Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-12-13

TO equal extent upon the abandoned route. This
Company is also actively making arrangements lot
the extension Of their road to this city, substantial
" parallel TO the one now in operation and winch
is paying dividend of seven per cent to the State
II is manifest that if this scheme is carried out, II
must affect injurously the income of the Richmond
and Potomac Railroad Company, in which the
State is interested as a stakeholder TO the amount
of S275, 200 a consequence which the State ought
not to encourage. Are private interests in our pub
lie works not entitled to projections Are our own,
immense they are, not worth preservation2 Every
citizen is deeply interested in these questions, and
in giving success to the works in which we engage.
Success will efectually prevent anincrease of pub
lie burdens, and success will give to the system of
internal Improvements an argument IN favor or It's
extension, which probable combination of cir
cumSances can resist
Had the Louisa company adhered to its original
route it would not have provoked single enmity,
nor interlered with important public interest,"
1t would have quietly wended its way every step
of its progress marked by benefits; and when it
should have accomplished its high destiny in the
completion of this noble enterprise, its patrons and
managers might justly have claimed to be regarded
as public benefaciors. Nor is there any thing in
the topography, of this route to justify its aban
donment. Although criticised for the expression of
this opinion in my former messages, repeat it with
increased confidence. The Baltimore and Ohio
railroad is prosecuting its surveys through country
equally rugged, and has already ascertained that
grade can be obtained, no where exceeding I9a feet
10 the mile; and its gifted engineer, Mr. Latrobe,
by the following extract from letter recently writ
ten by him, prefers, under the circumstances, and
will probably adopt, grade of zone hundred and six
teen feet to the mile. "You are aware" says he,
"that the subject of grades is mooted one, and
some engineers are boldeT in their views than Others
The highest grade heretofore used upon any lead
inv line of road is about "a feet per mile. But this
is certainly much within the capacity of the loco
motive as now improved, and in crossing the Allie
ghany West of Cumberland, think it more than
probable that grade upwards of 100 feet-say ll6
feet may be adopted. The line will be so much
shortened and cheapened by it, that feel sure that
it will more than pay for any additional expense
and risk of working such grade. Above Cumber-
land on one of the coal railroads, we have grade
of l35 feet per mile safely worked, with the heav
lest trains by engines of % tons. think the loco
motive will be still further improved for operating
on high grades, so that entertain no doubt what
evor Of the entire feasibility the grade above
toned, GIG feet, on line of general business y
| have therefore again, with profound solcitude TO
recommend this subject to your favorable attention.
In former message, pointed out. will, all the
power of which | was capable, the destructive eff
tecs Of railroad competition. stated the wide ru-
in which had been wrought by it in England, and
the remedy that had been adopted to arrest it. |
called attention to own experience, particularly
that which was furnished by the struggle between
the late Portsmouth and Roanoke Railroad and the
| Petersburg and Roanoke Railroad, which resulted
in the destruction of the former while the latter
barely escaped similar fate, but which being now
relieved from the struggle, is eminenty prosperous.
Competition for the mighty trade of the west is full
| y UNSUITABLE, and is high and solemn duty in
| which we cannot fail OF success. But competition
among ourselves for the limited supplies of our own
exhausted fields by the constructions rival works,
cannot be INDICATED by practical wisdom, and will,
trust, henceforth receive no favor from the gener
| al assembly.
Ihave dwelt longer upon this subject than would
have done but for my conviction that the fact of in
ternal Improvements in Virginia is involved in It,
| Capitalists will not risk their money amid the war
of rival routes, and the people will moi bear burdens
continually increasing, without prospect in the
distance Of prosperity and relief.
My views in relation to the character of the i'm
| provement and the point at which it should COM
mence between James river and the Tennessee line,
have been heretofore so fully expressed that it may
be considered presumpiuous to urge them again up
on your attention, especially different improve
ment was adopted and is now in progress of con-
sruction. But am so fully satisfied that turn
pike answer no important public end, that
hope to be excused for recommending that the fur
Their prosecution Of this work south of Salem be "a
bandoned, and the money appropriated for II be APP
piled in aid of the Lynchburg and Tennessee rail
raod, in which hope tosee the state become lead
ing partner. BY this means the true policy of the
state, according to the views have heretofore eX-
pressed and still entertain, be substantially
complished and the great advantages have for
merly depicted, and anxously covet for state,
be secured ] understand that railroad from the
| Hiwassee to Knoxville in Tennessee has been re-
Gently put under contract, and our enerprislng SIS
ter will be our borders ready to greet us before
we can be prepared, with our utmost diligence, to
give her an appropriate welcome 1t is wonderful
Al = r
ence around us, we should have attempted to de-
velope an important section of our state and
distant inland points with turnpike! doubt il
there is in the world similar work under construc-
tioa for similar purposes.
The members of the Board of public works, with
the exception of the Governor being annually elect
ed and looking exclusively to their offices for en-
poymeDt and support, give as strong assurance OF
fidelity to their trusts as can De expected from any
human agent. Entirely disconnected with all pri-
vate pursuits-brought into daily contact with the
people in the performance of their public duties aEt
with ample opportunity TO acquire thorough knowl
edge of the public Improvements, it is difficult e
conceive an agent more likely 10 perform his duty
l in pure and elevated spirit, OF one in whom thu
Legislature can more implicitly rely. But the du
ties of the board daily increasing in deIicacy ap'
importance and ought to be defined with clcarDes
t and precision This is particularly necessary, no
only to release the board from anxiety, but TO pro
tect the public interests, which have been seriously
compromised in my judgment but for the partcu
lars Of which, refer you TO the report of the Boar
a Of public works.
t The Board ofpubc works being the agent Of tn
state, to execute her will expressed by the gen
Il eral assembly, ought not to be controlled, except b.
that body, to which all exceptions 10 the decision
e Of the board can be properly referred. therefor
! recommend the passage Of such law as will eS
empt the Board Of public works from the jurisdiC
II ton of the courts, except as to money demands.
deem it indispensable TO the public service tina