Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-12-03
GOVERNORS MESSAGE,
uup r. TIE DE VIRGINIA..

With the duty required at my hahas " ,.s
Constitution present for your cons a,;an
- IN INV INDICTMENT demand your atenuoh. a. , years
as 10 my soal imnroyelnen which has Tor some nj
e,racad go much the attention oil you' II is
this tme you, I'M, regular wedisested h h
moi been heretofore devised and constantly already ac
Legislature Many beneficial results S, Which, is feared,
mus, now be deferred for some time I? 90 ibe most mpor-
has gown small beginning legislative action
,on interest which presents itself io 80 neoxhIv mr.
fixed policy should now be estauns n,,.ra,;yslv re-
sued The finances of the ConnohM ea, W., ,, shona
onre that further appropriations our Oh 'e ueusu'y
Su axinsrev 10 the great leading lines OF connec-
ton with the West begun anu uhoe way i"ia 49,, ,,s,
cessary because any o'' p,J,assm.nt TO the treasury
h;h a"a =, once throw such dscredit upon Inc who'e
subject as would retard our progress most anorad bsn
snch an effect and would regret 1t 50 m"ch as e
h heyc the regeneration OF the State depends upon Tue
nooassf completion of the great Improvements now pro-
eIessinc Its in my opinion, due from the friends OF the
5ocy 10 people large that some evidence should oe
given of prudent regard for the credit o the Suie ana
some afforded that In reasonable nc return
will be made 10 the Golfers of the Commonwealth for The
immense already expended Much apprehension has
heen fel, in some portions of State policy ru
sued by legislature the last few years appropIang
money OF the treasury for numerous inferior works oil
internal Improvement II has been thought by some reck-
less and extravagan and hence has been Impossible 70
concentrate the energies OF the State upon any we'll
devised and economical system. STILL 1t IS due TO the
policy that has been pursued, and TO IT'S friends 10
that comparatively small sums nave oceh es-
pended upon wild or useless schemes. Those npplopa-
tons for what are termed mud furnp6ts, which al
first sight appeared the most unwsc have proved very
much the reverse II true few OF them pay dividend III
the form tolls in the treasury but the Increased value
given lands in the regions through which many OF them
pass furnishes permanent fund for taxation which, IN ma
ny instances far exceeds the interest on the sums expended
in their construction II is not matter Of vital Importance
10 the public whether investment pays good return IN
tolls from the road upon which is expended or III taxes
from the lands rendered valuable by its construction But
this species Of appropriation should not be tcImnaed ana
if there remain inferior works yet 10 be undertaken 'e
NAV be
interest whatever and with great benefit 10 the treasury
1t essential 10 the interests OF the State IN pccuniary
poin of view that whole subject be thoroughly systc
natzed Without this there is for wellgroundcd
fear lest embarassmens may come upon the treasury ana
dstrus be brought upon the credit of the State. Either
would be alike fatal great enterprises and both are
therefore edulousy avoided The policy which
has heretofore controlled the action of the Legislature in
contributing works OF improvement has looked rather To
the benefit be derived from increased population and en-
HANGED value OF lands than to returns in the form OF tells 10
the treasury The wisdom Of the policy stands fully sindl
Gated by assessment Of lands in the common
wealth. which shews increase OF twenynne and halt
per cent upon entire landed property during the last
twelve years aggregate increase in the value of real
alone since 1898 OF S62l9lS while the increase
between the OF 1919 and SIS only $685.
The State in 1919 was 500 97s in 1888 S2l $780,
Sos and in 1850 is si6S0 226; which shews average
increase each year, since ISIS whilst the system Of n,erna
Improvement has been in OPERATION equal 10 the whole in
crease during the nineteen years prior 10 that timc This
result has been owing chiefly the impulse impaired TO th
industry Of the State BY the facilities which her public
works have afforded citizens for transporting thei
produce market Portions of country which, twent,
years ago, scarcely Inhabited now thcky settled
well cult, ated and prosperous tux-payng fund has beer
thus provided which will constitute through all time vau
able addition to the permanent capital OF The commonwealth
But Notwithstanding the undoubed benefits which have
thus accrued to the State STILL sound and udicous policy
requires that should abstain from any further appopa
tons to internal improvement except such are absolutely
necessary for the completion Of tho great lines that be
gun and in progress. We should such il
pressing forward these lines would speedily ensure re
turn from the capital invested in their construction Tn
n o and we are buun IN fin
reasonable expectation. To accomplish this end,
should be husbanded with the greatest pains
the credit of the State cultivated and strengthened by
means in our power.
am happy TO assure you of awakening of tho people
the interests Of the commonwealth upon this subject
Indeed Virginia has awakened suddenly the advanta
ges Of her geographical position for securing Western
trade that she is in danger Of losing them by the eagernes
OF different enterprises TO grasp the commerce that awa
em Local Jcaousies and rival schemes threaten divide
her energies distract her counscl and retard To serou
,ae: the completion of her important lines of ranspor
taton No conflict in reality exists exist between
the great lines of connection with the West projected
her territory On the CONTRARY, it will be found here, hal
been found elsewhere that the completion of of the
posed Improvements will carry along with the
completing the others ALSO in order fully accommodate
that immense trade which will be her works
every facility and mode vi transportation provided
er routes shall be provided upon hers.
Occupying position midway between the mouths Of The
Mississippi and The ST. Lawrence the only natural outlets
for the products Of the West; possessing the arbu
upon the Atlantic coast and the Of all others
The the great alyal basin of the continent Ma
ture seems to point the locality artii.
cal outlet from that region the The mou,l
Ohio and the CITY Of Norfolk are upon the same pr
ae of latitude and the Northern point detection
from night line between h"so important COMMERCIAL points
(Cnclnnat is but two degrees OF latitude higher. Every
Atlantic harhor north Of Hampton Roads lies u create
longitudinal distance om either oil these points BY
degrees and at greater direct distance by many miles
than Norfolk These ports approached from the West
moreover BY routes which, In competition with
the cost OF steam transportation bc greater the
ito OF their superior distance, and the cost OF
poraon greater not only in proportion to their distance
but also in ratio vastly augmented by obstacles which
Northern frosts and SHOWS must continue nterpose.
The results 10 follow the connection of tidcwaer with Ten
by Of the Virginia and Tennessee ralroad
and with Ohio by the james River aud Kanawh Canal an
the Central Railroad all profile there wor
be some reason for hesitation in prosecuting cntei
but happily engaged in works about success
OF which there is SHADOW doubt and the profits
ainy 10 accrue from which the largest expenditure
in their construction. We have something thar
vague conjecture and speculative reasoning point th
results Of such enterprises. Tie experience
fully applied elsewhere, arc the wisdom of juicous
lem Of improvements been established beyond all dispute
The three great lines OF improvement, looking
ncaon with The West The james River and Kanaw Ia
Canal the Virginia ard Tennessee and thr Central Railroads
In my last annua! Message urged upon Legislature tt
policy OF completing the James River and kanawhu Cana
10 'ne ONO ver have nothing STAGE change la
OPINION ou great deal to strengthen and confirm it, Tn,
point at which this work is proposed touch the Ohio
me oesl one 10 DC ohnd from its its mouth for
water communication viii, tho Atlantic seaboad This i'm
provemcnt will Afford Southern water lin. of ransn,ro
.' io M; nsy oo.s .. .he West, winch must be- io
iohB peiioo Oh ie Year, without competitor OWN. I,
the ice in the North Sucn articles If cnn,me,cr
would pass upon canal preference railroad ,you
prefer this for the that would lead The
Atlantic haoor and consequently the upon il would II
the least for internal domestic transportation cana
hat at Columbus Ohio laden with pork hemp tobacco o
iron, would greatly prefer going Norfolk npo this
nal, 10 passing through the lakes and the Erie Canal
New ork, If the market good al the place
The other for the simple that tho distance would b
greatly shorter and the navigation much safer from inter
rupon by leo and from the dangers the lake The mar
kct would be as good at Norfolk as New York bccaus
the trade would be intended for foreign nations and
course the foreign prico would regulate that the port
which II would be purchased for transportation common
standard would regulate tho price at both ports and would
course render II uniform. is plain therefore, that suc
trade as would prefer water carriage and reache
New York from the heart OF the Ohio would find its wav
Tho ocean through Virginia. by of her canal But tn
trade of Ohio, and the West, is by any the only
induccncn offered for the completion of this work | vii
hazard the opinion that the timber of bordern.
upon the line of the canal and accessible BY way of th
upper kanawha or New River its tributaries will in
lew years produce 10 Virginia larger of money thar
me whole amount required for completing the canal
douo, IN America there be found such fol-
snip building as those growing in the section of country
iieo TO- The completion OF this work would also open
oIoushiare Tor the transportation of coal from the polite
mines of kanawha, Coa and Guyandoe rivers to Norfolk
"nch would make that city the depot whence the whole
marine OF tho Atlantic would he supplied
Inc discovery OF conn coal in that quarter of the State
IN large quantities and of The