Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-05-08

/ led those sections OF the country or nor, dni ~:
the answers they will give. The real anu rs :
mate object in making internal Improvements,
Ia afford our citizens the means OF conveying .ic
nyodncrx NJ their industry 10 market And II you
will form Your estimate Of The comparative saius
NJ canals and railroads, in reference 10 thai stahG
! ard we venture 10 affirm that The canal IS worm
| all The railroads in the Commonwealth. es"a.'
be much deceived, il You will not ma on e@dini
nation. that this much abused James rive! c.l"'
| CONVEYS more than twice as much oil me a. ieui
inral nroducts Of the State into Richmond, Id inc
course OF the year. as all the railroads IN inc 1".e
transfer 10 any and ell OF our markets. Anu nov
,c;,hs,anding The prevalence OF The railroad lever
| in The civ of Richmond, we shall be greatly ue-
ceiyed if her citizens do not find, II ever ihe'l
vr,at Richmond and Ohio Railroad should DC
made that they had much better have relisa on
The canal. the goods transported on which "ou'l'
necessarily have been disposed OF 10 iheit own
market. than upon a railroad, on which, II made,
,hey may see the rich products oil Inc west
passing bvt.e;n 10 another naTSa.
That a Railroad, from The termination VI 'he
| Canal (Which should be liked somewhere on
The Upper James River, above the point at which
The irdn flour lime hemp, and other heavy pro
ducts of The valley will be shipped,) TO The ONO
River ouahl TO be constructed, we readily agree,
and il is our earnest wish that il may be imme-
dialely begun, and carried on at the same Time
| with The extension Of The Canal.
| AS The assumption Of the State Stock IN The
James River Canal will never yield profitable
return in the shape OF dividends 10 the Common
wealth, (of which we utterly deny the correct
ness } is relied upon by some OF The opponent OF
the scheme, as conclusive argument against us
| further prosecution, we propose briefly TO ex-
anime whether the argument is, n fact, entitled 10
| the weight claimed for it, even II That assump-
lion be admitted TO be true. II The State should
| never subscribe TO The stock OF any company
which will not make a return in Dividends equal
| to the interest of The money invested, then there
may be force in the suggestion, tina. the Stale
| should never subscribe 10 any work OF internal
| improvement, but leave them 10 be supported en-
lirely by the subscriptions OF private individuals,
who will never be backward in taking stocks,
| when the return in dividends is likely TO be both
| speedy and certain.
But. il the principle be sound one, that the
| Government should never make any improve
menl which will moi yield return in dividends,
on what principle is il, that il has made il the
duty Of the courts of all the counties in the Com
monwealth, 10 construct roads for the public con-
venence. al the cost, and by The labor, OF the
people of those counties? The people OF every
county in The Stale are required BY law to con-
strucl roads through their counties, al their own
costs, without ever expecting 10 receive any
thing in the shape Of dividends upon them. This
county alone has levied and collected oil its cili-
zens principally in money, not lessihan 5000
which have been expended in opening and I'M
proving our public roads, since the year 1897,
| without asking one cent of toll from any person
| passing over them. And we ask with conn.,
| dcnce would there not be as much pIopriey in
the General Assembly undertaking 10 construct
| great central line OF Improvements through the
State, and other works OF great general utility
Tor the use Of all The citizens OF The Sale with
| out cha ge, as there is in requiring the citizens
OF each county 10 open great public highways
upon Tie same termsl In supper, OF such a
course, might cite The example not only o.
| the comparatively Tree governments OF England
and France, but OF The despolic governments Of
Russia Prussia ard Austria. Bnt we do not
ask that YOU will follow these examples. We
only ask that YOU will furnish the means OF COM
| petng work which there is good reason 10 be-
lieve will a. no distant day, afford you rich har-
| vest in dividends.
| In reply 10 The question which has been some
times asked, why we are not willing 10 permit
the canal TO terminate, and the railroad 10 COM
mencc, al Lynchburg, as well as at Buchanan
or Covngon, we will say, that railroad Is
wholly unsuitable for the transportation of the
heavy and bulky products of This valley, and We
do not wish 10 incur me expense OF traaship-
menl from Inc railroad 10 he canal.
The present is the auspicous moment when
the work on the great central line OF improve
mont should be recommended and prosecuted with
visor, until it is completed. Tho report OF The
Financial Committee Of the last House of Dele
gates shows that there will probably be balance
ofS3I0,0 900 in the Treasury OF the Commonwealth
al the end Of the mex, fiscal year. after paying all
the expenses OF the Government. The report oi
the Second Auditor, on the debt and resources OF
taNtnr s.t..,f %
by the last House of Delegales) shows that the
debt due from the Commonwealth, is rather nomi-
nal than real, md that she owns productive stocks,
more than sufficient 10 discharge tie whole OF H..
| And il any additional motive Tor commencingihe
work at once isrequired, tsurely may be found in
the necessity OF putting stop 10 The appalling and
almost daily sacrifice ofhuman lie and valuable
/ property, incurred by our citizens in attempting
10 convey the products oiiheir industry 10 market
through The dangerous pass in the Blne Ridge
| And yet we confess we are not altogether without
apprehensions, that you may still disregard our re-
| monstrances We are fearful that many amongst
! you have suffered themselves 10 be misled and de-
| cered by the misrepresentation OF demagognes;
and have had their minds so prejudiced, not only
/ against the particular scheme we recommend
but asains, the great body OF their western brelh-
rem, that their minds are no longer open 10 con-
viction. You have heard us represented, as needy
people, too poor 10 Iaise money among ourselves
who are only DESTROYS ofobia ming power, that we
may be able 10 raise the means, By taxing you, Of
constructing internal improvements designed on
ly 10 benefit ourselves. You have been induced
10 believe that millions upon millions have been
collected oil you, and expended among US, and
for our exclusive benefit; and that You are heavi
ly hui;hened with taxation, willis, We are almost
totally exempt from paying any thing.
II Isl time that you should be undeceyed in these
particulars. II you will look at the report o! the
Second Auditor, Document No SO, printed for
the last House OF Delegaes,) YOU will find that
the whole amount which has ever been appropri-
a,ed by the General Assembly 10 works OF Inter
nal Improvement is ,694 %; and that
although The territory on the west OF The Blue
| Ridge is much greater than that on the cast and
our need Tor internal Improvements hundred fold
greater than yours, So, 148 500 10 OF that money
has been expended on The east, and only 81, 1861
1913 35 on the west OF the Blue Ridge; 50 that
you will find that more than two and hal times
as much money has been expended on works OF
internal improvement on the east than on the west
Of the Blue Ridge
You will take The trouble to examine the re-
port OF The First Auditor, printed by the LIST
House OF Delegates Document No %, and 10
make the necessary calculations, you will find that
The average amount OF revenue paid for every in
| haitian, in the district below The head OF tide wa
ter, was about 43 cents-the average paid for eve
| ry inhabitant in the Valley district was about 50
cents and Tor every inhabi,ant west OF the Ale
! shany was about IS cents,
| The average paid Tor each inhab,aut East of
the Blue Ridge was about SO cents and, leaving
out The city OF Richmond, higher lax was paid
for each inhabitant in the Valley than Tor those
on the Eas; ofthe Blue Ridge And The valley
counties contribute as much 10 The ability of that
city 10 pay the high lakes imposed on lis inhabi-
iants, as any other part of the State.
With these views before you, we ask you calm
ly, deliberately, and dispassionatey TO consider
whether or moi you will authorize and direct
yonr representatives in The General Assembly, at
lis next session, 10 provide the funds for extend
ing The canal, and beginning railroad 10 connec,
the Ohio with the canal. If you determine 10 do
SO, VIC shall rejoice at it, and be satisfied. II
you determine otherwise, then We ask that you
will consent 10 charter company, with power
10 construct railroad from some point on the
Potomac, along this valley, 10 some point on the
line OF the Richmond and Ohio railroad, with the