Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-12-03
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Felloac Citizens of the

hands by the constitution, present for your con-
sideraton such subjects as in my judgment de-
mand your attention.
That of internal improvement, which has Tor
some years engaged so much of the attention OF
your body requires at this time your earnest and
particular consideration. 1t is much to be re-
GREETED that a regular, well dgested system has
not been heretofore devised and constantly adj
hered to by the Legislature. Many beneficial re-
suits would have already accrued TO the public
from such policy, which, it is feared must now
be deferred for some time to come. The subject
has grown from very small beginning into the
most important interest which presents itself for
legislative action. A fixed policy should now be
established and intlexiby pursued. The fnan-
ces of the commonwealth, imperatively require
that further appropriation out of the treasury
should be confined exclusively to the great lead
ing lines of conneXon with the West begun and
under way. This is more necessary because any
other appropriations at present must be attended
with serious embarrassment to the treasury, which
would at once throw such discredt upon the whole
subject as would retard our progress most materi-
ally for years Ito come. Nothing could be more
deeply deplored than such an effect, and none
would regret it so much as those who believe the
regene ration of the state depends upon the sue
cessfu completion of the great Improvements now
progressing. 1t is, in nv opinion, due from the
friends of tie policy, to the people at large, that
some evidence should be given of prudent re-
gard for the credit of the state, and some assur-
ance afforded that in reasonable time return
will be made to the Golfers of the commonwealth
for the immense sums already expended Much
apprehension has been felt in some portions of the
state, to the policy pursued by the legislature
for the last few years, in approprating money out
of the treasury for numerous inferior works of
internal Improvement 1t has been thought by
some reckless and extravaganza, and hence it has
been impossible TO concentrate the energies OF the
state upon any we'll devised and economical sys-
tenn. Still it is due to the policy that has been
pursued, and TO its friends, to state, that compar-
atively small sums have been expended upon wild
or useless schemes. Those appropriations for
what are termed mud turnpiheS, which at first
sight appeared the most unwse, have proved very
much the reverse. 1t is true, few of them pay a
dividend in the form of the tolls into the treasu-
ry, but the increased value, given to lands in the
regions through which many OF them pass, fur
nishes permanent fund for taxation, which, in
many instances, far exceeds the interest on the
sums expended in their construction. 1t is not
matter of vital importance to the public whether
an investment pays good return in tolls, from the
road upon which it is expended, or in taxes from
the lands rendered valuable by its construction
But this species of appropriation should now be
terminated; and ifthere remain inferior works yet
TO be undertaken, they may be postponed for the
present. without detriment to any interest whatev-
er, and with great benefit to the treasury
1t is essential to the interests of the state, in a
pecunary point of view that the whole subject be
thoroughly systematzed. Without this, there is
room for well grounded fear lest embarrass-
ments may come upon the treasury, and distrust
be brought upon the credit of the state Either
would be alike fatal to great enterprises, and
both are therefore to be most sedulously avoided.
The policy which has heretofore controlled the
action of the Legislature, in contributing to works
of Improvement, has looked rather to the benefit
to be derived from increased population and en-
HANGED value of lands, than to returns in the form
of tolls to the treasury. The wisdom of the pol
icy stands fully indicated by the recent assess
ment of lands in the commonwealth, which sheWs
an increase oftwenty nine and half per cent. up
on our entire landed property during the last
twelve years or an aggregate increase in the va
lue of real estate alone, since 1888, of $62,749,
7l8, while the increase between the assessments
of 1919 and 1888 was only S5,036,540, or two
and per cent. The total value of lands in
the state in 1919 was S206, 1893 1913; in 1888 it
$21l $50, sos, and in 1850 it is 274,6S0,2
which shews an average increase each year, since
'38, whilst the system of internal improvement has
been in operation, equal to the whole increase du
ring the nineteenth year prior to that time. This
result has been owing chiefly tothe impulse impair
ed to the industry of the state by the facilities
which her public works have afforded to our citi-
Zens, for transporting their producce to market
Portions of urcountry which, twenty years ago,
were scarcely inhabited are now thicky settled,
we'll cultivated and prosperous. A tax paying
fund has been thus provided, which will constitute
through all time valuable addition to the perma-
nent capital of the commonwealth.
But notwithstanding the undoubted benefits
which have thus accrued to the state STILL sound
nd ind hat ah-
stain from any further appropriations to internal
improvement, except such as are absolutely neces-
sary for the completion of the great lines that are
begun and in progress. We should take such
measures in pressing forward these lines as would
speedily ensure a return from the capital invested
in their construction. The public have rightto
expect this and are bound to fulfil so reasonable
an expectation. To accomplish, this end our
resources should be husbanded with the greatest
pains, and the credit of the State cultivated and
strengthened by every means in our power.
am happy to assure you of an awakening of
the people to the true interests of the Common
wealth upon this subject. Indeed, Virginia has
awakened so suddenly to the advantages OF her
geographical position for securing the Western
trade, that she is in danger of losing them by the
eagerness of different enterprises to grasp the
commerce that awaits Them Local jealouses
and rival schemes threaten to divide her energies,
usLIdCt COuHSGlS, dIlu Ittdius " CA
tent, the completion of her important lines oftrans
portation No conflict in reality exists, or can
exist, between the great lines of connection with
the West, projected over her territory On the
contrary, it will be found here, has been found
elsewhere, that the completion of any of the pro-
posed Improvements will carry along with it the
necessity of completing the others also, in order
fully to accommodate that immense trade which
will be attracted to her works if every facility and
mode of transportation provided upon other routes
shall be provided upon hers.
Occupying a position midway between the
mouths of the Mississippi and the st. Lawrence,
the only natural outlets for the products of the
West; possessing the best harbor upon the At
lantic coast and the one nearest of all others to
the centre of the greet aluvial basin of the CONT
nent, Nature seems to point to ours as the true
locality for an artificial outlet from that vast re-
gion to the ocean. The mouth of the Ohio and
the city of Norfolk are upon the same parallel of
ouI a. No. IF 40