Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-09-17
From the Richmond Wing.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.

The public spirit Of Virginians is often contrastca
with that Of our Northern brethren. and il socms
that we do not feel the reproach, when we are
placed below that enterprising people in the scale
OF Nauohai e"or'; we are content to occupy place
of nferlority, and surrender i'm DESPAIR OF ever O. /
quallng them but really unless the ietharyy which
has characterised us is soon shaken off. VIRGINIA |
Will not only be behind the North, but the Sontb |
as well as the West. Georgia and South Carolina
are lar oats'rlPPlng us in the race of public i'm
pfovement. Inc accounts lately published Of the
Railroad celebration at Atlanta, i'm Ceom;a dis |
play zeal IN the cause well worthy of imitation
There is nothing which Virginia could urpe in ex-
tenuation Of her deficiencies that is not applicable
to both OF those States with equal, if not greater
iorce. HE views which those two States have
entertained as to the effects OF the Tariff OH their
prosperity might naturally have created a belief of
their inability to incur the necessary taxation to
carry on their works. II matters not whether thew
are right or not, as 10 the effects of Tariff they
honestly believe they have been oppressed and inn
poVerlshed, and yet they have not been discouraged
Ihey nave done Tar more than we have and that
too when the inducements are much greater in onr
case. l do not, Messrs. Editors mean to dsrepard
one OIL your wise admonitOns the subject of lonr
essays, by reiterating the oftrepeaed catalogue Of
Nrgnia's undeveloped resources, but will only re-
mark that no State has more marketable Subjects
within her borders nor fewer market facilities ihan
she mas. wish TO come to something practical
whist am heartily willing to see something
done for works, which other portions of the State
regard as important TO large sections my particular
obect now to enquire il another effort is to be
made to extend the Louisa road? The failure of
the proposition at the last session was no evidence
OF Its want Of merit with the Legislature for in
the act OF voting against it, gentleman declared
that he did violence to his feelings so highly enti
tied to favour did he think the bill: IIe desigped
his vote as reproof to what he regarded the ilibe
raj course OF some of the friends of the Louisa bill
to other schemes. Doubtless many others voted a
ganst 1t tor the same reasons which MIR. Tunstall
assigned. hope its friends in future will no, bring
the same odium on it in the same way
The Louisa road has given substantial evidence
OF Its being entitled to the continued patronage of
the Legislature. 1t seems from the reports OF the
Board OF Public Works that it has been more fortu
nate than some other roads-it has paid considerable
HiViuends INTO the Treasury. There are many as
Pecs IN which this road is important to the inter
ests OF the West and whilst the object of this
short article is merely TO invite attention to the i'm
portance OF holding Convention at Staunton. or
some other place, for the purpose Of concentrating
public sentiment for its extension, will suggest
one view in which it is particularly interesting
There are thousands of the citizens of Lower Vir
gnia. Georgia and the Carolinas who seek more
heathy residence during summer than their own
homes The mineral waters, the invigorating eli
mate, and numerous other attractions of Western
virginia. tempt them to 90 there but the Difficult
ties OF getting into that region are repulsive, even
to the man of health, and believe if not to some
extent removed, many of those who now 90 will
cease 10 do SO. Thousands of our own money are
spent now to enrich the foreign cultvator of the
SOIL, and unless something is done, still more will
oe carried out of the State. The money spent i'm
tha region OF the country by vsiters of the Springs
probably equals if it does not exceed the whole of
our exports OF every kind. 1t is thought to be di-
ininlshlng. How shall the sum at present expended
1e retained or rather ought it not to be increased
Let 1t be remembered that every dollar expended
by the vsiter or traveller is divided amonp a num-
Der OF people. Every article which the country
produces-the grain, the hay. the beef mutton and
butter, poultry and vegetables. even the fish which
swim In their waters, and the wild deer of the
mountains, all find ready market to supply their
wants. The owner of the forest sells his timber
and the mechanic crects buildings. Every class is
Interested In the enquiry How shall we invite
more strangers to come among us and spend their
money I! Let us extend the Louisa road to some
point at the Eastern base of the Blue Ridge, and
then one half the difficulty is removed We do
not propose to incur the expense of crossing the
mountain with railroad. The different improve
ments must be satisfied to progress gradually and
let their value be tested by experiment railroa
to the base of the ridge, and the fine roads ON the
west-side will take the traveller beyond the Allie
ghany mountain in two days, spending but one night
on the road from Richmond
Let us then have Convention at Stanton to
consult on this subject, for verify believe if some
improvement is not made FOR the comfort of the ira
Weller, thousands, yea tens of thousands will be ex-
pended at the North annually which should be ex-
pended in the western part Of Virginia
TRANS-ALLEGHANY
STALL DF