Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-12-16
GOVERNORS MESSAGE,
Fsllow- Citizens of the Senate

demand your attention.
That of internal improvement, which has for
some years engaged so much of the attention of
your body, requires al this time your earnest
and particular consideration. 1t is much to be
regretted that regular, we-digested system has
ss,ot been heretofore devised, and constantly ad-
Shered to by the Legislature. Many beneficial re-
ssults would have already accrued TO the public
1rcm such policy, which: it is feared, must
now be deferred for some time to come The
subject has grown from a very small beginning
1nto the most important interest which presents
itself tor legislative action. fixed policy
should aow be established and inheNbly rursu-
ed The finances OF the commonwealth imper-
atively require that further appropriations out of
the treasury should be confined exclusively to
the great leading lines of connection witt, the
West, begun and under way. This is more nec-
essary, because any other appropriations at pres
ent must be attended with serious embarrass-
ment to the treasury, which would at once
throw such dlscredn upon the whole subject, az
would retard our progress most materially for
years to come. Nothing could be more deeply
deplored than such an effect, and none would
regret it SO much as those who believe the re-
generation OF the State depends upon the sue
,cessful completion eft the great improvements
now progressing. tits, in my opinion, due from
the friends of the policy to the people at large.
that some evidence should be given of prudent
regard for the credit of the State and some ASST
rance afforded that in reasonable time return
will be made to the Golfers Of the common
wealth tor the immense sums already expended.
Much apprehension has been felt in some por-
tlons OF the State, as to the policy pursued by
the Legislature for the last few years, in appro-
priatlng money out of the treasury for numerous
inferior works OF internal Improvement. 1t has
been thought by some, reckless and extraYagant,
and hence it has been impossible to concentrate
the energies OF the State upon any well-devised
and economical system Still it is due to the
policy that has been pursued, and to its friends,
TO state, that paratvely small sums have
been expended upon wild or useless schemes
Those appropriations for what are termed mad
turnpihes, which at first sight appeared the most
unwise, have proved very much the reverse. 1t
is true, few OF them pay dividend in the form
OF tolls INTO the treasury, but the increased value
given to lands in the regions through which
many OF them pass, furnishes permanent fund
OF taxation, which, in many instances, far eX-
ceeds the interest on the sums expended in their
constitution. 1t is not a matter of vital impor-
lance to the public whether an investment PAYS
good return in tolls, from the road upon which
1t is expended, or in taxes from the lands rem
,dered valuable by its construction. But this
species of appropriation should now be termina-
ted /; and ii there remain inferior works vet to
be undertaken, they may be postponed for the
present, without detriment to any interest what
ever, and with great benefit to the treasury.
1t is essential to the interests of the state, in a
pecunlary point OF view, that the whole subject
be thoroughly systematized Without tnis, there
ia room for well-grounded fear lest enlbarrass-
.ments may come upon the treasury, and distrust
sbe brought upon the credit of the state Either
would be alike fatal to great enterprises, and
both are therefore most seduouslv TO be avoided
The policy which has hitherto controlled the
action OF the legislature in contributing to works
LOT improvement, has looked rather to the benefit
to be derived from increased population and en-
HANGED value OF lands, than to returns in tle
form OF tolls to the treasury. The wisdom OF
the policy stands fully indicated BY the recent
assessment OF lands in the commonwealth,
which shews al Increase OF tweEty-nne and
!half per cent. upon or landed property during
the last twelve years, or an aggregate increase
In the value of real estate alone, since 1888, of
So, 749, us, while the increase between the
.sessments of 1919 and 1898 only $685.
$50, or two and half per cent. The total value
of lands in the state in 1919 was $206, 1893 1918:
in 1888 it was So II 800, sos, and in 1850 it is
1874 1850, e26; which shews an average increase
each year, since 1898, whilst the system of in
ternal improvement has been in operation equal
to the whole increase during the nineteen wears
prior to that time. This result has been owing
chiefly to the impulse impaired to the industry
sof the state by the facilities which her public
works have afforded to our citizens, for trans
porting their produce to market. Portions of our
country, which, twenty years ago, We're scarcely
inhabited, are now thicky settled, well cultivat-
ed and prosperous. A tax paying fund has been
thus provided, which will constitute through all
time a valuable addition to the permanent CAPT
tai of the commonwealth
But Notwithstanding the undoubted benefits
which have thus accrued to the state. STILL a
sound and judicious policy requires that we
SHOULD abstain from any further appropriations
to internal improvement except such as are abb
;solutely necessary 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 return
from the capital invested in their constructions
The public have right to expect this, and we
are bound to fulfil SO reasonable an expectation
To accomplish this end, ourresources 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 icr securing the Western
trade, that she is in danger of losing them by
the eagerness of different enterprises to grasp
and rival schemes threaten to divide her ener-
gies, distract her counses, and retard, to a ser-
Gus extent, the completion of her important lines
of transportation No conflict in reality exists,
or can exist, between the great lines of connec-
ton with the West, projected over her territory.
On the contrary, it will be found here as has
been found elsewhere, that the completion of
any of the proposed improvements will carry a.
long with it the necessity of completing others
also, in order fully to accommodate that i'm
mense trade which will be attracted to her
works, if every facility and mode of transporta-
ton provided upon other routes shall be proyd-
ed upon them.
Occupying position midway between the
mouths of the Mississippi and theSt. Lawrence,
tire only natural outlet 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 great alluvial basin of the con-
tlnent, Nature seems to point to ours as the true
locality for an artificial o,t1ot fro,, tlot ,,,-. -