The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-28
internal Improvement Systems Of Virginia
ana New York. .,esl..


message, which seussed at some length the
internal improvements of Virginia and New
York, we took the occasion, in commenting on
it, to repe the imputation made on Virginia in
Hunts Merchants Magazine, for not being the
first to construct canal to the West, instead Of
New York. ".=. .t..s4' w. ~'.* 7'E
We said that the Virginia route was longer
than that of New York, and was Obstructed by
several high mountains whilst that of New York
had none and that the latter extended through
the most level and fertile portion of the State,
whilst the Virginia route ran through the most
broken and unproductive. We also stated that
the Virginia work, at its eastern terminus, was
three hundred miles further from Europe, the
great region of civilized commerce, than the
New York teru.inus-and that there was ne
cessity for all artificial outlet for the lake re-
gion, in consequence of British restrictions on
the St. Lawrence, its natural outlet, which did
not exist at the mouth of the Mississippi, the
natural outlet of the great valley, which the Vir-
ginia work was designed to DRAIN
We also showed that the New York system
was not so wonderful in its conception, so great
in lis execution, nor so successful in its results
AZ TO authorize the claims made by its admirers.
We thought it proper thus to present the rea-
sons for priority in the construction OF such a
work by New York, and tie actual results of it,
in order to yindieate Virginia from the reproach
of want of sagacity and enterprise, which had
been so freely bestowed on her.
1t has been the fate of the Southern States
generally, to experience this reproach from Ig-
norant and superficial Northern men, and it has
been also the fate of the South to have on her
own soil, tribe Of shallow and presumptuous
seribblers and asprants, to echo these Northern
sentiments, as evidence Of their own vast attain
ments, and claims to Southern leadership.
The Richmond Enquirer is one of these and
accordingly takes offence at our article-treats
it as an attack on the Virginia route, although
we expressed the hope that the work would be
prosecuted, since it had been so far advanced.
The Enquirer also calls in question our preten
sions as Il statistician and undertakes to put
forth its own. The Enquirer asserts that the
distance is not so great by the Virginia route
to New York city from Cincinnati as by way OF
the New York canals That is not the question::
it is. which of the artificial routes in The
t,eo States is the longest, the most costly and the
most productive. That is the main question on
which depends the relative enterprise OF the
two States and the relative feasibility OF their
two works or systems. And as the Enquirer
has not either the sagacity to see, or the cour-
age to meet that question, the evidence OF Its
weakness is too clear to require commentary.
II is convenient-it is necessary for the Enquirer
to assume that Cincinnati is the common point
of termination and completion of tie New York
and Virginia works But every man who knows
anything of the subject knows, that the New
York work was mainly intended for the valley
of the Lakes of which Sandusky is the central
point, instead of Cincinnati. The Virginia work
aims at the Mississippi valley to which Cincinnati
belongs.
But the Enquirer undertakes 10 convict us OF
New York works-and to strengthen its attack
on our statistical ability, cites "Mr kETTELL's
lucid account of New York finances" and pro
nounces him San ADLER, sounder and infinitely
more learned statistician" than we are, and sug
gests that we may "receive instruction" from
him. Well, we are always ready to receive in
struction, without instituting comparisons, but
we confess that the endorsement Of the Enqui-
rer, renders US rather suspicious of its favourite
We have in accordance with the benevolent
suggestion of the Enquirer, looked into "Nlr.
kETrELL's lu, id account of the New York finan-
ces, published in the Merchants Magazine fo
lsls," and We don't find it very lucid. 1t does
not state cit her what the cost of the canals was
or what the amount of New York public debt
is The nearest it comes, is to state in an Al Ii
Gle written in March, lS4s, that the amount OF
stock outstanding in ls43, was $25,99s,O74, al
though on the previous page, it appears that
there was only $22,la7,o66 outstanding.
But let us see how the result will appear by
the Joint light of Mr.. KErrELL, and the Rich.
mond Enquirer.
According to Governor FLoYD's message, the
total cost of the New York canals up to 1912
was $332l4,l4s.
But according to Mr.. KErrELL, the act OF
1912, stopped the expenditure--so that the cost
must have been what the Governor makes it up
to that period. The works were commenced in
1917, and hence We're twenty-five years in con-
struction Assuming that the money was en-
,,.rJad nm on ayaraoe at the same rate annually
for the whole period, the interest would be
equivalent to six per cent on the whole amount
for half The period or twelve years, which would
amount to twenty four millions of dollars, and
which added 10 the principal, makes fifty-seven
millions as the cost of the works up to ls42.-
Up to that period the tolls according to Mr..
KErrELL, amounted to ssa2 ,2o5,792. What the
expenses are, Mr.. KETTELL does not say, which
,;,.a tho itan, 10 impor-