Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-04-23
From the LsTisstsa Gssstis.
To THE PEOPLE OF EASTERN vIR-
GINIA. 90 -
ieoscLrpkp

OF Lynehburg the termination OF the canal to thu
impression. that that part Of the coniempaed canal
tending from Lyncbburr the Blue Ridge has been locs
ted low that subject be ovcrowcd BY the River
At high water and that therefore, the work already don't
ON that section. will be Of value in making that part
the Improvement No evidence Of that tact has been fur
nished and We do admit existence; and deman
the proof Weknow, that part Of the work, (a that
have seen Of ~ Is liable 10 be overhowed; know
too that Too much OF the dsnce between Lynchbnrg
the mountain. IL to have slack
gs'on, IN the Rive, and presumed tho work done
that part OF the ne be in danger VI being overflow
cd, OF nj any rate, that the remedy will be very easy,
less indeed the hills (Which several hundred feet high
are IN danger OF beng ovcrhewed. Whether any part
the Location 10 really subject TO be overlooked not,
Will not undertake TO say, rusi however, that the Pres
ident Of the Company will strict equalization e
be made. to ascertain how the fact . and let the result
NE Investigation be msde known 10 the public.
Still another objection has been urged against
ding tho canal beyond Lynehburg. which H. that sxper-
fence has shown that canals inferior species Of
provements, TO rail roads. That Rail roads better
the accommodation OF travel than canals and better suited
Ia some ocaeswe acknowledge; but they better
are a. good for the transportation oil produce utterly
deny Ii also true, that OF the Rail roads in which
the Commonwealth interested have paid small dividends
Ia the State, but there Others which the State
subscribed large which will pay any dividends
whatever And III Rail roads which pay d.
vdends. what advantages they the STATED Tho
ney lent out security, would have brought Elk per cent
and he object Of the State in subscribing, spec-
late, oy gaming large return her investments, that
would be better means OF esetng her purpose, Than
take stock in Rail roads with prospect OF geng
thfee per cent snnum her capital after waiting
years without getting any thing ut all.
Buth the object OF the State ia subscribing works OF
internal improvements advance the prosperity OF its
ezens and promote the growth OF cities then
do not hesitate TO affirm that this James River Canal
more value iaihoush it pays dvdends than all the rail
roads IN the State put together II the rail roads
may furnish great facilities to the cIens Of he Southern
States IN passing through Virginia the Northern cities
and TO the the North IN going South 10 .pec-
ulae in cotton but their passage through State bene-
hts the cit lens of the State very little more, than the flight
OF the same number OF wild geese it. Ask the keep
of the ourshng hotels along line Of the old
road from Fredericksburg Richmond. and from Rich
mOnd To Charlottesville each Of which furnished consd.
cradle neghbohooj markt whether Rail roads have beu-
emitted those sections Of the county not, and the
answer they will give. Tho real and legitimate OBJ
Ject IN making internal improvements, is 10 afford our
eii1en' the means OF conveying the products OF their
INDUSTRY To market And II you will form your
innate OF the comparative value Of Canals and Rail
Rosds, IN reference 10 that standard venture TO
ahrm that the Canal worth all he Rail Roads the Com
monwealh We shall be much deceived IL you will
Ind on examination that this much abused James River Ca
nal conveys more than twice much of the agricultural
products Of the State into Richmond in the course of the
year. A. oil the hs Ros6s 10 the State transport and
all OF our markets. And notwithstanding the prevalence
oil the Rail Road fever IN tho city Of Richmond shall
be greatly deceived if her citizens do find, if their
great Richmond ond Ohio Rail Road should be made
they had much better have relied the Canal the goods
transported on which would necessarily have been disposed
OF IN their own market than upon Rail Road, on which,
made, they may the Itch products OF the west pasras
by thsm 70 another market,
That Roll Road from the termination OF the Canal
(Which should be fixed somewhere. the upper James
River above the point at which the iron -four me hemp,
and other heavy products Of the valley will be- shpped
10 the Ohio river, ought TO be constructed, readily
agree, and II is our wish that it may be imme-
da'e begun, and carried on at the time with the
extension OF the Canal.
As the assumption that the State stock in the James
River Canal will yield profitable shape
OF dvidend to the Commonwealth lof which we utterly
deny the conectness relied upon, by Of the oppo
A its
iur'her prosecution. We propose, briefly to examine
whether the argument in fact entitled the weight claim
cd or IT, even that assumption be admitted DO true
the state should never subscribe the Stock Of any
Company which will not make a in dividends equal
TO the Interest OF the money invested then there may be
force in the suggestion the State should never sub
scribe 10 any work o internal Improve but leave them
10 be supported entirely by the subscription. OF private m
diVduals who will be backward in taking stocks
when the return in dividends, likely to be both speedy
and ceriaiI.
But II the principle be a sound one that the Gov
eminent should never make any improvement which will
not yield return in dividends what principle IT,
has made II the duty of the Courts Of all counties in
the Commonwealth to construct roads for the public
vsnence at the COST and by the labor Of people Of
counesf Inc people OF every county Toe State
CURED by law 10 roads through their counties At
iher own COSTS without expecting receive any
hing IN the shape OF dividends upon Them This county
alone mas levied and collected of ITS citizens principally
money not less than 100000, which have expended
IN opening ana improving our public roads, since the
1887, without asking Of toll any person pass
ing over Ihem And ask with confidence would there
not be IS much prOpne in the General Assembly under
taxing to construct great central line Of Improvement
through the State and other works VI great general utility
for the use Of all the cdzens Of the State without charge
as there H. IN requiring the citizens Of each county open
great public highways upon the termsl In support
such course, might cite the example only cf the
comparatively free governments Of England and France
but Of the desponc goyernents OF Russia. Prussia and
Austria But we do not ask that you will follow these eI.
amPes We only ask that you will furnish the means Of
completing work, which there is good believe
will, at distant day, afford you harvest in dvi-
bends.
In reply 10 the question which has been sometimes ask
ed why we are not willing permit the Canal terminate
and the railroad to commence, Lynchburg well as at
Buchnnan or Covngton, VIC will say, that railroad IL
wholly unsuitable for transportation Of the heavy and
bulky products Of this valley and we do not wish 10 incur
the expense Of Ianshpmen from the railroad TO the Ca
nal
The present il the suspicious moment when the work
on he great central line at improvement should be
mencsd and prosecuted with vRor until u is competed-
The report Of the Financial Committee Of the House Of
Delegates shows, that there will probably be balance Of
SSlOOOu m the Treasury Of the Commonwealth at the
end OF the next fiscal year, after paving al the expenses Of
the Government The report Of the Second Auditor on
the debt and resources OF the Commonwealth tsee Docu-
Incnt No :, printed by the last house of Delegates shows
that the debt due from the Il rather nn
nal than real and that sho productive stock more
than sufficient TO discharge the whole Of IT, And If any
additional motive Tor commencing the work OF once re-
CURED II surely may be found in the necessity of putting
stop To the appalling and almost daily sacrifice Of human
lie sud vauible property, incurred by our citizens. in at
tempting TO convey the products U their industry 10 mar
ke, through the dangerous pass the Blue Ridge And
yet We confess we are altogether without apprehen
SONS, that you msy still disregard our remonsuances-
we ore fearful that many amongst you, have suffered
themselves TO be mEed and deceived by the
aions Of demSgogues snd have had their miads 80 preu
decd nC only against the particular scheme We recon-
m'nd but against the great body Of their western breth-
rem That Their minds longer open 10 conviction
You have heard US represented needy people, too poor
to raise money among ourselves who are only desous Of
obtaining power. that may be able TO raise the mean,
oy taxing YOU OF constructing internal Improvements de-
gned only 10 benefit ourselves You have been induced
" believe That millions upon millions have been collected
on you aud expended among and for exclusive be-
nehi Aud that you heavily burhened with taxation
whilst we are almost totally exempt from paying any thing
It's lime that you should be undeceived in these pareu
M II you will look Of tho report q the second Auditor
Oocumen No 80. printed for tho last House of Delegates
you will Ind Inst the whole which hiss ever been
appropriated by the General Assembly works Of Internal
improvements S7,yl369i o. and that although tho ter
ory on the wet Of tho Blue Ridge il much greater than
Inst on the east and need Tor internal Improvements an
hundred fold greater than yours S5745 500 ~ Of
ney has been expended the East and only so t65igg
81 on tbs west of the Blue Ridge that you will nd that
more han two and half times much money his been
expended works Of internal Improvement Of the East a.
the West II the Bloc Ridgo.