Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-11-17


upon the articles 10 which The Times refers, or we
would show up he unreasonableness OF the con-
clusion atwhich The Times has arrived.
We commend the liberal spirit OF the following
communication TO our friends, both IN The East
and on The other side OF the Ridge. IL SPEAKS
sentiments which belong 10 VirgInan-lhe
feelings OF friend Of The whole Stale and mol oil
section. We trust the same spirit may con-
,inue 10 increase, tina, this ball OF liberaliy may
continue TO roll until all sectional feelings may
be forgotten. Our good old State will then rush
on 10 prosperity and renown and instead oil being
ridculed, as she now is, Tin some quarters, even
by some of her own sons she will be as famous
for her wealth as she has always been Tor unWa-
yerins adherence 10 the true principles Of The
Constitution.
For the Enquirer.
TO THE PEOPLE OF EASTERN VlR-
GINA.
AS the time for The meeting Of our Legislature
is al hand, may i, not be advisable Tor The peope
OF the Eastern section of our Stale 10 call meet
inss Of The voters (al the November or December
Conrls) of their respective counties, 10 take into
consideration The propriety or Improperly OF in
sIucling their delegates elect upon The subject Of
making some further appropriations 10 certain
works of internal improvements As The matter
stands al present, Virginia has made large invest
mens in works Of internal improvement, and,
doubtless, much OF il in an injudcious way. Ger
tain is, most OF il, 50 far, has been an unproh
able inveslmenl-but, on the most important
works il is probable, indeed, almost certain, that
the use OF their unproflableness has arisen from
10. hn hnn iod
SO far Only as 10 cause heavy outlay, without
carving them lar enough 10 realize profit For
instance the largest and most important work
that The Stale mas undertaken, is the James and
kanawha Improvement which has teen carried
only 10 Lynchburg, ON the Eastern side OF the
mountains, exactly TO The terminus where boat
navigation was al all times practicable before the
canal was consructed-il, 10 be sure, being now
more safe, expeditions and somewhat cheaper
than formerly, but still bringing 10 market no
more than formerly came, viz the tobacco, wheat
and -four raised on the James river. Nor, indeed,
is il probable, that the amount oil these articles
will be al all increased in any short Time as,
from past experience, no tobacco growing region
in Virginia has been found To be an improving
one. Ii is therefore, not reasonable 10 expect
mat, with the canal remaining as il is, the profits
on that investment can ever BIZ calculated upon as
being much improved But, carry il only twenty
mics lurlher Qhe heaviest part of which work
has already been done,) and you pass the Blue
Ridge, and bring il into The great Valley Of VIZ
sinia, which would not only be OF nca'culallr
advantage 10 the people OF thai part OF The Val
lev. bul add immensely TO The tolls on The lower
canal, b. bringing into market what they now
cannot bring, and arresilng the trade which Is
now finding lis way down The Valley, by way oil
The McAdamized road already constructed, and in
al. ~
timore;-tor the soil OF Rockbridee and the ad
Joining counties is no, only rich and capable o
vas, agricultural products, bul Astounding IN mi
neral wealth, which can never be brought TO mar
ket unless the facilities are improved and cheap
ened To say nothing ol iron. that great source
of wealth, in which that country abounds, almost
withou, limit, there certainly can he no limit 10
The supply Of lime, an article, The demand for
which is every day increasing, for agricultural
as well as other purposes; and, just where The ca
nal will enter the mountains, there are as hre
specimens Of marble as any in The Union, and IN
any quantity. These later articles will admit OF
no other mode Of transportation but by water
Thence, from the month Of North river extend
the canal but twenty miles further, and il will
bring you To Buchanan, the Eastern terminus OF
The already commenced grea, Southwestern road,
which will bring down The trade and produces Of
all the Southwestern part OF The Stale, nearly all
Of which are now los, 10 the Inhabitants, and en-
,rey So TO the canal, for want OF connection
with Inc navisable part OF the river. When The
canal is carried thus far, where, ny the way, !
should propose as lis terminus, and The South
western 10 I'd is finished, i, will bring the trade OF
a great part of Tennessee, and, perhaps, quadrn
pic The travelling CUSTOM on The canal. Tie
Southwestern counties are represented as abound
ing in mineral wealth, and well calculated Tor
the production Of hemp, fax and wool, all Of
t,n,, nall onI r,fat nj
all interfere with Eastern products. And the out
Law on this Southwestern road too, will be com
paralively useless, unless il communicates, ny
canal, with the James river. Be not alarmed,
my Eastern friends, Tor am one OF You, and, If
money is to be paid by Us, ! have 10 contribute
my quota as well as you. But, to complete the
present programme, il is necessary 10 add ano
Their small link, which will add another aiilnent
oi immense value 10 lie profits OF The already
finished canal. mem the road from Scots
VILE or vicinity, 10 Slaunlon, OF, indeed, ii pre-
ierred, extend the railroad from Gordonsville IL
The base oilhc Blue Ridge, and, from thence tap
the valley at Harrsonburg by McAdamized
road, which will etieciually intercept The trade
from all the upper parts of The Valley 10 BALI
more, and bring il To Richmond-but il only
one OF these Improvements were To be made,
should incline 10 The Scotlsville road. Now, il
is but reasonable that you should ask, what
will these roads and canals cost, and, cnl bono,
after they are done? The later question is al
ready partly answered-,he first will endeavor
TO do, from the best information have been
able To procure, but more accurate estimates will
doubtless be laid before The legislature and country
than can al present give; but rough estimate
has been made, estimating The cost OF The canal
tc complete il 10 Buchanan, (40 miles, al about
81 600 600. The Southwestern Road IS already
under way, upon an annual appropriation, which
presume will lie continued; all Of which is be-
fore the country, and as il has been generally APP
proved by he Stale, presume il is unnecessary
10 say more Of il now. To make good Nc |
Adamiz-d road IRON Scotlsville 10 Stanton, l40
miles | think has been estimated TO cost between
2 and $500, 000-making in all, perhaps, for The
three Improvements between million and half
and two millions. With these | think The West
ern people would be satisfied Tor some lime 10
come When, then, three improvements are COM
peled 10 wit: the James River and kanawha |
Canal carried 10 Buchanan-lhe Southwestern |
Road-and The Sco,tsville and Siaunlon Roads |
finished there is but little doubt that suiiiciency
Of revenue would accrue thererom, not only 10
pay the ineres, upon the whole debt now exist
ing, and 10 be created by these contemplated i'm
prcvemen,s, but also 10 create sinking fund 10 |
redeem The capital already invested as also 10 as
sis in any new improvement, that may be thought |
benefit that all our mounta in country will derive
from the completion Of these works, and putting |
stop 10 The continuous cry for convention
viewing it only in a selfish point OF view as re-
CARDS ourselves I think il is suicidal not 10 CON-
pele them for until that is done, all that has been
done is SO much money thrown away, as a pro-
fila bic revenue can never be derived from The |
work as il now stands; and neither will our Yves |
tern brethren ever be satisfied, as, indeed, they
should not be- To be living in land Astounding |
in all the means OF wealth and social comforts |
of life, and not 10 be able 10 use or enjoy them,
a, this day Of inercommunicaion OF one portion |
OF he world with another, 10 say nothing Of dii
eren, parts OF the same Stale is thing no, 10 be
expected that free and enlightened people, at
this period Of The world, should be satisfied with. |
Leaving out OF view what may be The just rights
of The people Of the West, would simply ask
my brethren Of the East if it would not be The
part OF prudence and sound policy, now 10 grant
This boon 10 the West, before they force from
us a Convention upon such Terms only as
they will have 1.-THE white basis-ior il is no.
l-aan (rz