it would perform The same enec'iv'
function, absorbing the same amount Of pohd'
from year 10 year, and thus building ihese im
porant railways exclusively from our own re-
sources.
II may be objected that these improvement:
would advance TOO slowly 10 their complexion
think that their progress will De last enough 1e
give us the advantages with which experience
and science are daily benefIling mankind. Ink
Baltimore company, which ambiousy aspire:
10 penetrate Virginia in different DIRECTIONS, wa:
IS years in reaching Cumberland; a progress
much slower than that which propose. Blu
this objection may be obvialed whenever The LIE
gislalure may in It's wisdom direct.
The James River and Kanawha Company
will be before you, asking loan for The pay
ment of their current dues. The necessity o.
his application arises from the shortness oil oul
crops, and the payment OF certain Outstanding
claims which could no longer be deferred A.
long as this improvement has 10 depend upon Inc
valley OF the James River alone. its revenue:
must be unsettled and precarious. II is only
when il shall be extended 10 the North River and
shall be fed by the Southwestern Railroad, tha
lis revenues will be independent OF the seasons
and il will begin 10 develope lis great capacity
and value. But how is il 10 reach those points
Money is indispensable, and The company canno
Iaiseit
From careful consideration Of this subject,
am satisfied that The State may, with every shor
crop. anticipate the occurrence OF similar de.
nand, until the improvement, shall have reached
be points which have designated. The supply
from both will be requisite 10 place The revenue
OF the James River Company upon footing Of
safety and independence. And il may be re-
marked here, that one vi the great excellences o.
the Southwestern Railroad, as monled invest
menl will be found To be- under careful and Judi
cous management, that every ten miles through
out lis whole extent, will mol only support ITSELF
but will furnish large and increasing supplies &c
the canal. As the Stale cannot abandon Ink
canal, il is obviously the part Of true wisdom le
complete il 10 the points indicated, with every
reasonable despatch. have pondered mos
anxiously as To The best means Of raising The
funds for this purpose and my conclusion Is u
recommend an issue oil the bonds oil The com
pany, from time 10 time, as they may be needed
10 The requisite amount, such issue 10 be Suaran
leed by the Stale recommend this mode o
raising The money, b cause believe thai wnen INT
Southwestern Railroad shall be finished, Inc con
dillon OF the canal will be eminently prosperous
and that il will possess the means OF IaPiui)
discharging its debts.
II cannot have escaped attention that am op
posed 10 The connection OF the Eastern and West
ern waters through The valley OF The James River
either by canal or railroad. Canals are not adapt
ell 10 the impatient wants Of the present age
The great New York canal is protected ny Law
against The competition Of The railroad running
ty its side. If the Pennsylvania, the Chesapeake
and Ohio, and even our own Ja mes River canals
were now new questions, few would be found SO
hardy as TO advocate their construction. Al this
time railroad is under construction between N
York and Albany, parallel with the Hudson river
Pennsylvania is constructing line Of railroad
between Philadelphia and Piltsburg, parallel with
her canal. Railroads are projected on both sides
OF Lake Erie; and il is manifest that they are des-
and canal navigation. II is also arsned that a
mixed line Of canal and railroad cannot Success
fully contend for The Western trade | should
therefore be opposed TO The execution of The main
design of The James River and Kama wha compa-
ny, il il were entirely practicable and we had the
amplest means Tor its accomplishment am
equally opposed 10 The connection OF the eastern
and western waters on this line by railroad. The
canal affords every reasonable facility 10 the cour-
lry through which il passes; and Tor local purpo.
srs the railroad is moi required, but by ado,ling
another route, the connection between The Eas'
and the West can be easily attained, andimmense
local advantages secured 10 other large portions ol
our State. The possible difference between The
Two routes, in The cost OF their construction, VIII
find all ample equivalent in The diffusion oil these
Improvements. But The canal ought 10 be e1-
tended TO the point have stated. The work al
ready partially CONSTRUCTED, could Re finished Tor
a smaller sum than would be requisite 10 CON-
plere a railroad. The whole work, too, would be
homogeneous, and could be managed with more
facility and economy han mixed improvement
Ii would also cnabe them 10 put their heights al a
lower rate than could be done, if the line we're
composed Of portions OF canal and railroad i'm
proyemenl.
| have carefully observed this company for
wears ain satisfied that its executive govern.
menl is Inefficient, useless, and unnecessarily e1-
pcnsiye. It's condition is hopeless. With the
Stale alone abides the power 10 preserve its vital
ity. In this condition of lis affairs, with an eye
alone To their improvement, i recommend that The
present executive government Of the company be
abolished, and that all its duties and powers be
transferred 10 The Board OF Public Works. which
shall appoint President, clothed with all his
present powers and duties. 1t would diminish the
expenses OF the company several thousand dollar,
a year, and give it, am persuaded mole eff
cent administration.
You will be informed by the report Of the Board
OF Public Works of The sale and purchase of the
late Portsmouth and Roanoke Railroad, for and
on account of The Stale. This purchase was
made principally with view OF placing The road
al the pleasure Of The Legislature. The rivalry
which had existed between this road. from the
day i, was opened, and hr Petersburg Railroad,
had been so disasI Gus, and The loss 10 the Stale,
both in capital and revenue, 50 serious, that IL
was deemed paramount duty on The parl of The
public agents 10 acquire The control OF this road,
that il might not fall into rival hands, and again
become an instrument OF dangerous and dtslruc-
live competition. This policy, 50 just and so
reasonable, was alone, am persuaded. in The
concentration Of The legislature on The passage