Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-01-11

lion is quashed Inc people CT the different sections
will continue using their own money in their
own way, and Virginia will have reached the ne
plus ultra of prosperity. AS for the former, it is
clear that the Stale cannot make railway or ca.
nal 10 every tax payers door; yet something
must be done TOR internal improvements is an
acknowledged dnty. The solution OF The dihenl-
~ may think be easily arrived at. II CONSISTS
not in giving The States assistance 10 hxed eX'
tent Unfortunately to all works in all quarters,
large or small, whether tenefting county or
grand division, a Count Hot:> or a sea pon: but
simply 10 the States building all The large works
al her own cost, and after a grand system fixed
by herself; and leaving the smaller ones wholly
or in great part TO the resources Of The locality
which requires them. Convince The people that
they will each and all be benefited directly or in
directly; that the amount levied on them will be
more than returned, either in tie shape OF d.
unfinished share OF taxation, or increased ability
~ bear il; that although The State will no longer
(at least Tor some years. contribute three fiithS OF
The cost Of a turnpike from somebody Us Station"
10 somebody eses Gap" or OF cross country
railway between two Court Houses, lew oil
whose wealthy inhabitants may "resolve" that it
is desirable, she will yet give them a central
work, which will force these into existence, and
without which they arc useless, and one which
will not only give their whole district constant
and ample outlet 10 marker, but by extending 10
The borders OF the State will make The citizens of
other States pay part OF The cost OF Transporting
their produce. say, let The people be convinced
by such course, that internal Improvement is
not The visionary panacea which the desuItory
and ainless use OF it among them had laugh! them
TO believe il, and these lOca works which the State
will seem 10 ave abandoned will, alter so healthy
an example OF method and consistency, be resum-
ed with fresh energy and completed and multi
piled Indefinitely by those whose particular int
rests demand them.
II seems 10 be commonly thought that the in
duence of one Of The many lines projected be-
tween The East and West will be restricted to
narrow space along its borders. But the com.
mercaI basin OF such works is triangular in
| form, widening as The imrovement advances, so
tha, il the James River and Kanawha improve.
ment were finished, il would embrace in its inter-
est nearly one halt OF the Stale and nearly all Of
| Western Virginia. It's influence is now tell along
the valley from Tennessee TO Winchester, 800
miles: and il has not reached the valley yet See
what a vast extent Of countTy The Erie canal
drains, and calculate the proportion Of that area
which would have belonged 10 it had il Stopped al
| Utica! The trade aud profits OF the Baltimore
and Ohio railway too have regularly increased
as Tie work advanced, as the square OF its engrh:
! and il will be found on looking al the history Of
all the railways in The Union, lha, ccier,s pari-
bus the longest roads are invariably the mos,
profitable. Indeed, | cannot now call 10 mind
| a single road, over one hundred miles, which
does not pay good dividends. Speaking OF the
Baltimore road, reminds me Of common Bit
Of ,wadole in connection with j.; that Baltimore
is "ihe natural marker Of North Western Viz.
| sinia." The fact is, that previous 10 The con-
siruciion of this road, Baltimore scarcely got
single ioa OF produce from all that region; and
have row lying before me the ninth annual re-
| port OF the company, made the year after reaching
HarpeI's Ferry, in which the additional business
thereby thrown on them, is alluded 10 as almost
exclusively a new trade secured 10 Baltimore BY
the operation ot this work" Tic market OF the
entire region was naturally" and had always
been, Alexandria. Baltimore cannot be called
the natural market Of any section whatever ex-
| cepl its immediate vicinity; for il is al The mouth
OF 10 great river; the debouche Of no grand geo.
| logical depression. Art and enterprise have
made her what she is in spite OF Nature,
and al the expense Of near rivals, more
favored by Nature. Norfolk is the natural
market OF The entire basin o,lhe Chesa peake and
the means OF making her lis actual market, now
and forever he within the grasp OF Virginia.
Will she not seize Them l. for one believe she
will either now, or al some future lime when il
may be loo late The Governor observes that
it has long been mOoet point whether one
generation has a RICH. TO incur dehls TO be paid
by their successors. This, in my humble judg-
ment, is being blinded BY worts. The present
generation has the time providence has allotted it
and the opportunity tor The use OF which for the
good ot ourselves and those who come alter u.
we are responsible. We enjoy now privileges
our fathers obtaiIed Tor US at heir own COST
The debts incurred in he Revelation Cot uea-
sure OF least that OF blood never can be repaid)
Tell upon lis children, yet who Of US has ever COM
planned OF this debt? The time and opportunity
was theirs and lhey omitted no means whatever
OF making both available-of fulfilling their des.
tiny
But am getting prolx Messrs Editors. and
will draw to close, lest in The long thread my
communication should prove 10 be spinning a
cocoon Tor The winding sheet OF the measures |
advocate. These arc simply, the completion Of
the James River and Kanawha line, at Sale ex-
pense making the Souh Western road leederlo
it, ii, should be railway, bu Is a leJt our an.
ces'o's len u.s. al Buchanan or Lynchturg-keep.
ing the Louisa railway, as The second radius from
the common centre Of James river, as lar North
as possiblc and allowing all secondary works,
not already endorsed, % remain, as far as the as
sis'ance OF The Common wealth is concerned, in
stGtu quo, unit! the central line be completed.
QUITS.